THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 45, NO. 22 | JANUARY 19, 2024
SOUTHERN REGION SCHOOLS SHARE IDEAS, OFFER SUPPORT
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Attendees — (from left) Brendon McIntire, Holy Trinity School, Paola; Kelli Wolken, principal, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School, Garnett; and Matt Stevenson, St. Rose — take part in a joint teacher professional development day on Jan. 2.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
During the Southern Region’s professional development day, designed to help small schools share ideas, participants — (from left) Rae Ann Johnson, St. Rose, Garnett; Suzanne Colwell, Holy Trinity, Paola; Jessica Culbertson-Walker, Holy Trinity; and Megan Staley, Sacred Heart, Ottawa — talk about everything from curriculum to Scripture. By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
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AOLA — All teachers face many challenges, but teachers in small towns and rural schools face one more: isolation. This is what Amanda Foltz, third and fourth grade teacher at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne School in Garnett, discovered. In some cases, a teacher in a small school may be the only teacher for her grade level.
“I was a public school teacher before coming [to St. Rose], and I had a team of three other teachers I met with every week,” said Foltz. “We collaborated and bounced ideas off of each other. So, when I took this position, that was one thing I was worried about — that I’d be on my own island. “But it hasn’t been bad at all. The Southern Region has helped.” Catholic schools in the Southern Region have helped by holding a joint teacher professional development day for the past two years.
LENTEN DINNER NOTICES
This year, teachers and administrators from St. Rose, Sacred Heart School in Ottawa and Holy Trinity School in Paola met all day on Jan. 2 in Paola. Twenty teachers and three administrators attended. The teachers met in the morning to learn about a new curriculum, broke into discussion groups by grades, had lunch and then participated in Scripture study for faith formation. It filled a need that Kelli Wolken felt keenly for a while. “I’ve been principal at St. Rose
WHEN
DEADLINE
Feb. 9.
Jan. 26.
The Leaven will publish a list of Lenten dinners in the archdiocese on
Because of space considerations, notices are limited to around 40 words and are due
INCLUDE
Philippine for six years, and I was a teacher before that,” said Wolken, one of the three principals who organized the day. “One of the things that bothered me as a teacher was not knowing what other schools were doing. [Schools in the] Southern Region are very isolated because we are so small and have no next-door neighbors, per se. We don’t have the network of resources of other schools [in urban areas of ] the archdiocese. >> See “EDUCATORS” on page 6
• Time of event • Date(s) of event • Address of event • Specify dine-in, curbside, delivery, etc.
SUBMIT
Please email your information to: todd.habiger@ theleaven.org.
2 LOCAL NEWS
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JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
Despite recent defeats, there are many reasons to hope
n the day this edition of The Leaven is scheduled to arrive in your mailboxes, I will be in Washington, D.C., participating in the annual March for Life, the largest, longest and most under-reported annual public demonstration in our nation’s capital. The pro-life movement, not long ago, after 50 years of fervent prayer and hard work, succeeded in convincing the U.S. Supreme Court to acknowledge its 1973 error by overturning the Roe v. Wade decision. Many of us hoped that this was the beginning of the end of legalized abortion in the United States. Unfortunately, beginning with the defeat of the “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment in Kansas, we have witnessed a series of states — Michigan, Kentucky, Vermont and Ohio — where voters have made abortion a constitutional right or rejected initiatives that would have expanded the legal protections for mothers and children from the horror of abortion. After almost 50 years of court-imposed legalized abortion, Americans, when given the opportunity to vote to protect mothers and children, have chosen instead to protect the abortion industry. For many pro-life Americans, this has been beyond discouraging. Adding to the pro-life disappointment was the wide margin of young, first-time voters supporting the right to kill our own children. When you reflect upon it, this should not be very surprising. Young adult voters have been propagandized in public education, higher education, print and broadcast media, and the entertainment industry to believe abortion is a fundamental right that is necessary for their happiness. Even more troubling has been the violent attacks as well as the legal efforts against pregnancy resource centers that strive to surround women experiencing a difficult pregnancy
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN with a community of emotional, medical, material and economic support. The abortion industry has abandoned the rhetoric of choice and now hails abortion as a fundamental right, encouraging postabortive women to celebrate the deaths of their children. The culture of death appears to be winning. The Father of Lies is working hard to spread discouragement and despair for those who cherish the sanctity of each and every human life. Certainly, the situation appears grave! However, Jesus did not promise his disciples that following him would be easy. In fact, Our Lord told his followers that if they wanted to be his disciples, they had to be prepared to carry the cross. Jesus instructed his disciples that if the civil and religious authorities spoke ill of him, rejected him and persecuted him, then they should not expect anything different or better. This is a battle for the soul of our culture and the future of our society. It is a struggle in defense of true love and the sacredness of human life. We have truth on our side, because Jesus identifies himself as the way, the truth and the life. The culture of death is really based on falsehoods. The first and most important of these deceptions regards the meaning of love. Our popular entertainment culture has portrayed love as nothing more than the pursuit of pleasure. We are encouraged to seek what is easy and what is pleasurable, especially in the area of our human sexuality. However, the truth
is that sexual intimacy, as revealed in our human anatomy, is designed to communicate the deepest and most profound love — love that must be committed, faithful and exclusive. Christian sexual, moral teaching is not about keeping us from experiencing pleasure but beckons us to seek authentic love. A love where what a man and woman communicate physically to each other through their bodies corresponds to the rest of their lives, expresses itself by seeking the other’s good over satisfying one’s own wants and desires. Secondly, our human sexuality is designed to be fruitful. God offers a man and woman the incredible privilege to become with him co-creators of a new human life. With the popularization of oral contraceptives more than 60 years ago, our culture attempted to eliminate the natural fruitfulness of sexual intimacy that is incorporated into the divine design of our bodies. Oral contraceptives are a chemical attack on a woman’s natural, healthy fertility in order to make her body always available to satisfy the pleasure of a man. Contraception, by preventing the conception of a child, attempts to eliminate one of the reasons why sexual intimacy requires an enduring commitment to each other from a man and a woman. Nevertheless, there are inevitable emotional, psychological and spiritual consequences for both the man and the woman. As much as they strive to deny the innate meaning of what they have communicated physically and emotionally to each other, the lies they tell each other result in loneliness and alienation. In addition, there is
no form of contraception that eliminates completely the possibility of a new life being conceived. Planned Parenthood’s own data acknowledges that at least 50% of the abortions they perform are on women who were using some form of contraception: thus, the need for abortion in order to be able to eliminate a new life that is inconvenient to a couple who thought they were engaged in activity for pleasure with no long-term consequences. With the epidemic of pornography in our culture, many prefer to experience sexual pleasure without even the inconvenience of a partner. Sex is disconnected from both of its innate meanings — authentic love and generating life. The pornography industry seeks to addict our children at a young age before they are equipped to defend themselves from its alluring offer of pleasure. The consequences of this distorted understanding of the meaning and purpose of human sexuality have had dramatic and significant cultural impacts. Americans abort, kill, almost one million of our children annually. At the same time, an alarmingly high number of children are being raised without one of their biological parents, usually the father, in their home. Cohabitation has become a cultural norm that sometimes precedes marriage but frequently does not result in marriage. Has the pleasure of sexual intimacy without the strings of committed love or the responsibility of children made us happier and healthier as a society? The social science data reveals something quite different. We should not be surprised by the epidemics of loneliness, anxiety and depression that plague our young people as well as older adults with the prevalence of: 1) divorce; 2) single adults with multiple sexual partners resulting in the trauma of multiple breakups; 3) many women and men living with the inevitable grief and guilt of abortion; 4) many
ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR Jan. 19 Mass with Kansas pilgrims — St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C. Breakfast with adult pilgrims Jan. 20 Catholic Charities Snow Ball — Overland Park Convention Center Jan. 21 Baptism of third or more child — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 22 Mass — St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park “Shepherd’s Voice” recording Open house for priests — residence Jan. 23 Red Mass — St. Joseph, Topeka Jan. 24 IGNITE and March for Life events — Topeka Jan. 25 Mass — Hayden High School, Topeka CEF patrons and benefactors Mass — Church of the Nativity, Leawood Jay. 26 Good News Marriage Cruise — Florida
children growing up in a home without a mother who loves their father and a father who loves their mother and together love the child who is the fruit of their love; and 5) a large number of youth and adults devoid of meaningful relationships and addicted to pornography. The devil wants to discourage us and deceive us into believing our society is incapable of change. However, the Gospel of Jesus was first proclaimed in a pagan, materialistic culture not very different from our own. Within a few generations, the witness of the joy and authentic love of the disciples of Jesus changed and transformed the world. Despite the defeats on ballot initiatives, I see many reasons for hope. One of those reasons for hope is the joy and enthusiasm of the young people participating in the March for Life. Though they may be a minority in their generation, many of their peers will be drawn to the source of their witness of true love, of compassion for the suffering of others and of authentic joy in the midst of life’s
challenges. I am also edified by our pregnancy resource centers and the amazing ministry of compassionate care by their staff and volunteers to rescue women and babies from the tragedy of abortion. Similarly, I am grateful for the many parishes that have embraced the Walking with Moms pastoral initiative, making our parishes islands of compassion amid a sea of indifference. I am inspired by Project Rachel, the postabortion ministry, that brings healing and the mercy of Jesus to those ensnared by the guilt and grief of abortion. It is beautiful to witness the peace and joy that people experience when they realize Jesus loves them in their weakness and not because they are perfect. The truth is irrepressible! The lies of the culture of death cannot stand, because they lead inevitably to sadness and despair. Our culture is longing for witnesses of the “Gospel of Life.” You and I are called to be these witnesses. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life! In the end we know: Life Will Be Victorious!
LOCAL NEWS 3
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
COURTESY PHOTO
Paul and Tracy Satterfield, members of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, play with the elephants during a trip to Africa. The Satterfields joined couples from around the world in Cape Town, South Africa, at the International Council Meeting of Retrouvaille in September of last year.
