05 06 22 Vol. 43 No. 37

THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 43, NO. 37 | MAY 6, 2022

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Msgr. Stuart Swetland, Donnelly College president, speaks to those gathered for the dedication of the new Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Chapel on the campus of the college in Kansas City, Kansas.

MIRACLE ON 18TH STREET

New Donnelly academic building blessed and dedicated

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Ken Gibson marveled as he looked at the bright, spacious interior of Donnelly College’s new academic

building.

“I’m just overwhelmed,” said Gibson, who was the college’s president from

1998 to 2007. “Somebody asked me if I ever envisioned this, and I said, ‘In my day, we just envisioned keeping the air conditioning on. We would have never envisioned this magnificent facility.’

“And I’m so proud that we kept Donnelly going through the hard times so the students could enjoy these good times.”

Other than its opening day in 1949, the dedication of the three-story,

72,000-square-foot building on a blustery April 22 was the biggest thing to happen in the 73-year history of Donnelly. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann blessed and dedicated the Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Chapel and the whole building.

It was a celebration of the rebirth of Donnelly College, known as “the Miracle on 18th Street,” a beacon of hope to first-generation, immigrant, nontra-

ditional and economically challenged people in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County.

The building had been in use since August 2020, but the dedication was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and for completion of grounds work.

The college was founded by Bishop >> See “DONNELLY” on page 5

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Commissioner Harold Johnson Jr. of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, speaks at the dedication ceremony of Donnelly’s new academic building.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann visits with Peggy Dunn, mayor of Leawood. To the left, Richard Flanigan, master of ceremonies for the dedication, talks with Terry Dunn, husband of Peggy.

BREAKING: As this issue of The Leaven goes to press, a draft of a Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has just been leaked. It is impossible at this point to determine the impact of this leak. Look for further coverage in next week’s Leaven.

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ARCHBISHOP

MAY 6, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Synod: A moment to listen and learn, but not abandon our teaching

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hank you to all those who participated in the synodal process for the archdiocese.

The 10-page report from our archdiocese is being prepared and will be sent to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and incorporated into the synodal report from the United States. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will forward our national report to the Vatican.

Eventually, the national reports from countries throughout the world will inform the agenda and preparation materials for the Synod of Bishops meeting in Rome that will take place in the fall of 2023.

When our archdiocesan report is completed, I look forward to sharing with you some of the insights and key takeaways from the synodal process. I am confident this will help inform future pastoral priorities for our archdiocese.

Last week’s Leaven contained an open fraternal letter to the German bishops, signed by me and nearly 100 bishops from five continents, expressing our concerns about the Synodal Path in Germany. Pope Francis stated from the beginning that the Synod on Synodality was not to be used as an exercise to change the doctrinal and moral teachings of the church.

Our doctrines are not

LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH F. NAUMANN something that we arrive at by popular vote, but are received from the Bible and Tradition.

Sadly, the preliminary reports from the German Synodal Path appear to seek to change doctrine in order to accommodate cultural biases of our time. The German Synodal Path seeks changes to the church’s sexual moral teaching in general, and in particular, the approval of homosexual acts. Since these teachings are derived from explicit biblical teaching, the Synodal Path calls into question the reliability of Scripture as well as Tradition.

The German Synodal Path embraces the current cultural trend that confuses authentic freedom with autonomy. Our Catholic understanding of freedom has always recognized that it must be anchored in the truth. Christian freedom is the ability

to choose the good, not simply the ability to do what I prefer.

It has been disturbing to hear a few members of the hierarchy calling into question the authority of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

I lived through the moral confusion caused by the sexual revolution in the 1960s and 1970s. Moral chaos inevitably results in serious societal repercussions, most notably the weakening of marriage and family life.

The greatest victims of this moral confusion are children, growing up in fractured families.

It is ironic that the response of the president of the German bishops’ conference to the open letter was to defend the Synodal Path as an attempt to address the crisis caused by the sexual abuse of children by clergy.

The sexual abuse crisis in Germany or the United States is not a failure of church teaching, but a gross failure to live that teaching.

In large part what allowed Christianity to transform Western civilization 2,000 years ago was the beauty and attractiveness of the Christian understanding of marriage that reverenced the equality of men and women. People were drawn to Christianity because of the contrast between the hedonism of the pagan culture and Christians living the virtue of chastity consistent with their state of life.