Couple to serve as international coordinators for Retrouvaille By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org
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VERLAND PARK — Paul and Tracy Satterfield, members of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, said they never imagined they’d travel to Africa for an international marriage conference, let alone get to snuggle up close with elephants. That’s because their marriage almost ended in divorce in 2012. Yet, for three days, beginning on Sept. 22, the pair joined couples from around the world in Cape Town, South Africa, at the International Council Meeting of Retrouvaille, a peer ministry for those struggling in their marriages. And while they were in South Africa, not only did they enjoy a safari, but they also received what they say is an incredible honor. While participating in workshops and meetings in South Africa, Retrouvaille community members throughout the world were voting online for those they wanted to see serve in leadership positions at the international level. On the last day of the conference, the Satterfields, who currently serve as regional coordinators for six states, learned they had been voted to serve as deputy international coordinators for
YOU CAN ASK GOD TO MOVE A MOUNTAIN, BUT YOU’VE ALSO GOT TO PICK UP A SHOVEL. PAUL SATTERFIELD REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR RETROUVAILLE
the global ministry. In two years, they will become the international coordinators. It’s definitely something that was not on their radar. “During our tough times, we never dreamed we’d share our story. We never thought we’d be on that stage telling our story. We never thought we’d be involved in leadership in this organization. We became local leaders, then regional leaders, and then served on the international marketing committee and now this,” Tracy said. In their role as deputy international coordinators, one of their duties will include answering questions from across the globe. One of the most frequent questions they are asked earns a big laugh from Paul every time, says Tracy. “How are you going to fix my spouse,” is the question they hear most frequently.
Paul’s response is always the same. “We’re not. You’re going to,” he said. Tracy agreed. “We tell them up front this is a peer ministry. There’s no counselors or professionals on site. We tell you what we did, and we give you techniques on how to communicate on different things in your life. We teach you that, but you’ve got to do the work. “We cannot work harder on your marriage than you will,” she continued, “and we tell them that it’s going to be a working weekend and that the post sessions are vital to achieving the goal of saving their marriage.” “You can ask God to move a mountain,” Paul said, “but you’ve also got to pick up a shovel.” At the international level, the Satterfields noted, one of the things they will have to do is navigate the different notions and ideas surrounding marriage, such as dowries, living arrangements and legal definitions, all of which can determine, from the church’s perspective, when couples can qualify for Retrouvaille. But they won’t be alone in their ministerial efforts. Father Mark Mason, a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, first met the Satterfields online during a Retrouvaille meeting. The trio formed a bond, and as such, he is the third member of their international team. Coincidental-
President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; or email at: sub@ theleaven.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. For change of address, provide old and new address and parish. Subscriptions $25/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.
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ly, or perhaps providentially, his first Retrouvaille experience years ago was attending a weekend in Kansas City. “It is a place of miracles,” said Father Mason. “Retrouvaille weekend is a place of miracle. Every time I go on a Retrouvaille [experience], it’s like getting a shot in the arm for my own priesthood because I see tangible results of the Gospel in action-healing, forgiveness, restoration, salvation working in the hearts and minds of people. “Plus, I recognize a powerful ministry that lay people are giving to one another. They’re giving the gift that they have received to others, and that’s what the Lord wants us to do.” As for what he sees as the Satterfields’ gifts and how they’ll approach their new international roles, Father Mason said, “They look at Retrouvaille like all of us should the Gospel. It’s something that has been given to us for the sake of ourselves and others that we are to give back. “So, they will be good stewards of Retrouvaille in terms of its present and in terms of its future. Because they know the power that Retrouvaille has in the lives of couples who have no hope at all to stay together.” For more information about Retrouvaille, go to www.helpourmarriage.org.
Editor Rev. Mark Goldasich, stl frmark.goldasich@theleaven.org
Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
Managing Editor Anita McSorley anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
Advertising Coordinator Beth Blankenship beth.blankenship@theleaven.org
Social Media Editor/Reporter Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
4 LOCAL NEWS
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
Camp Tekakwitha registration opens online Jan. 30 By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org
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ILLIAMSBURG — According to a 2017 study published by Saint Mary’s Press in Winona, Minnesota, 74% of Catholics who left the faith said they stopped identifying as Catholic between the ages of 10 and 20. The median age at which participants stopped identifying with the faith was 13 years old. “ W e know that y o u n g people need Registration to experiopens online for 2024 camps as folence a Cathlows: olic Church High School Exthat speaks treme (campers to them entering 9th-12th compregrades this fall), hensively,” Women’s Retreat and said Deacon all Family Camps: Dana NeJan. 30 at 9 a.m. a r mye r, Jr. High 7th/8th Grade Middle School “not just Camps (campers enintellectutering 7th/8th grades ally.” this fall): Feb. 6 at 9 T h e a.m. d e acon, 5th/6th Grade who is the Kateri Camps (campc o d irecers entering 5th/6th tor and grade this fall): Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. co-founder To register or for of Camp more information, go Tekakwitha online to: archkck. at Prairie org/camp-tekakwitha/ Star Ranch dates. in Williamsburg, said youth desire a welcoming church, genuine friendships and a community rooted in faith. “They want to ask sincere, hard questions,” he said. “They do not want to be judged, and they want deep, concise, authentic answers to the questions. “This is what Camp Tekakwitha does.” Registration for the archdiocesan summer camp, which has provided
Register for camp
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LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
Camp Tekakwitha in Williamsburg not only provides campers with many exciting outdoor activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking and water slides, but also a peaceful space to grow deeper in faith through prayer experiences. youth with faith-based adventures for more than two decades, is opening soon. (See sidebars for camp dates and registration information.) Youth who attend the camp will have the opportunity to participate in exciting outdoor activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking, water slides and more. They’ll discover a peaceful space to grow deeper in faith through prayer experiences and meaningful conversations. And this year, the experience will be elevated thanks to improvements that are part of the ranch’s 10-year master plan. The plan includes simple fixes like creating systematic paint schemes, as well as more elaborate enhancements like additional lodging, said Deacon
Camp dates Junior High 1: June 3-8 Kateri 1: June 10-12 Family Camp Special Needs: June 14-16 Junior High 2: June 17-22 Kateri 2: June 24-26 Family Camp III Spanish: June 28-30 Kateri 3: July 8-10 Family Camp 1: July 12-14 Junior High 3: July 15-20 Sr. High Extreme: July 22-28 Women’s Retreat (women 18+): April 26-28
Nearmyer. Some of these are underway while others will require time for fundraising.
Men invited to FIRE retreat Feb. 10-11
Curé of Ars Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle
EAWOOD — Five Boy Scouts of Troop 395 earned Eagle awards and were recognized as Eagle Scouts at a court of honor on Nov. 26, 2023, at Curé of Ars Church here. The five new Eagles are: Colin Klein, Peter Wirtz, Brendan Klein, Josiah Bilbrey and Loc Pham. Each completed a project as one of his final steps in becoming an Eagle: • Klein collected more than 2,000 gently used baby items for Parents as Teachers and Operation Breakthrough to support single mothers. • Wirtz designed and built a Mary grotto at the entrance to the St. Mary’s Home Mothers in Liberty, Missouri. • Klein did a complete rehab of the green space at the entrance of the Veterans Community Project welcome center in Kansas City, Missouri, laying four tons of rock, six tons of topsoil and 175 rows of sod. • Bilbrey collected and donated
“Numerous beautification projects have been completed since last year,” said Deacon Nearmyer, “including enhanced tile in cabin showers, improved road drainage, adding subterranean propane tanks and new lodge siding and paint color. “The overall effect of the cumulative changes is an even more beautiful and comfortable setting for Camp Tekakwitha.” Deacon Nearmyer and the camp staff are thrilled by the plan they’ve created for improvements. “But we concentrated most deeply on finding and forming extraordinary counselors and staff so that the faith will be shared authentically in exciting, deep ways that campers understand and embrace,” he said.
Men of the archdiocese are invited to the annual F.I.R.E. (Fellowship, Inspiration, Renewal, Engagement) retreat at Prairie Star Ranch on Feb 10-11. The retreat offers inspiring talks, Mass, quality time with Jesus and creates new opportunities for friendship. To register, go online to: www.fireministries-retreat.org.
SOLUTION
COURTESY PHOTO
Five Boy Scouts from Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood earned the rank of Eagle recently. They are: (from left) Colin Klein, Peter Wirtz, Brendan Klein, Josiah Bilbrey and Loc Pham. over 300 nonperishable food items, built three storage units and secured over $800 in gift cards for the Veterans Community Project.
• Pham collected and donated more than 700 basic warm winter wear items for the Veterans Community Project.
LOCAL NEWS 5
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
BLAST FROM THE PAST
St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, opens time capsule from over 100 years ago
t Greg Ockwood, left, and Dennis Klumpe work carefully to open the time capsule. Ockwood won the raffle to open the time capsule, while Klumpe, a member of the finance council, volunteered to oversee the historic event. t From left, Charlotte Reed, Greg Burgett, Ruth Jones (in blue gloves), Karen Barezinsky (red coat) and Max Britschge look closely at the items pulled from the time capsule buried under St. Patrick Church in Scranton over 100 years ago. LEAVEN PHOTOS BY KATHRYN WHITE
By Kathryn White Special to The Leaven
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CRANTON — What if you could go back 100 years and catch a glimpse of what was important to your ancestors back then? The parishioners of St. Patrick Parish in Scranton had the opportunity to do just that when on Dec. 16, 2023, they opened a time capsule buried under their church’s cornerstone over 105 years ago. Organized to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the demolition of the old church, the event drew some 75 people and was led by pastor Father Ray May. The opening of the time capsule was followed by coffee and cookies. The earliest Catholic settlement in the Scranton area dates back to 1855. Masses at that time were celebrated by visiting priests in families’ homes. In 1874, parishioners raised $250 to build a church. They purchased property (two lots for $25) and bricks, but those efforts were scrapped due to a lack of funds. Times were tough. In 1877, the current property was deeded to Bishop Louis Fink for $1. With donated stone, a tiny church was erected. It seated 120 people. Under the leadership of Father Owen Degan, a new St. Patrick Church was built in October 1917. It was at that time that the building committee buried the time capsule under the cornerstone. The current church was built almost exactly a century later, in 2018. The original cross from the steeple as well as the bell tower were preserved. And of course, the time capsule. Parishioners decided to open the capsule at the five-year anniversary to honor aging parishioners who still have close ties to that original church family. Nanette O’Flaherty, president of the current finance council, was originally resistant to opening the capsule. “This was buried so long ago, I didn’t think it was ours to open,” she said. “If we didn’t need to tear down the old church, it would still be buried there. It should have been preserved forever.” After hearing from the families who have long histories at the parish, however, she changed her mind. “I believed when we opened the capsule it should be a big event — so that as many people could attend as possible,” she said. The time capsule itself, a copper box, was in excellent condition for a 100-plus-year-old box. “This was a mining community back then. People knew what they were doing,” O’Flaherty said. Those parishioners did, too. They had packed the box full — it took over an hour to carefully lift every item out
AS A CHILD, I ALWAYS HEARD STORIES ABOUT THE TIME CAPSULE UNDER THE CORNERSTONE. IT WAS A FAMILY STORY AND HERE IT WAS REAL! LOIS SHUCK PARISHIONER OF ST. PATRICK, SCRANTON
of the box . . . and the artifacts covered four tables. The contents included a wide variety of items. Newspapers — so many newspapers — from around the region, state and nation. Church missals, Bibles, prayer books, ledgers of donors, and Father Degan’s typewritten baccalaureate sermon. Lists of parishioners. A handful of photos. Huge directories of all the known Catholics in the archdiocese. Rosaries. And a few unknown items because they had deteriorated over time. There were also several envelopes with handwritten notes inscribed by Father Degan. “May God bless the person who finds this and may we meet in heaven,” read one, and inside was a rosary, scapular and a couple of medals. Another envelope, also inscribed by Father Degan, made the crowd smile and laugh: “Finders Keepers Losers
Weepers.” Inside was a dollar bill and coins from a century ago. Jim Heise was one of those in attendance at the capsule-opening event. “My grandfather, Joseph (Anton) Heise, was a member of the parish but was away in Europe during World War I when the church was dedicated and they buried that time capsule.” Heise found his grandfather’s name in some records, but not much else. Joseph and Johncie, his parents, also attended the event. Born in 1932, Joseph (Carl) Heise is the oldest living active member of St. Patrick and had fond memories of growing up in the original church. “The church basement was a dirt floor,” he said. “When they decided to pour the concrete, they used horse-and-wagons to haul the rock to mix the concrete.” He also recalled being an altar server at the young age of 6. “I was supposed to set the missal on the altar,” he said, “but I was too small and it was so big I had to hand it to Father Portleance to carry it.” Father Portleance baptized Heise and was assigned to St. Patrick for 15 years. “During that time, they would ring the bell in the tower on Sundays and on funerals,” said Heise. Heise’s great-uncle and aunt were the second couple to be married in the new church in 1917. Many of the current families who still attend St. Patrick had ancestors who started and built the church — including hosting Mass in
their homes for visiting priests dating back to 1855. Lois Shuck is a lifelong member of St. Patrick. “As a child, I always heard stories about the time capsule under the cornerstone,” she said. “It was a family story and here it was real!” “The people of that time sacrificed to build the church, giving their last nickel. It was such a monument in Scranton, to have a place to worship God,” she continued. “The strength of St. Patrick is so strong.” Max Britschge also received all his sacraments at the church. “It is now our duty to those who come after us,” he said. “Live by example and leave something for future generations.” “I wish I could read all those World War I-era newspapers that were so well preserved as if they were printed yesterday,” he added. “Even if there may not have been anything of monetary value, it does hold spiritual value. We can be joined together with other Christians from a century earlier. Our faith is the same. One family, under God.” Parishioners of St. Patrick hope to create and bury a new time capsule when they build a bell tower and parish hall. “We hope to add to what they buried 100 years ago — not take away. Include the old with the new,” said O’Flaherty. She created “memory cards” which parishioners could record personal parish memories to be included. “There has been so much enthusiasm. People want to share their stories.”