The German Synodal Path appears to seek the church’s abandonment of biblical moral teaching in order to embrace a false freedom, moral chaos and a mistaken anthropology.

Christian anthropology believes in the innate dignity of every human being because they are made in the divine image and because they are of such worth that Jesus gave his life on Calvary. However, this does not mean we embrace and endorse sexual immorality, redefinitions of marriage and the denial of the reality of one’s biological gender.

The process of preparing for the Synod on Synodality provides an opportunity for the church to listen better to the guidance of the Holy Spirit on how to live more faithfully the church’s moral teaching. It is not a moment to abandon our

ARCHBISHOP NAUMANN’S CALENDAR May 7 Unveiling and blessing ceremony of St. Peter’s Pieta — Savior Pastoral Center Faith in Bloom — Olathe Conference Center at Embassy Suites May 8 Confirmation — Our Lady & St. Rose, Kansas City, Kansas May 9 Catholic Charities Golf Classic luncheon — Lake Quivira Country Club Confirmation — Prince of Peace, Olathe May 10 Administrative Team meeting — chancery Ethics Council meeting — chancery May 11 Confirmation — Christ the King/Blessed Sacrament, Kansas City, Kansas May 12 Confirmation — St. John Paul II, Olathe May 13 Award presentation to Bishop Robert Barron — Benedictine College, Atchison May 14 Medical student graduation Mass — Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas May 15 Feast of St. Isidore, Mass for farmers — Christ’s Peace House of Prayer, Easton Baptism of third or more child — Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas

teaching by yielding to cultural trends that have harmed marriage and family. Children are the ones who bear the most severe wounds when marriage and family life are weakened.

Concrete Work

There is much good that can come from the synodal process. Sadly, the German Synodal Path gives a bad name to synodality.

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LOCAL NEWS

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

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JUST LIKE CLOCKWORK

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pril showers have finally brought May flowers here in the archdiocese, and with them, a blossoming of activities.

Among the many first Communions, May processions and more held in the parishes, Leaven photographers caught:

the Topeka area Runnin’ With the Revs game, the annual Mass of the Boy Scouts and American Heritage Girls and Church of the Ascension School’s 25th anniversary. For more, follow The Leaven’s Facebook page.

CELEBRATING SCOUTS

Hundreds of Scouts and American Heritage Girls from around the archdiocese gathered April 3 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, for the annual Scout Mass. The Mass recognized several Scouts and Scout leaders for their achievements.

RUNNIN’ AGAIN

Father Joel Haug gets ready to put up a shot over Father Viet Nguyen in the Runnin’ With the Revs basketball game April 25 at Hayden High School in Topeka. This was the second Running With the Revs game this year. The first was held at Bishop Miege High School, Roeland Park, on March 24.

Both benefit the vocations office of the archdiocese.

CELEBRATING 25

Kamden Burns, fifth grade student at Ascension School in Overland Park, reaches for his sculpture at an art exhibit during the school’s 25th anniversary celebration on April 29. The celebration included an all-school Mass with students, staff, parents, alumni and special guests. Items for a time capsule were blessed by pastor Father Gary Pennings before the Mass, and afterward, there was a video about the history of the school and a song by first and second grade students. There were also games and activities for students, followed by lunch.

President Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann

Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799) Published weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week after Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. Address communications to: The Leaven, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109. Phone: (913) 721-1570; fax: (913) 7215276; 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 $23/year. Periodicals postage paid at Kansas City, KS 66109.

Production Manager Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org

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

Senior Reporter Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

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

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LOCAL NEWS

MAY 6, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Joint conference addresses end-of-life issues

By Dean Backes

Special to The Leaven

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Through her conversations with other ministries of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas that assist parishioners with end-of-life needs, Terri Lynn, associate director of planned giving for the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development, had an aha moment.

Her revelation? Other archdiocesan ministries like the pro-life ministry, Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas shared many of her organization’s goals.

“We all want to help parishioners finish faithful,” Lynn said, “to plan for a happy death by being prepared through estate planning, making funeral and burial plans, and following church teaching as they are dying and possibly in hospice.

“That’s why we decided to hold a conference where everybody could come together and learn all about the last things in planning for death in one place and at one time.”

After conferring with the other ministries, Lynn ran with her inspiration and organized the archdiocese’s first Finishing Faithful conference, which will take place at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on May 14.