6 LOCAL NEWS
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG Joseph and Kathleen Davis, members of Sacred H e a r t Parish, To n g a n oxie, celeb ra t e d their 60th we d d i n g anniversary on Jan. 11. The couple was married on Jan. 11, 1964, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Collinsville, Illinois. Their children are: Dan, Tony, Paul, Maria and Wayne. They also have five grandchildren.
ANNIVERSARY SUBMISSIONS LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
Participants — (from left) Amanda Foltz, St. Rose, Garnett; Erin Zuelke, Sacred Heart, Ottawa; Breanna Wagner, Holy Trinity, Paola; and Jessica Culbertson-Walker, Holy Trinity — review some resource material during a professional development day.
Educators find new ways to share the load
>> Continued from page 1
“And, so, I got together with a couple of the other principals [in our region] and told them I’d like our teachers to meet, share ideas and build relationships. When one of them is teaching something, they can [contact] each other and say, for example, ‘What are you doing for Advent?’” Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has asked that all the archdiocesan schools teach about St. John Paul II’s theology of the body. The new theology of the body curriculum introduced to the teachers that morning was “Revealed” by Ruah Woods. It replaced the previous version, “Rooted.” “The theology of the body, developed by St. Pope John Paul II, primarily focuses on understanding the truth of the human identity as beings created in God’s image,” said P.J. Greer, principal of Sacred Heart School. “It helps our students answer some of life’s deepest questions, such as: Who am I; What does it mean to have a body and soul; Who is God; and What does it mean to be a child of
God created in his image.” After the presentation of the new curriculum, the teachers broke up by grade level into small groups and discussed how they might teach “Revealed.” “I was pleased with how it went,” said Greer. “I felt the older curriculum we were using was a bit more difficult for our teachers to navigate. What we’re using this year in our classrooms is more effective.” The teachers from different schools established Google documents so they could go online and share their ideas and experiences teaching the new curriculum. “We have a shared document for the first and second grade teachers between the three schools,” said Megan Staley, second grade teacher at Sacred Heart School. “Sacred Heart is teaching it first. I’m making notes as I go to help St. Rose Philippine, who teaches it next, and pass it on to their first and second grade teacher. She’ll add to it — what worked and what didn’t — to then pass it on to Holy Trinity.” “By the time all three schools have
COPYRIGHT © BY CLIFF LEITCH, THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE REFERENCE SITE, WWW.CHRISTIANBIBLEREFERENCE.ORG. USED BY PERMISSION
taught it,” she continued, “we’ll have a clear understanding of the best way to approach it and what things need to be modified. . . . Those kinds of notes are helpful for a teacher [presenting] information for the first time and finding what they need to do to be more successful.” In the afternoon, the teachers studied the fifth and sixth chapters of the Gospel of John. It was led by the Blessed Seelos Institute at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas. “During this school year, we are looking at the Gospel of John,” said Staley. “It’s a once-a-month teacher faith formation. The last year, we’ve gone through Genesis and Exodus. We’re looking at the parallels to the Old Testament and what new we can understand.” Greer felt the day was both worthwhile and helpful to the teachers. “I think they liked it,” said Greer. “I think they like the new theology of the body curriculum and enjoyed the opportunity to meet and discuss things with their peers. It’s a wellreceived activity when we work with the other schools.”
ACROSS 1 Pummel 5 A king of the Amalekites 9 Expenses 14 Prego’s competition 15 Divan 16 Plentiful 17 Epochs 18 Needy 19 __ be with you 20 I am the __ and the Omega 22 Sharp angled path 24 Tinct 25 Tenderly 27 Church part 31 Bird Noah sent out 32 Electroencephalograph (abbr.) 34 Fled 35 Glen 38 Time zone 40 Aflame 42 Growing older 44 Cry 46 Had by Joseph, Joseph and magi 47 Asian capital 48 Thai 50 Pallid 51 Anger 52 Animal doc 55 Sacred
57 59 61 64 66 68 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79
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Jesus turned water into wine here Italian cheese Before Wed. Very small bird Remorse Right angle to a ships length Opera solo Son of Adam and Eve Major division in a long poem Fibber European monetary unit Shade providers Went to the bottom Baths
DOWN 1 Man shall not live by __ alone 2 __ bird 3 Biblical Greek word for love 4 Fanny 5 Poisonous snake 6 My __! 7 Walking (KJV) 8 Use mouthwash 9 Cloak 10 Last letter of Greek alphabet 11 Resort hotel 12 What a nurse gives 13 Perceive 21 Gone by
23 Caustic substance 26 Adam and __ 28 Uses a lever 29 Wife of Abraham 30 Foe 31 Refuse to believe 33 Tribe of Israel 35 Prophetic 36 Ancient Greek marketplace 37 Consider equal 39 Child 41 Fracas 43 Governor (abbr.) 45 Of the Bahamas 49 Charged particle 53 White-tailed sea eagle 54 Adds up 56 Lumber 58 Reduce 60 Santa __ (Columbus’ ship) 61 Truss (2 wds.) 62 Extreme 63 Basic beliefs 65 OT prophet 67 Wields 68 Skit 69 Forbid 70 Vane direction 72 Noah’s boat Solution on page 4
FAMILY 7
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
Of worrying and wild things
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alking through the park on a brisk winter morning, I glance at the parking lot near the playground and notice a colorful van. I see big letters on its side panel: “Worry First.” Wait a minute. I look again. Actually, it says “Worry Free,” the slogan of a utility company’s appliance service. I chuckle. I’ve proven something I know about myself all too well. I am a worrier, and I just let my eyes deceive me. Is that my slogan, I wonder, “Worry first?” We all worry. We worry about the future, about all the things that could go wrong. On the one hand, it’s good to be prepared, but worrying is a spiritual problem. A very human one, but a problem nonetheless. In Wendell Berry’s poem, “The Peace of Wild Things,” he writes of waking in the night “in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be.” How many of us can identify with that? Nighttime is the perfect incubator of worry. Berry tells us that he goes into nature when these fears arise, and I believe he’s speaking metaphorically when he writes, “I go and lie
EFFIE CALDAROLA Effie Caldarola is a wife, mom and grandmother who received her master’s degree in pastoral studies from Seattle University.
down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the heron feeds.” His next line is one I have memorized: “I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.” How much time do we waste taxing our lives with “forethought of grief”? Of all the species in this world, we humans are the only ones who worry about all the “what ifs.” The birds of the air make nests, and they carefully find a spot to protect their eggs from predators. But they are called to this, and they do it naturally and without worry. They live in each present moment. Once a spiritual
OSV NEWS PHOTO/PIXABAY
An image of a man dipping his feet into the water of a lake illustrates one writer’s discussion of how to respond to worry, even in the life of faith. trust. I was taken aback “a bumpy airplane ride worry does not mean director was encourby this comment, bemeant that we were our lives will be withaging me to trust God cause I know that some crashing . . . a mildly out struggle, illness, more. She mentioned people are plagued by critical remark from frustration and certain Jesus’ admonition (Mt genuine anxiety for a friend meant that he death. Turning away 10: 29-31): “Are not two which they may need hated me.” from worry means that sparrows sold for a medical help. This thinking the in the moment, in each penny? And yet not one But for the anxiety worst, expecting the precious and passing of them will fall to the that taxes my life, the worst or worrying moment, we accept the ground outside your worry that exhorts payabout every possibility presence of God with us Father’s care.” ment in wasted time, can dominate our lives. through it all. I immediately wasted opportunities “There’s a reason,” In Jesuit Father mentioned the birds and lost sleep, I know writes Father Martin, James Martin’s book, that would occasionally that God is the answer. “that they call Satan ‘the “Come Forth,” about crash into my plate glass Making the choice in Prince of Lies.’ If Satan Jesus raising Lazarus front window. Was God each present moment can get you to focus on from the dead, he talks caring for them? My to not “worry first” is only the negatives, you about what some psydirector smiled. They a step on the spiritual are living a lie.” chologists call “catastrodied without worry, she journey. Anxiety, another phizing,” always focussaid. No forethought of spiritual director told ing on the negative. grief burdened them. me, means a lack of He gives examples: Turning away from
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Brother Maximilian Mary Anderson, OSB, brews historically been trailblazers in many fields, with
PHOTO BY JD BENNING
Four monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison enjoy a prayerful stroll on the abbey grounds. St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) and other monastic fathers and mothers were concerned with using time well.
AIMING TO LIVE AND WORK BETTER IN 2024? LOOK TO MONKS
By Maria Wiering OSV News
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early 15 years after spending a summer at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut living alongside its Benedictine nuns, Jane Sloan Peters still recalls the tinge of frustration she would feel when the bells tolled, signaling the need to set aside work and head to prayer. “I’m the kind of person that wants to just complete something before I move on to something else. And we couldn’t, you know. We had to stop weeding the hill halfway through and go up [for prayer]”, she said. “And then, you know, maybe you could go back to the task, or maybe it would be time for something else.” While monks and nuns may interrupt their work to keep the prayer hours of their day, stopping a task at a predetermined time is a common mainstream productivity practice. Jeroen Kraaijenbrink, a strategy expert and business consultant in Amsterdam, uses the method himself.
PHOTO BY JD BENNING
St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison features three versions of Christ crucified, the first shown here during his passion. “You stop when the bell rings, and preferably that’s right in the middle of something, because when you stop right in the middle of something, it’s much easier to start again,” he told OSV News. “It’s kind of a time management aspect of the monastery life that makes you very productive.”
In the world of time management, monasticism has been touted as a source of tools for achieving a desired lifestyle. Headlines in magazines like Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider and elsewhere in 2023 highlighted the productivity hack of going “monk mode” — a period (hours to weeks) of deeply focused work, often
Father Jay Kythe, OSB, arrives early before midda laypeople because monks “show a different mod particularly free of social media. While at least a decade old, the idea appears to have had a resurgence and alludes to monks in either Western or Eastern religious traditions. Kraaijenbrink himself drew from the Rule of St. Benedict for his 2019 book, “No More Bananas: How to Keep Your Cool in the Collective Madness.” Unlike his other strategy-focused books, he said “No More Bananas” belongs in the self-help genre and grew out of his personal efforts to find peace in a world that often feels “out of control.” Kraaijenbrink and others, however, are skeptical about approaches that aim to reduce monastic wisdom to techniques and “hacks.” Rather, that wisdom is rooted in principles and practice, he said. In his own search, he spent time in a nearby Benedictine monastery and said he still draws on what he learned — the importance of obedience, practicing silence and speaking less. “It’s not about the grand gestures,” Kraaijenbrink said. “It’s about living life in a humble way” with appropriate flexibility — an approach that might resonate with people as they consider how to shape their lives in 2024. St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) and other monastic fathers and mothers were concerned with using time well. Often considered the father of Western monasticism,
PHOTO BY JD BENNING
s beer for his brothers and guests. Monks have monasteries serving as “centers of innovation.”
PHOTO BY JD BENNING
Father Gabriel Landis, OSB, prays vespers with his brother monks. Community life, which is built around specified times for work and prayer, provides a structure and stability that many envy.
and coaching. He noted that monks, while approaching work with a “different value set” than much of the post-industrial world, have historically been strong producers, with monasteries serving as “centers of innovation where incredible things take place.” The idea for the Monk Manual system, he told OSV News, originated with an article a friend shared that considered the Rule of St. Benedict as “a form of spiritual technology, as in something that is a system, a tool, created by an individual that makes some aspect of life much easier or more efficient or more effective — in this case, human flourishing.” “That got me thinking about monasticism in a different way — that monasticism is actually designed around a particular function, and a lot of times when we look at monks, they actually seem very foreign to us, and maybe even inaccessible,” he said. “But what I saw was that a lot of what we see doesn’t apply to us in monasticism is the external forums, but the functional elements actually apply to all of us.”
PHOTO BY JD BENNING
ay prayer for some time for private prayer in the abbey church. Monasticism has wide appeal among del for what life can look like.” St. Benedict outlined the monastic day in his rule, organizing periods for individual and communal prayer, sleeping, eating, spiritual reading and study, and manual labor. The rule — often summarized as “ora et labora” (“prayer and work”) — continues to shape the rhythms of Benedictine monks and nuns, as well as Trappists and Cistercians. Like people today, medieval monks and nuns struggled to overcome distraction in their mental work and prayer, said Jamie Kreiner, a history professor at the University of Georgia and author of “The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction,” published in January 2023. “They definitely were really sophisticated thinking about this problem (of distraction) but . . . they were the first to admit this (attention) is really hard, and we’re struggling a lot,” she said.
Learning what to say no to Kreiner, an expert in early medieval history, said that she wrote “The Wandering Mind,” in part, to highlight the complexity of medieval monasticism and to push back against “treating monks like they figured it all out.” Her book makes the point that distraction isn’t a modern problem. “We kind of
see early monks as being in this golden age when everyone could just concentrate on whatever they wanted all the time,” she said, “but they actually found out that when they made the choice to dedicate themselves to concentrating as really their professional and spiritual orientation, they still really struggled, even though they wanted to concentrate.” Monks “saw your attention as something that wasn’t just about telling yourself to try harder,” she said. “You have to see your mind as being tied to all these different layers of experience. So, you had to think first about what your goals were and what you wanted from the world. And you had to make decisions about what to say no to, or cut out of your life.” Those decisions included how to approach friendships, time, schedules, books and technology, care for body and mind, and even memory. “We tend to sort of focus mostly on personal hacks, or individual hacks — and those can help, and monks have those — but it was much more systemic and complex for them,” she said. Steven Lawson taps into that holistic approach to living through the Monk Manual, a productivity system he developed and launched in 2018. It’s based on a 90-day planner designed to help its users prepare, act and reflect, but has expanded to include larger goal-setting tools
A different model of what life can be Lawson, a Catholic who has spent time at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, said he thinks monasticism has wide appeal because monks “show a different model for what life can look like, and I think that’s attractive,” he said. “Whether someone is religious, spiritual but not religious, just purely secular, across the board — the majority sentiment is there’s a lot that isn’t working for people today. There’s something missing.” Father Christian Raab, a Benedictine monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, suspects the ubiquity of the smartphone and the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic have kindled new interest in monastic habits as a potential panacea for widespread challenges. The smartphone has “heightened the level of our distraction significantly,” he told OSV News. “It’s a wonderful tool that connects us to so many things. It can also rob us of our interiority. And so, we’re never bored, instead we’re scrolling. We don’t take the time to be reflective. Some people get addicted to various things on their phones and they end up feeling like a slave.” Meanwhile, pandemic-related upheaval also prompted many people to reevaluate their priorities and “question the rat race,” said Father Christian, associate professor of systematic theology at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, and associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper, Indiana.
“I think it’s the call of freedom that attracts people to monasticism,” he said. “They want more freedom from distraction and noise.” He thinks, however, that some time-management approaches that highlight monks romanticize monasticism, or are founded in a vision of monasticism that doesn’t actually exist. Monasticism is a form of religious life, and as such, it includes prayer, community, service and the proclamation of the kingdom, he said, noting that Benedictines have the particular value of stability and charism of hospitality. “That’s what I think the right definition is, but if you talk to most people, what they mean by monasticism — they’re thinking mostly in terms of people who leave the world and are really trying to make a break from noise and distraction in order to perhaps heighten their spiritual connection,” he said. While the “fuga mundi,” or “flight from the world,” is an aspect of monasticism that allows monks to pursue God in a more concentrated way, Father Christian said, “it’s perhaps not as total as some people on the outside imagine it is, or it characterizes maybe part of our day, or certain phases of our life, like the novitiate.”
Learning to listen to yourself If an aspect of monasticism deserves more attention, it’s stability, Father Christian said. “We have a very rootless, mobile society and . . . it’s really culturally impoverished and people feel that,” he said. “I think they’re depressed by the fact that every stop on the interstate looks exactly the same. People just want a richer experience of community and culture and identity.” Kraaijenbrink said listening well is another monastic practice worth adopting. “As a consultant, as a mentor, one of the key skills is listening, and not just listening to the words, but being very sensitive to also what is not said,” he said. That also applies to what one hears interiorly, he added. Likewise, he applies “lectio divina” — a way of slowly reading and rereading, open to divine inspiration through a text, usually Scripture — to all reading, including social media. “Whenever you read a post, don’t just scroll to the next one, but wait until something really resonates. Stop, let it sink in, so that way even social media can be used in a Benedictine fashion,” Kraaijenbrink said. Peters, now an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, New York, said her time at Abbey of Regina Laudis helped her connect prayer and work. “The stuff you’re doing with your hands and the things you’re giving attention to can inform and give a kind of a shape to your spiritual life,” she said. Pulling garden weeds, for example, makes space to ask: “What does it look like to pull the weeds in your heart? Your imagination is fueled in very concrete ways to bring that back to your spiritual life.” Peters’ experience also influences how she thinks of time and interruption. She aims to better accept interruption for the purposes of prayer or charity — an approach she finds especially helpful as the mother of two young sons. “It proposes a kind of humility,” she said, “like, what you’re doing right now is important, and there are things that are more important, and you’re kind of putting your work in its proper perspective in the grand scheme of things.”
10 WORLD
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
Biblical study should have pastoral impact, pope tells students By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
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ATICAN CITY (CNS) — For Catholics, studying Scripture and archaeology in the land of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection must be more than a scholarly exercise, Pope Francis said; it should have the pastoral dimension of helping others know and live the Gospel. “In this time, in which the Lord asks us to listen and know better his word, to make it resonate in the world in an ever more comprehensible way, your discreet and impassioned work is more valuable than ever,” the pope told students and staff of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, a Jerusalem-based graduate school of Scripture and archaeology studies. Pope Francis met the group at the Vatican Jan. 15 in a special audience celebrating the 100th anniversary of the institute founded and run by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Franciscan Father Massimo Fusarelli, minister general of the order, joined the group. The institute has been involved in the archaeological excavation of sites featured prominently in the New Testament, including Bethany, Bethlehem, Cana, Capernaum, Emmaus, Magdala, Nazareth, Mt. Nebo, Tabgha and Mt. Tabor, according to the institute’s website. Pope Francis noted how, since the Israeli-Hamas conflict began in October, “we cannot go there easily because the war zone prevents it.” “The current situation of the Holy Land and of the peoples who inhabit it
CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA
Pope Francis meets with students and staff from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem at the Vatican Jan. 15, 2024, encouraging their studies and praying for peace in the Holy Land. concerns and pains us. It is very grave from every point of view. It is very grave,” the pope said. “We must pray and act tirelessly so that this tragedy may end.” Pope Francis thanked the Franciscans for their continued presence and work in the Holy Land, urging them to “go forward with courage.” And he urged the students and staff
to approach the Scriptures like St. Francis of Assisi taught. For the saint, the pope said, “knowledge of the word of God, and its study, are not simply matters of erudition, but experiences of a sapiential nature, whose purpose, in faith, is to help people to live the Gospel better and to make them good.” “Let the rigorous and scientific study of biblical sources, enriched by the
most updated methods and disciplines, always be united with contact with the life of the holy people of God and aimed at their pastoral service,” the pope told them. “Outside the body of the church, these studies serve nothing. What counts is the heart of the church, of the Holy Mother Church.”