Called “All Things Preplanning for Your Legacy and Preparing for End of Life,” the one-stop conference gives parishioners the valuable tools they will need to finish

Joe Heschmeyer

Father Williams

faithful at the end of their lives.

Open to everyone, Holy Spirit’s 8 a.m. Mass will kick off the day’s festivities before check-in at 8:30.

Then, Holy Spirit pastor Father Andrew Strobl will offer an opening prayer, followed by a welcome from Bill Maloney, director of stewardship and development for the archdiocese. Lynn will then introduce keynote speaker Joe Heschmeyer, a staff apologist for Catholic Answers Radio.

The popular author, speaker, blogger and podcaster will speak on “The Gift of Everlasting Life,” starting at 9:15 a.m.

Other speakers include: Father Anthony Williams, of Sacred Heart Parish in Ottawa, on “The Catholic Guide for End of Life and Establishing Advanced Healthcare Directives”; and estate planning attorney Jon Stanfield — of Rees, Kincaid and Stanfield Law — on “Catholic Estate Planning with Wills and Trusts.”

Bryan Alonzo, the director of sales and marketing at Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas, closes out the presentations at noon with “Why Do People Choose to Preplan their Final Arrangements?” A box lunch,

Jon Stanfield

Bryan Alonzo

courtesy of Alonzo and Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas, will be provided to parishioners that take in his presentation shortly before the conference closes with a prayer at 1 p.m.

Debra Niesen, consultant for prolife ministries in the archdiocese, said parishioners should take advantage of the conference in order to get a head start on making some difficult decisions late in life.

“Complex questions at the end of life should not overshadow what’s important at that time,” Niesen said.

“Because the important end-oflife moments are things like saying goodbye to our loved ones, attending to our spiritual needs and maybe healing relationships. Those are the things that we should be able to focus on at the end of life, so that we can have a peaceful and a happy goodbye.”

Holy Spirit Parish is located at 11300 W. 103rd St. in Overland Park.

To register, go online to: archkck. org/finishfaithful-registration; call (913) 647-0365; or send an email to: plannedgiving@archkck.org.

Eileen and Larry Pekarek, members of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 28 with a family gathering. The couple was married on April 28, 1962, at St. Joseph Church, Damar. Their children are: Michael, Marsha, Laura and Mary. They also have 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ray and Roberta (Spiker) Stuke, members of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Topeka, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on May 12. The couple was married at St. James Church, Wetmore. Their children are: Michelle Bolin and Paul Stuke. They also have four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Mary and Frank Natchez, members of M o s t P u r e H e a r t of Mary Parish, To p e k a , will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on May 7 with a dinner. The couple was married on May 12, 1972, at Church of the Assumption, Topeka. Their children are: Carla (deceased), Jim Natchez, Greg Natchez, Mark Natchez and Christopher Natchez. They also have 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Addition

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Statement regarding Father John Pilcher

rchbishop Joseph F. Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas today announced that Father John Pilcher will resume his duties as pastor of Mater Dei Parish in Topeka immediately.

Father Pilcher does so after a sevenmonth period during which he stepped away from his duties after an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made against him. Father Pilcher was on a leave of absence from public ministry to facilitate the investigation of the allegation.

During that period, the allegation was fully investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). The archdiocese has been informed that civil authorities have declined prosecution.

Per archdiocesan policy, the archdiocesan lay investigator also conducted a separate investigation of the allegation. Her findings were reviewed by

R

the archdiocesan Independent Review Board (IRB) which then made its recommendation regarding the matter to Archbishop Naumann.

Father Pilcher, who vigorously denies the allegation, has fully cooperated with both the civil and archdiocesan investigations. Following the internal review process and taking into account all the information available, Archbishop Naumann has determined that Father Pilcher is suitable to return to ministry. Archbishop Naumann makes this decision committed to the bedrock principle that a person should be afforded the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Archbishop Naumann has full confidence in Father Pilcher.

Father Pilcher is eager to resume public ministry, serving Mater Dei Parish and the Topeka community. The archdiocese asks for continued prayers for all involved in this matter, and would also like to thank the dedicated parish

and school staff; Father John Torrez, who has served as the parochial administrator of Mater Dei Parish; Fathers Joseph Chontos and Karl Good, who provided sacramental assistance and pastoral ministry; Deacons Robert Ortiz and Christopher Seago for their pastoral ministry; and the faithful parishioners who have offered their prayers for all parties in this difficult matter.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas takes all allegations of misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by any church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member to contact civil authorities first, and then make a report to our confidential report line at (913) 647-3051 or online at: www.arch kck.org/reportabuse.