Carpenters hail completion of Notre Dame roof reconstruction By Caroline de Sury OSV News
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ARIS (OSV News) — In a historic year for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which the French capital and the whole world will see reopen Dec. 8, milestones will be reported on regularly, but this one made Parisians shed a tear or two: Reconstruction of the roof structure is now completed. On Jan. 12, in the freezing cold, a traditional bouquet of flowers was placed on top of the wooden structure of the cathedral apse. The last rafter had been placed under the snow, three days earlier. Notre Dame Cathedral was ravaged by a devastating fire in 2019 that sent its spire crumbling down, and restoration works continue. This final structural work on the roof had been entrusted to Ateliers Perrault, a French company with roots in Anjou in the Loire Valley famous for its castles, or châteaux, in southwestern France. The company dates back to the 18th century and specializes in the restoration of historic buildings. One of its experienced carpenters, Julien Mulvet, was in charge of the rooftop project at the cathedral. Accompanied by his young apprentice, 19-year-old Leonard Laforest, he placed the yellow mimosas bouquet at the top. “This is how it is traditionally done in the carpenters profession,” Mulvet explained to OSV News. “It is a symbol of
OSV NEWS PHOTO/SARAH MEYSSONNIER, REUTERS
Reconstruction of the medieval choir framework of the Notre Dame Cathedral is pictured in Paris Jan. 12. The cathedral was ravaged by a fire in 2019 that sent its spire crumbling down, and restoration work continues before the whole world will see the cathedral reopen Dec. 8. passing on knowledge to the youngest generations.” The symbolic flower gesture was warmly applauded by the large number of craftsmen who were standing with their white helmets at the foot of the building and enthusiastically congratulated their comrades. “What moved me the most was that all the craftsmen who took part in this work had come from all over France for this moment,” Mulvet told OSV News, “including the small-scale craftspeople who passed on to us the skills that were
used in the 12th century by the builders of the cathedral.” “I am very grateful to those small independent craftsmen,” Mulvet explained. “Our company usually works with machines and did not master this [manual] technique. Thanks to them we learnt how to cut the beams with axes, to take account of the wood fibers by following them with the eye, much better than with a machine.” Mulvet remembered how on May 25, 2023, Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin, who was at the time in charge of overseeing
the reconstruction of Notre Dame, visited Ateliers Perrault to see the assembly test of the cathedral’s choir frame. The carpenter welcomed him and offered him an ax as a symbol of the ancient technique rediscovered on the exceptional occasion of rebuilding the medieval French masterpiece. Following the tragic death of the general during a mountain hike in August 2023, Mulvet then collaborated with Philippe Jost, who now chairs the Rebâtir Notre Dame public institution responsible for overseeing the reconstruction. Symbolically, it was Jost, along with the cathedral’s rector-archpriest, Father Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, who put the last two wooden handmade dowels at the top of the structure. Their hammer blows resounded in the cold, as they fixed the last rafter of the choir, a beam 40 feet long and weighing 770 pounds. “It was a great moment,” Father Ribadeau Dumas told OSV News. “A moment of resurrection of this oak framework after it had collapsed during the fire on April 15, 2019.” Father Ribadeau Dumas lives at the very foot of the cathedral where he frequently comes to meet the craftsmen. “I found these carpenters particularly wonderful,” he told OSV News. “They worked with great peace, strength and joy, aware that they are not working for an ordinary house, but for a church, to make it available for worship and visits.”
FEATURE 11
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
ROME’S UNDERGROUND Ancient hidden histories
By Emily Stimpson Chapman OSV News
R
OME (OSV News) — In Rome, the churches are legion. Little parishes and great basilicas alike meet travelers on every block of the ancient city, their facades mingling with shops and restaurants, apartments and ancient ruins. Although unique visions of beauty and faith greet all those who cross the thresholds of these churches, on the outside precious few stand out, their sheer number often giving architectural wonders the appearance of sameness. For the most part, these churches are simply part of the city’s fabric, woven in as tightly as the government building to the left and the cappuccino bar to the right. What’s true above is also true below. Beneath the great basilicas of Rome, beneath the masterpieces of Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini, are the ruins of temples and domiciles, shops and baths. The same white marble remnants of the pagan past that lie scattered about Rome’s city center also lie buried in the basements of cathedrals. Upon them, the churches were built. A journey down into the dark, humid corridors that snake below Rome’s houses of prayer reveal some surprising Christian foundations. Consider the Basilica of Sts. John and Paul. Originally constructed in the early fifth century, the basilica pays tribute not to the apostles John and Paul, but rather the martyrs John and Paul, saints of the Roman Canon. Today, its interior bears few traces of its paleo-Christian beginnings. But below, it’s a different story. There, more than 20 interweaving rooms tell the tale of the church’s origins. The tale is a layered one. It begins in the second century A.D. when two apartment complexes were constructed near the Roman Forum. Joined by a courtyard, the buildings’ windows afforded the families who dwelt there a bird’s-eye view of military parades and the travels of the great. Decades later, in the third century, the lower level of the complex was converted into an arcade of shops. Later still, in the early fourth century, Rome’s population waned and the complex was once more restyled, this time into a single, noble dwelling. The home’s first owners are unknown, but eventually two eunuchs of the emperor’s court, the imperial guards John and Paul, took up residence there. For a time, they served the emperor and practiced their Christian faith freely. But that changed with the accession of Julian the Apostate. Julian’s reign was short, from 360-363, but not short enough for John and Paul. Someone betrayed their secret, soldiers were sent to their home, and when they refused to worship Julian, they were murdered on the spot. Fellow Christians buried the martyrs in the home’s walls. Soon afterward, three of them, Sts. Crispus, Crispiniano and Benedetta, were caught praying at the tomb. More martyrs were made, and they too were buried inside the home.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA
Pope Francis walks through the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica as he visits the tombs of deceased popes at the Vatican on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, 2020.
EACH OF THESE UNDERGROUND WORLDS THROUGH WHICH PRIVILEGED PILGRIMS NOW PASS, SHED LIGHT ON A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORY. Eventually, Christians arranged for the purchase of the building, and under the auspices of the senator Bizante, remodeled the space for worship. A few decades later, Bizante’s son Pammachio undertook the building of the great basilica above, using the pillars of the martyrs’ home as his foundation. The rooms beneath and the story they told were forgotten. The martyrs alone were remembered until, in the late 19th century, the Passionist Fathers who ran the basilica went exploring. It’s possible they got the idea from the Irish Dominicans, who had done some exploring of their own on the opposite side of the Forum. In 1857, they went poking around the foundations of the Basilica of St. Clement, discovering not only the original fourth-century basilica, but also another, lower level, which formed the foundation of the first basilica. That basilica was destroyed in 1084 when Norman soldiers sacked the streets of Rome. Rather than restore the original, builders filled in the lower level with rubble and dirt and used its walls as the new building’s foundation. Historically, it’s important. From its beginnings as one of the first churches of the newly Christian empire to its
more recent history as a shelter for Jewish refugees during World War II, its walls have many stories to tell. But the most interesting stories may lie one level deeper. There, archaeologists have uncovered two more ancient buildings, which hint at the reason why the Basilica of St. Clement was built on that spot. The first building appears to have been the home of a wealthy Roman family, built shortly after Nero set fire to Rome, in A.D. 64. Later, the home’s owners donated it to pagan worshippers. There’s always something appropriate about building a Catholic church over a pagan temple, but the real reason for the location of the Basilica of St. Clement may have more to do with the adjacent building, which was at first thought to be a government building. But later research turned up evidence of a much different history. That evidence suggests that a wealthy Christian named Clement bought the property from Nero and there built an office for his freed slave, a Jewish convert to Christianity. That slave had taken his former master’s name, and now shepherded the church as its fourth pope: St. Clement. In short, the building upon which the Basilica of St. Clement was built may have been nothing less than the first Vatican. The modern-day Vatican has an underground story of its own, a story of buildings and bones uncovered at the height of World War II. At the same time Pope Pius XII was hiding Jews in the Basilica of St. Clement, he also commissioned digging beneath the main altar of St. Peter’s. There, archaeologists found narrow streets paved with brick and lined with mausoleums. It was a necropolis, a long forgotten burial ground of ancient Rome hidden from view since the early fourth century, when Constantine, needing
flat ground upon which to construct the first Basilica of St. Peter, razed the hill upon which the mausoleums sat. It had to be that hill, of course, because Christian tradition held that St. Peter was crucified and buried there. Instead of an elaborate mausoleum, his resting place was a humble hole in the ground, marked at first by the hidden tributes of Christians, then later by a small marble monument, the Trophy of Gaius. Above that Trophy, Constantine was said to have placed his basilica’s altar. And in that same spot, more than a millennium later, Bernini too placed his altar. Some believed the stories. Others thought them to be pious legends. But when Pope Pius XII’s archaeologists went exploring, they found the Trophy of Gaius right where it was supposed to be, directly under the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. They also found a wall covered in early Christian graffiti, marked again and again with one name: Peter. Most importantly, they found, wrapped in an ancient purple cloth, what likely are the skeletal remains of the fisherman pope. Each of these underground worlds through which privileged pilgrims now pass, shed light on a different aspect of early Christian history. But each in its own way tells the same story, a story of a faith so vibrant, beautiful and true that it permeated the very stones of a wayward world. And in that, they not only have a story to tell, but also a reminder to give. They remind all Christians that it’s not enough to have penetrated the past. The faith must also penetrate the present. It must penetrate what lies all around its churches — the streets and shops, offices and souls of the postmodern world. It happened once before. And with grace, it can happen again.
12 CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT Parish administrator - Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park is seeking to hire a full-time parish administrator as our current administrator will retire in the spring of 2024. This is a leadership position, responsible for the efficient and effective administration of the financial condition, physical plant and human resources of the parish, serving as the primary on-site decision maker with matters of significance. This position reports to the pastor. Supervisory responsibilities include: assigning, scheduling, monitoring and controlling work; evaluating and managing performance of staff; and interviewing, hiring and orienting new employees. Prerequisite knowledge, skills and abilities include (among others): practicing Catholic with knowledge of Catholic moral and social teachings preferred; work experience in business administration, accounting or finance; supervisory experience; working knowledge of Microsoft Office products; strong verbal and written communications. Interested applicants may apply online at: Indeed. com by entering the job title “parish administrator” and the city “Overland Park” at: https://www.indeed. com; by email to: qhradmin@qhr-opks.org; or U.S. mail at Parish Administrator, Queen of the Holy Rosary, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, KS 66204. Youth minister - Prince of Peace Parish in Olathe is seeking an exceptional and experienced leader who desires to witness, serve and form teens and their families. They will work with a volunteer core team to envision, plan and execute a youth ministry program in accord with the archdiocesan guidelines for youth formation and in collaboration with the pastor’s mission and vision. The youth minister is responsible for the implementation of weekly youth programs for both junior and senior high. Seeking a Catholic experienced in youth ministry who will encourage and train adult core and youth team leaders. The position has the possibility to be full time with benefits. For more information, go to: www.popolathe.org/jobs. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to April Bailey, director of faith formation, at: abailey@popolathe. org. Skilled maintenance worker - St. Pius X Parish, Mission, is seeking a skilled maintenance worker to perform general upkeep and repairs: applying basic fixes to equipment and building systems, and ensuring facilities are tidy and functional. Will include some spot cleaning of church, parish and rectory. We are looking for candidates with experience and solid technical knowledge, who are reliable with a keen eye for detail, a self-starter with motivation to work independently or with others to provide thorough and efficient work. Work hours can be flexible. Full time or part time. Interested applicants can email resumes and work history to: galba@spxmission.org. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd coordinator - St. Ann Parish in Prairie Village is seeking a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd coordinator. The program serves children ages three - twelve years old and school grades K - 12. Responsibilities include collaboration with catechists, assistants, teachers and administration: creating schedules; maintaining atrium material and leading a limited number of atrium sessions. Collaborative communication skills and prayerful discernment important. Flexible hours, 20 per week. L1 and L2 CGS certification required. To apply or for more information, contact Father Craig Maxim at: frcraig@stannpv.org. Nonmedical caregivers - Saint Rita Home Care is hiring nonmedical caregivers for seniors. Seeking compassionate individuals to fill all shifts. We serve people in Johnson, Douglas, Miami, Franklin and Leavenworth counties. Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Call or text Renee Margush at (913) 229-4267, or: rmargush@saintritahc. com. Member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe. Part-time database manager - Part-time database manager needed at St. John the Evangelist Parish in downtown Lawrence. Manager is responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of a confidential and time-sensitive nature in the parish database program (ParishStaq). Assuring a steady completion of workload in a timely manner is key to success in this position. To apply, send cover letter and resume to Father John Cousins at: frjohn@ sjevangelist.com; 1229 Vermont St., Lawrence, KS 66044. To view the complete job description, visit our website at: sjevangelist.com/jobs. Caregivers needed - Daughter & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match up hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG Internal auditor - The finance office in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking to hire a fulltime internal auditor who would be responsible for performing audits of parish finances on a rotating basis and for special purposes as needed. A minimum of three years’ experience in internal and/or external auditing is required. To apply, go online to: archkck. org and scroll down to “People,” click on “Employment,” scroll down to “Openings in our Archdiocese” and click on “Internal Auditor.” Director of development and stewardship - The director of development and stewardship of St. John the Evangelist in Lawrence works closely with the pastor and school principal to ensure the long-term stability of the parish — which includes the church and school — by building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including parishioners, parents alumni, volunteers and community members. The director of development and stewardship will implement and oversee all development and stewardship activities necessary to grow and expand the base of financial support for the parish from a broad range of sources. To apply, send cover letter and resume to Father John Cousins at: frjohn@sjevangelist.com; or mail to Father John Cousins, 1229 Vermont St., Lawrence, KS 66044. To view the complete job description, visit our website at: sjevangelist.com/jobs. Faculty and adjunct faculty job openings - Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, is a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served. Faculty job openings - no current openings. Adjunct faculty job openings: clinical nursing faculty adjunct. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers. Associate superintendent of schools - The archdiocesan Catholic schools office is seeking to hire a full-time associate superintendent of schools. He/she would be responsible for collaborating with the superintendent and other office staff to support school leaders in ways that will enable them to be spiritual and effective leaders for teachers. A minimum of seven years’ experience in educational leadership, some of which must be in Catholic schools leadership, is required. Please visit “Employment Opportunities” on the archdiocesan website for more information or to apply. Go online to: archkck.org, scroll to the bottom and click on “Employment Opportunities,” then scroll down to “Openings in our Archdiocese,” then click on “Associate Superintendent of Schools.” Now hiring - drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees are encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need! Call (913) 262-5190 or visit www.assistedtransportation. com for more information. EEO. Make a meaningful impact today - Join L’Arche Heartland as a direct support professional in our residential homes. Contribute to the empowerment and enrichment of adults with developmental disabilities as they engage in meaningful lifestyles. We have immediate full-time positions available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% coverage for medical, dental and vision expenses. Conveniently situated in downtown Overland Park. Training provided. Apply now by visiting our website at: www.larcheks.org/join-our-team or by emailing: james@larcheks.org. Early childhood educators - With multiple locations in Johnson County, Special Beginnings Early Learning Center provides high quality child-care in a safe, loving Christian environment. Our classrooms are full and we are looking to add to our amazing team. We are looking for both full-time and part-time teachers for all ages of children. If you have an excellent work ethic, a heart for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education, we would love to meet you. For more information or to apply, call Anne at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102. Caregiver needed - Are you looking for an in-home caregiving opportunity? The Shikles family is urgently hiring a dedicated and compassionate direct support worker for the care of Stephen Shikles. Pay is $19.62 per hour; flexible hours up to 40 hours per week. For more information, please contact Lisa Shikles at (913) 333-0887 or lisa.shikles@gmail.com. Scientific equipment technician - Would you like to make a difference in a small growing company? Seeking individuals looking for flexible part-time work maintaining and repairing small equipment for our family company which has been in the local area for over 40 years. Service is completed at customer’s locations locally and within a four-state area. Dependable transportation is a must. Positive attitude, dependability, time management and self-motivation skills, as well as being quality- and customer-oriented are required. Mostly on-the-job training. Electrical knowledge a plus. Please send resume to: Yourcareer101@gmail.com.
Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: academic advisor, director of development, and admissions counselor. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.
SERVICES Memory quilts - Preserve your memories in a keepsake quality quilt, pillows, etc. Custom designed from your T-shirt collection, baby clothes, sports memorabilia, neckties . . . Quilted Memories. (913) 649-2704. 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. WELLERBEEF.COM - Let us be your local farm source for beef for your dinner table. Local, Catholic, family farm. Humanely raised. No antibiotics/hormones. Grass fed and traditional. Starter pack to a whole cow. Free delivery in Kansas City area. We pay the butcher’s processing fees. MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 9274347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com. Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footing, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371, or email: dandeeconst@aol.com.
HOME IMPROVEMENT Free estimates - We are offering free estimates to all those thinking about painting this year. At Stone Painting, we put the customer first. We provide interior, exterior house painting along with deck staining, fence painting, etc. Stone Painting ensures a professional, clean and fair-priced job. Call today for your free estimate. (913) 963-6465. 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. Local Handyman - Painting int. and ext., wood rot, mason repair), gutter cleaning (gutter covers), dryer vent cleaning, sump pump (replace, add new), windows, doors (interior and exterior) honey-do list, window cleaning and more! Member of Holy Angels Parish, Basehor. Call Billy at (913) 927-4118. Tradesman - I do bathrooms, kitchens, basements, tile and all kinds of flooring, as well as painting, staining, sheetrock, knockdown ceilings, decks and fences. My family and I always appreciate the support. Please call Joshua at (913) 709-7230. Check out my Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ FSHome ExteriorsandRemodeling. Call or email Joshua to set up a free estimate at (913) 709-7230 or at: josh.fser@gmail.com. Popcorn ceiling texture removal Call Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience. Interior painting specialist. Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Haus to home remodeling - Let’s give that room a nice face-lift! Specializing in affordable room remodeling. From small projects to bathrooms and basements. We have lots of other services, too: tile, paint, carpentry, wood rot, decks, drywall, etc. Free estimates. For photos of our projects and to find out more about our company, visit us at: Haustohomekc. com or call Cole at (913) 544-7352. DRC Construction We’ll get the job done right the first time. Windows - Doors - Decks - Siding Repair or replace, we will work with you to solve your problems. Choose us for any window, door, siding or deck project and be glad you did. Everything is guaranteed 100% www.windowservicesoverlandpark.com drcconswindows@gmail.com (913) 461-4052
FOR SALE Residential lifts - New and recycled. Stair lifts, porch lifts, ceiling lifts and elevators. St. Michael’s parishioners. KC Lift & Elevator at (913) 327-5557. (Formerly Silver Cross - KC).
For sale - Two plots at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Located in section 3 Old, lot 136, plots 6 and 10. Markers only. Contact Ann at (913) 620-5687. For sale - Two niches/columbarium at Resurrection Cemetery located in the Holy Family Mausoleum, corridor/garden, Nativity section, tier E1, niches 206 - 208. Original cost $5200; selling for $4000. Call Greg at (816) 944-6886.
REAL ESTATE We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905. We buy houses and whole estates - We are local and family-owned, and will make you a fair cash offer. We buy houses in any condition. No fees or commissions and can close on the date of your choice. Selling your house has never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.
PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage - Join us for a pilgrimage to Medjugorje March 12 - 20, 2024; May 14 - 22, 2024; and June 16 - 28, 2024 (Poland and Medjugorje). Are you being called to go? Hosted by visionary Mirjana Soldo. Call Grace Legaspi for details at (913) 449-1806.
CAREGIVING Caregiving - We provide personal assistance, companionship, care management, and transportation for seniors in their home, assisted living or nursing facilities. We also provide respite care for main caregivers needing some personal time. Call Daughters & Company at (913) 341-2500 and speak with Laurie, Pat or Gary. Family member with dementia or need help at home? - We specialize in helping seniors live SAFELY at home, where they want to live! We also offer free dementia training and resources for families and caregivers. Benefits of Home - Senior Care, www. Benefitsofhome.com or call (913) 422-1591. Caring companion - I am a certified nursing assistant with 10-plus years’ experience with stroke, Alzheimer’s, dementia patients. I assist with personal care service and offer non-emergency, medical transportation. Call (816) 859-2252.