Bishop Miege High School to offer a wide range of summer camps

OELAND PARK — As Bishop Miege High School here winds down its final weeks of the school year, organizers are preparing for a jampacked summer.

Miege will host a plethora of youth summer camps that range from sports to STEAM to interior design.

Its unique “Girl Val-You” camp will provide girls from third through eighth grade with positive reinforcement through crafts and journaling. Participants will also complete a service project: creating feminine hygiene kits for those experiencing homelessness.

With such a wide variety of offerings,

there’s sure to be something for everyone.

To view all of Miege’s summer offerings, visit the website at: bishop-miege. com/summercamp.

Other schools in the archdiocese will also offer camps this summer.

Visit your local school’s website for more information.

Editor’s note: The following sentence was omitted from Archbishop Naumann’s column in last week’s issue: “I am grateful to Sandy Vielhauer for overseeing our prevention efforts with vigilance and dedication.”

Fatima statue to visit the archdiocese on U.S. tour

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The image of Our Lady of Fatima, designed by sculptor José Thedim, will make its way to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas in mid-May. Created in 1947 and entrusted to John Haffert, co-founder of the Blue Army, the statue has traveled around the globe many times for nearly 70 years.

The statue will be at the following sites in the archdiocese: • May 19 — St. Michael the Archangel, 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood • May 20 — Queen of the Holy Rosary, 7023 W. 71st, Overland Park • May 21 — Holy Trinity, 9150 Pflumm, Lenexa • May 22 — Didde Catholic Campus Center, 1415 Merchant St., Emporia • May 23 — St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, 1631 Crescent Rd., Lawrence • May 24 — Our Lady of Guadalupe, 134 N.E. Lake St., Topeka • May 25 — Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 N. 15th St., Kansas City, Kansas For the viewing times for the Our Lady of Fatima statue, contact each individual parish.

LOCAL NEWS

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

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Share your revival video before Corpus Christi kickoff

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — What does the Eucharist mean to you?

It’s a simple question being posed to Catholics in the archdiocese.

But its answers have the power to awaken non-Catholics and those with doubts to the real presence of Jesus in the sacrament.

“I first wondered if I truly believe I am amazed by the Eucharist,” said Nikki Frerker, a parishioner at Curé of Ars in Leawood.

“As I reflected on that,” she continued, “I began to see more clearly the limitless and extraordinary gift of grace that it is.

“It has the power to make me more like Christ, little by little, each time I encounter him in it.”

Frerker was one of the first Catholics to submit a one-minute video testimony to the archdiocese, sharing how the Eucharist feeds into her life.

The archdiocese is collecting video testimonies like Frerker’s in preparation for the National Eucharistic Revival, which kicks off on June 19, Corpus Christi Sunday, and ends on Pentecost Sunday in 2025.

“Jesus asks us to be ready to give account for hope that lies within us,” said Deacon Dana Nearmyer, director of the archdiocesan office of evangelization.

“Our verbal endorsement of the power of the Eucharist strengthens both the endorser and listener,” he added.

SCREENSHOT/ ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Nikki Frerker, a parishioner at Curé of Ars in Leawood, talks about what the Eucharist means to her in a one-minute video on the archdiocesan YouTube channel. The archdiocese is collecting video testimonies like Frerker’s in preparation for the National Eucharistic Revival, which kicks off on June 19.

Those interested in participating in the archdiocesan video series can take a 45second to one-minute smartphone video talking about what the Eucharist means to them.

The archdiocese encourages participants to take the video in a comfortable setting

— whether that’s sitting still, cleaning the house, cooking, with your family or walking your dog.

Videos will be collected from now until Pentecost Sunday, June 5 this year, when the archdiocesan YouTube channel will begin to regularly release the videos online and

continue inviting others to share their stories throughout the year.

Parishes will be encouraged to collect and share their own parishioner testimonies during years two and three of the Eucharistic Revival initiative.

Deacon Nearmyer stressed

how important the culture of eucharistic amazement is to Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.