WANTED TO BUY Wanted to buy - Do you have a car or truck that you need to get rid of? If you do, CALL ME! I’m a cash buyer. We’re Holy Trinity parishioners. My name is Mark. (913) 980-4905. Wanted to buy - Antique/vintage jewelry, paintings, pottery, sterling, etc. Single pieces or estate. Renee, (913) 475-7393. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee. Will buy firearms and related accessories - One or a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee. Cash paid - for old tools, old jewelry, old furniture, military items, fishing lures, hunting items, old crocks, arrowheads and old signs. I buy all kinds of older things — house or barn contents, an estate or just one item. Call Patricia any time at (913) 515-2950. Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa. Wanted to buy - I buy coin collections, military items, pocket watches, jewelry, class rings, old toys, holiday items and more. Cash in hand. Call Kirk at (913) 2139843
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING The Leaven reaches approximately 50,000 subscribers. Cost is $20 for the first five lines, $1.50 per line thereafter. To purchase a Leaven classified ad, email: beth.blankenship@theleaven.org. The appearance of advertising in The Leaven is not an endorsement by either the newspaper or the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. The Leaven attempts to screen advertisers and copy, but is not responsible for claims and representations made in advertisements.
CALENDAR 13
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ASSOCIATION Church of the Nativity (Magi Room) 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Jan. 20 at 8:15 a.m.
The morning will begin with Mass to be followed by a meeting from 9 - 11 a.m. The Daughters of St. Francis de Sales invite women to deepen virtues and practice holiness in everyday life. Come reflect with us on our monthly meditation topic — “Discretion in the tradition of Salesian spirituality” — after Mass. All materials are provided and coffee and light refreshments will be served. To attend, contact Ruth Owens by email at: rowens4853@gmail.com, or call Barbara McClung at (816) 535-4531 or send an email to: willabird1960@gmail.com. For additional information, visit the website at: www.sfdassociation.org.
JANUARY ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish 615 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 21 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.
We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary. Benediction will follow, as well as an opportunity for attendees to enroll in the brown scapular. For more information, visit the website at: www.rosaryrallieskc.org.
DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5972 S.W. 25th St., Topeka Jan. 21 at 12:40 p.m.
A rosary will be followed by the business meeting and social time. If anyone knows of a member or family member of the Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Shirley Gustafson at (785) 554-3028 or chancellor Gen Orozco at (785) 213-0374.
ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKE BREAKFAST St. Patrick Parish (center) 1066 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 21 from 8 - 11 a.m.
All you can eat pancake breakfast sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Bicentennial Council. The cost for breakfast is a
freewill offering. It will include pancakes, sausage, eggs, and biscuits and gravy, along with juice and coffee.
more information and to register, or call 1 (800) 470-2230. Space is limited. Early registration is suggested.
RED MASS St. Joseph Parish 227 S.W. Van Buren St., Topeka Jan. 23 at noon
WOMEN’S RETREAT Church of the Nativity 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Join us for the annual Red Mass celebrated by the bishops of Kansas. The Red Mass is a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and a prayer for the virtues of wisdom, understanding, counsel, patience, energy and courage. Lawyers, judges, government officials, scholars and others working in the legal field are invited to attend the Red Mass to pray for divine guidance over their work. People of all faiths are invited to join in celebrating the Red Mass. For any legislator, staff, state employees, judges and lawyers planning to attend, please RSVP to receive a “to-go” lunch box following the Mass. RSVP can be submitted to Lucrecia Nold by email at: lucrecia@kansascatholic.org.
SYMPTO-THERMAL METHOD OF NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING St. John the Evangelist Parish (extra building) 200 W. 13th St., Lawrence Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
A Couple to Couple League sponsored class in using the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning during the postpartum period takes place at St. John the Evangelist campus, 200 W. 13th St., Lawrence. For more information about this class or other self-paced online classes, call Shannon or John Rasmussen at (785) 749-1015. Preregistration is required online at: www.ccli.org.
RETROUVAILLE Jan. 26 - 28 Registration closes Jan. 25
Is your marriage struggling or do you know a marriage that is struggling? Retrouvaille is a program that helps couples restore their marriage and restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. This is a practical program to improve communication and help couples connect. God wants JOY in our lives and families and this program can make that happen. Go online to: www.helpourmarriage.org for
There will be a Mass at 8:30 a.m. for those wishing to attend. The retreat will begin at 9 a.m. The cost is $20 and includes breakfast. The speakers will be Catherine Cheney, Brenna Vidal and Father Luke Doyle. Register online at: www.kcnativity.org/journey or send an email to Susan Vogliardo at: suesues6@ hotmail.com.
TASTE OF KCK Resurrection School 425 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas Jan. 27 from 6 - 9 p.m.
The evening will begin with a social at 6 p.m. An ethnic buffet dinner follows at 7 p.m. with a program at 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit Resurrection School students through need-based scholarships, and supports, and the daily cost of operating a school. For more information, to purchase a ticket or make a donation, visit the website at: rcskck.org/taste-of-kck or call (913) 371-8101. STREAM initiatives, academic programing and supports, and the daily cost of operating a school. For more information, to purchase a ticket or make a donation, visit the website at: rcskck.org/ taste-of-kck or call (913) 371-8101.
DIVINE MERCY MARRIAGE RETREAT Divine Mercy Parish 555 W. Main St., Gardner Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., will be the featured speaker at this year’s Divine Mercy marriage retreat: “Beholding Our Spouse in Love: Emotional Intimacy with Spouse and God.” Deacon Keating is an award-winning author and professor of spiritual theology at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He has written many essays on ethics, spirituality and clergy formation as well as written, co-written or edited over 30 books. He also has a podcast called “Discerning Hearts.” The cost is $50 per couple, lunch included. Please call (913) 856-7781 for reservations.
JOURNEY BY GRACE WOMEN’S EVENING St. Ann Parish (chapel) 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village Feb. 8 from 6 - 8 p.m.
All women are invited to an evening focused on Journey By Grace. This will be a night to prepare your mind and soul for Lent. Register online at: www.stannpv.org/ grace. The cost is $10 per person and is sponsored by the St. Ann Women’s Club.
‘A GREAT SYMPHONY OF PRAYER’ SILENT RETREAT Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Rd., Easton Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. - Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m.
Pope Francis urges us to prepare for the 2025 Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope” by calling for a “Great Symphony of Prayer” in the year 2024. Join us as we prepare for Lent by deepening our prayer life and love of God by reflecting on what we pray, how we pray and why we pray. The Our Father prayer will be examined through the lens of being a life program for disciples. There will be conferences, spiritual direction, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms: $170 singles/ $250 couples or single guest rooms: $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the individual retreat form online at: Christspeace. com or call (913) 773-8255.
‘LISTEN FOR THE VOICE IN THE QUIET’ Precious Blood Renewal Center 2120 St. Gaspar Way Liberty, Missouri Feb. 22-25
God created each of us for a purpose. But because so many things battle for our attention, many of us have trouble hearing the voice of God revealing the next step in living that purpose. Step aside for some quiet time in silence with God under the guidance of a spiritual director during a directed retreat. Contact the Renewal Center by email at: info@pbrenewalcenter.org or by calling (816) 415-3745 and one of our directors will reach out to you with more information.
14 COLUMNISTS
JANUARY 19, 2024 | THELEAVEN.ORG
DAILY READINGS THIRD WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Jan. 21 THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Jon 3: 1-5, 10 Ps 25: 4-9 1 Cor 7: 29-31 Mk 1: 14-20 Jan. 22 Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children 2 Sm 5: 1-7, 10 Ps 89: 20-22, 25-26 Mk 3: 22-30 Jan. 23 Vincent, deacon, martyr; Marianne Cope, virgin 2 Sm 6: 12b-15, 17-19 Ps 24: 7-10 Mk 3: 31-35 Jan. 24 Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of the church 2 Sm 7: 4-17 Ps 89: 4-5, 27-30 Mk 4: 1-20 Jan. 25 THE CONVERSION OF PAUL Acts 22: 3-16 Ps 117: 1-2 Mk 16: 15-18 Jan. 26 Timothy and Titus, bishops 2 Tm 1: 1-8 Ps 96: 1-3, 7-8a, 10 Mk 4: 26-34 Jan. 27 Angela Merici, virgin 2 Sm 12: 1-7a, 10-17 Ps 51: 12-17 Mk 4: 35-41
BLESSED THOMAS PICKERING c. 1620-1679
This English Benedictine lay brother was a martyr of the Popish Plot. He professed vows in France in 1660 and was sent to London in 1665 as procurator of a small community celebrating liturgies in the chapel of Queen Catherine of Braganza. Though other monks were banished, he was allowed to stay. Because of the fictitious plot, in which Titus Oates alleged that King Charles II would be assassinated and the French king would re-establish Catholicism in England, three Jesuits, Pickering and a layman were found guilty of conspiracy.
A
Here’s how to read God like a book
while back, I saw a Facebook post from someone I knew to be a lifelong Catholic. She was now attending a non-Catholic church, a place “where they teach from the Bible.” Wow. Perhaps it’s attitudes like this that prompted Pope Francis in 2019 to declare that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God. . . . A day devoted to the Bible should not be seen as a yearly event but rather a yearlong event, for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord, who continues to speak his word and to break bread in the community of believers.” I’m not sure what that woman’s Facebook post meant since our Mass, baptisms and penance services, for example, are filled with readings from the Bible. If, however, she’s saying many Catholics are not
MARK MY WORDS
FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.
immersed in or comfortable praying with the Bible on their own, I can see her point. That’s what Pope Francis is getting at with this Sunday of the Word of God, celebrated this year on Jan. 21. I’m encouraged that many parishes offer Bible studies to help people better understand the Scriptures and their place in our prayer life. It reminds me of the story about a man
walking in the desert who heard a voice that said, “Pick up some pebbles; put them in your pocket, and tomorrow you will be both sorry and glad.” The guy picks up a handful of pebbles and puts them in his pocket. The next morning, he reaches into his pocket to find diamonds, rubies and emeralds. He was both glad and sorry: Glad he’d picked up some pebbles; sorry he hadn’t picked up more. And so, too, it is with the word of God. (Story adapted from Father Brian Cavanaugh’s “Sower’s Seeds of Encouragement: Fifth Planting.”) To ensure that you
don’t miss out on the treasures in the Bible, here are a few suggestions for making the Scriptures a part of your daily prayer routine. First, check which translation of the Bible you’re using. Some older Catholic versions were cumbersome to read. It might be time to buy a new one. Two of my favorites are the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible that is chock-full of maps, notes of key words and many helpful explanations to guide folks in understanding what they’re reading. For those interested in “lectio divina” — a prayerful way to read a passage in the Bible, reflect on it, pray with it and then act on it — get The Catholic Prayer Bible Lectio Divina Edition that guides readers in this style of prayer. Both are found on Amazon and likely wherever Catholic books are sold. For those who want a simpler way to use the Bible to pray, check out these two resources
which offer an abbreviated Liturgy of the Hours. “Daily Prayer 2024” from Liturgy Training Publications (www.LTP.org or 1 (800) 933-1800) is a one-volume prayerbook for each day of this year, with a psalm, one of the daily readings, a reflection, prayers of petition and a closing prayer. “Give Us This Day” (www.giveusthisday. org or 1 (888) 259-8470) is a monthly publication that includes morning and evening prayer, some artwork, the complete daily readings, a saint of the day and reflection on the readings, and prayers of petition. Of course, you can always check out the weekly readings to the left of this column. If you don’t have a Bible, then go to the U.S. bishops’ website at: www. usccb.org where you’ll find those daily readings and other resources as well. Let’s make this new year a time to gather up some of those special pebbles each day — the more, the better!
The apostles weren’t the only ones called to be fishers of men
J
onah did. So did the brothers Simon and Andrew, and then James and John. It’s the insistent invitation to drop everything, change direction and follow where God is leading. It can take you where you don’t want to go, where you never expected to go. And it can change your life forever. It is “The Call.” We hear about it in Mark’s Gospel this Sunday. It’s tempting to think the call of God and the invitation of Christ apply only to a certain kind of person — maybe someone who is profoundly holy or feels compelled to become a priest or religious. We tell ourselves, “That could
DEACON GREG KANDRA Deacon Greg Kandra is an award-winning author and journalist, and creator of the blog “The Deacon’s Bench.” He serves in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.
never be me,” and we shrug it off. But turn to Mark’s Gospel and you realize
the beauty and wonder of this episode is that Jesus didn’t make those kinds of distinctions. He called out to humble fishermen tending their nets and said plainly, “Come after me.” That was all it took. Whether we realize it or not, this Gospel is about something affecting all of us, no matter who we are or what we do. It is about the great call of all our lives — the one that attracts us, challenges us, invites us, redeems us. It is the call to follow Christ. It is a summons. To sacrifice. To surrender. To bear witness. To pray. To love God and love our neighbor, and do it as Jesus did, with profound gratitude and
humility and trust. It isn’t easy. But there is one compelling detail from the Gospel that should give us hope: We aren’t alone. When Jesus called those fishermen, they weren’t alone when they left the lives they knew. They had company. They went in pairs. Simon and Andrew, James and John. By happy coincidence, this reading comes near the start of a new year, when we resolve to make changes and amend our lives. Mark’s Gospel makes us aware once more that, like Simon and Andrew and James and John, we are called to leave our old ways of doing things, our familiar and comfortable
habits of being — and not just at the start of a new year, but every day. We are challenged to follow another way, to set aside the nets we mend and the reassuring routines we’ve gotten used to, and dare to do something new. Ultimately, we are called to walk away from the familiar and easy, and journey into the unknown, following Christ Jesus. It involves sacrifice and surrender, a desire to trust and to change. The call to be “fishers of men,” it turns out, is one that is sent out to all of us. Do we hear it? Are we listening?
Gluttony turns people into exploiters of planet, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — One of the most dangerous vices is gluttony, turning people who are meant to be custodians of creation into mere consumers and even exploiters and predators, Pope Francis said. “The sin of those who succumb before a piece of cake, all things considered, does not cause great damage, but the voracity with which we have
been plundering the goods of the planet for some centuries now is compromising the future of all,” he said. “We have grabbed everything in order to become the masters of all things, while everything had been consigned to our custody, not to our exploitation,” the pope said Jan. 10 at his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall. Continuing a new series of audience talks about vices and virtues,
the pope reflected on the vice of gluttony. “The way we eat is the manifestation of something inner: a predisposition to balance or immoderation; the capacity to give thanks or the arrogant presumption of autonomy; the empathy of those who share food with the needy or the selfishness of those who hoard everything for themselves,” he said. “We must eat to live, not live to eat,” he said.
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Villa St. Francis: A powerhouse of prayer
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hen I started at Catholic Community Health, I knew that I was joining a great organization. But when you come into Villa St. Francis in Olathe and witness religious Sisters who are CNAs and RNs praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament before their shift, you know you are in a special place. In addition, having a full-time priest chaplain to provide the sacraments and dedicated volunteers who wheel the residents into the chapel for daily Mass are blessings that make Catholic health care unique. When I first came
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HEALTHCARE, THE CATHOLIC WAY!
BRAD HEIDRICK Brad Heidrick is the CEO of Catholic Community Health.
on staff, we interviewed a few people about the impact of Villa St. Francis. One person, Rich Henry, said, “What a powerhouse of prayer we
have at Villa St. Francis! We can’t measure the amount of grace that comes from their suffering!” Grace from suffering? Truly, redemptive suffering is challenging to understand, but as St. John Paul II put it, “Each man, in his sufferings, can also become a sharer in the
redemptive suffering of Christ.” Redemptive suffering is the Christian belief that our suffering can be offered up in union with Christ’s passion to obtain grace, redemption from sin, or aid with physical and spiritual needs of oneself or someone else. While physical suffering is certainly the most obvious and apparent, this can also mean suffering from the loss of mobility or independence, or mental or spiritual suffering. Our residents and caregivers are praying and offering their suffering up every day at Villa St. Francis, and we have seen healing
and felt the impact of those prayers in a very real way. Recently, one of our volunteers had a granddaughter that required multiple heart surgeries and was facing an uphill battle in her infancy. Our residents set about praying for her immediately at Villa’s daily Mass and in their own private prayer. By the grace of God, she was able to overcome her challenges and recently made a visit to Villa St. Francis so all those that had been praying for her could see firsthand what their prayers had done. It’s true: It’s no fun getting old. But with
our Catholic faith as our foundation, we know that Jesus is walking alongside us in our sufferings, and that they can be even more of a blessing than they are a burden. How can we pray for you? Go online to Catholiccommunity health.org/prayer and let us know. Whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to do it alone — the residents, staff, chaplains, Sisters and volunteers at Catholic Community Health are here to lift up your needs to the Lord. With a powerhouse of prayer right here in our archdiocese, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Grateful families share emotional stories at CEF dinner
recently met with some parents whose children are receiving Catholic Education Foundation scholarships this year. This was at a dinner that CEF hosts each year with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. During the dinner, the parents shared how CEF scholarships have impacted their children’s and families’ lives. One of the mothers shared how she desperately wanted her children to attend a Catholic school but simply could not afford tuition. Even though she was working two jobs, she could barely make ends meet. She
CEF CENTERED
VINCENT ANCH Vince Anch is the executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation.
was ecstatic when she learned that CEF was offering her financial assistance scholarships
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for her children. Without these scholarships, her children would not be enrolled in a Catholic school today. She was very emotional but eager to share her story. Another parent whose family originally came from
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Mexico explained that “Catholic school is only for wealthy people in Mexico.” Families like his back in Mexico don’t ever consider Catholic school as a possibility for their children. He thought the same way when his family migrated to America. He was very surprised to learn that CEF would provide scholarships so his children could attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He, too, was overwhelmed with emotion when sharing his story and even struggled to complete it. He expressed how grateful
he was that his children could experience something that he couldn’t experience when he was young. A mother described how her son fought constant anxiety and chronic illness while attending a public school. This changed once she moved her child into a Catholic school. He is now healthy and very happy. This would not have been possible without CEF’s support. One mother shared how her child came home each day and shared what she learned about Jesus. The mother admitted that she was learning things that she never
knew. “My child was evangelizing me,” she confessed. Her family now prays more frequently together and attends Mass on a regular basis. A husband and wife who both teach in local public schools shared that they send their children to Catholic schools because they see significant positive differences compared to public schools. They couldn’t do this without CEF scholarships. CEF would not be able to make this kind of impact on so many families without the generosity of so many people. Thank you to all who support CEF!
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Kids’ CHRONICLE
Jesus raises a dead girl and cures a woman with hemorrhages By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier
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esus and the apostles were in the territory of the Gerasenes near the Sea of Galilee. They crossed the sea by boat, and a large crowd was waiting for them on the opposite side. Jairus, an official from the synagogue, came forward and fell at Jesus’ feet. “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live,” Jairus pleaded. READ MORE Jesus agreed to go with Jairus. ABOUT IT: The large crowd also followed and Mark 5 pressed in upon the two men. As they were heading toward Jairus’ house, a woman in the crowd reached for Jesus’ cloak. For 12 years, she had suffered greatly from hemorrhages. She spent all of her money on doctors, but her affliction only grew worse. “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured,” she said to herself. Immediately after touching Jesus, she could feel that her bleeding had stopped and her affliction had been cured. Jesus felt that power had gone out from him. He turned around to look at the crowd. “Who has touched my clothes?” he asked. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, came forward trembling in fear. She fell down before Jesus and told him everything. “Daughter,” Jesus said, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While Jesus was still speaking, people from Jairus’ house arrived. “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” they said. Jesus looked at Jairus. “Do not be afraid; just have faith,” he said. When he reached Jairus’ house, Jesus brought Peter, James and John inside with him. All the people in the house were weeping and wailing. “Why this commotion and weeping?” Jesus asked. “The child is not dead but asleep.” The people ridiculed Jesus, who sent them all outside. Jesus brought the girl’s parents and the three apostles into the girl’s room. He took the child’s hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl arose immediately and walked around, and all who saw were utterly astounded.
Q&A
1. Who asked Jesus to help his daughter? 2. Who in the crowd touched Jesus?
ILLUSTRATION BY LINDA RIVERS
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efore Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter and the woman with hemorrhages, he healed a man on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In Mark 5:1, we read that Jesus and the apostles had crossed the sea by boat and landed in the territory of the Gerasenes. When they disembarked, a man with an unclean spirit met them. No one in the community could subdue him, even when they used shackles and chains. He had been living among the tombs, and he had seen Jesus from a distance. He ran up to Jesus and prostrated before him. “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” the man cried in a loud voice. “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion is my name. There are many of us,” the man replied. The man begged that the unclean spirits be allowed to stay in the territory and suggested Jesus allow them to enter into a herd of nearby swine. Jesus agreed. The unclean spirits came out of the man and entered the swine. The herd of about 2,000 rushed down a steep bank into the sea and drowned. Afterward, the man who had been possessed by the unclean spirits regained his right mind.
S St. Josephine Bakhita
t. Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in the late 1860s. As a child, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. A Muslim owner named her Bakhita, which means “lucky.” Josephine endured years of cruelty and torture before being sold to an Italian consul who planned to free her. He took her to Italy, where she worked as a nanny for another family. In 1889, she won her freedom in court. She was baptized Josephine, entered the Canossian Sisters in Italy and served her order for more than 50 years. Josephine died in 1947, and we remember this first Sudanese saint on Feb. 8.