“Word of mouth endorsements are powerful in our culture,” he said. “We should talk about the things that we are most passionate about.”

For Frerker, sharing her love of the Eucharist through a video testimony opened her eyes to how essential the sacrament is in her life.

“I saw how it offers to bring all of Christ, and all the events of his life, directly to me — to unite his life with all the events of my life and to grace them with his love, forgiveness and hope,” she said.

Frerker hopes her video and others collected will help viewers see the depth of God’s love, she said, which is given in a special way in the Eucharist.

“Each person has a story God considers worthy,” said Frerker. “I encourage everyone to set aside time to be alone with Christ in silence, to reflect with him on what the Eucharist means to you.

“I believe this is an invitation for all of us to grow in friendship with Christ and become more like him every day and see how the Eucharist fuels that journey.”

To participate in the campaign, send your video to: enflame@archkck.org.

To view the videos collected in the “Eucharistic Amazement” album, search “Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas” on YouTube, click on the channel and then click “Playlists.”

Donnelly now has facility to match first-rate education it offers “ JUST LIKE WE WANT TO

George Donnelly and Sister Jerome Keeler, OSB, of the Benedictine Sisters of Atchison.

Its first home was in the former Wyandotte Catholic High School, built in 1908, at 12th and Sandusky streets.

Later, the college took over the former episcopal mansion next door, built in 1891. In 1982, the college moved into the old Providence Hospital at 18th and Tauromee Ave. “Over the past 70 years, this institution has lived with hand-me-downs,” said Richard Flanigan, past board chairman and master of ceremonies for the dedication.

“Many of you grew up in families where hand-me-downs were quite common. It’s not that common in 21st century higher education, however, and it became clear to the board and all the supporters of Donnelly that this institution really did need to think differently about its future.”

Donnelly has always offered a firstrate education at a rock-bottom price for those who otherwise couldn’t afford an education. Consequently, it had to make do and pinch pennies.

“I knew when I came here, when I first visited, when I was thinking of taking this job [as president], I saw

“

>> Continued from page 1

INCARNATE OUR VALUES AND INCARNATE DIVERSITY, WE NEEDED TO INCARNATE FIRST-CLASS SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS, AND THIS IS WHAT THIS BUILDING DOES FOR US. MSGR. STUART SWETLAND DONNELLY COLLEGE PRESIDENT

what a first-rate education was doing to transform the hearts and minds of the people who came here. But quite frankly, the campus didn’t look first rate,” said Msgr. Stuart Swetland, Donnelly College president since 2014.

“The buildings didn’t reflect that firstrate education.

“Just like we want to incarnate our values and incarnate diversity, we needed to incarnate first-class service to our students, and this is what this

building does for us.”

In his homily during the blessing and dedication of the new chapel, which preceded the academic building’s blessing and dedication, Archbishop Naumann praised the vision of Bishop Donnelly and Sister Jerome, and the continued support and involvement of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica.

The essential mission of Donnelly College is to help individuals develop their gifts and talents to the fullest degree possible for their own good and the good of the community, but also to give glory to God by using those gifts and talents in a way that gives God honor, he said.

“We are privileged to share this college with so many who don’t necessarily share our [Catholic] faith, other Christians and those of other faith traditions or no faith tradition at all,” said Archbishop Naumann.

“But it’s important, I think,” he added, “that we express in the very building itself what it is that motivates us to do this work, this important ministry here in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas, and that is our faith in Jesus Christ.”

Having a dedicated chapel where students can encounter God is as important as what takes place in the

classrooms, and Donnelly is a place where the minds and souls of students can be served, he said.

Other speakers at the dedication of the building included Nestor Zuluaga, chairman of the Donnelly board of directors; Sister Esther Fangman, OSB, prioress of Mount St. Scholastica and Donnelly board member; Commissioner Harold Johnson Jr. of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas; Joe Reardon, president/CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. John Romito, chairman of the Transformations Campaign and Donnelly board member.

This event marked the fulfillment of the three-phase Transformation Campaign that raised almost $34 million. Phase 1 was the completion of the Community Event Center in 2013; Phase 2 was Marian Hall renovations completed in 2017; and Phase 3 was the demolition of the old Providence Hospital “tower building,” construction of the academic building, parking garage and grounds.

The general contractor was Excel Constructors of Overland Park and the architect was Burns & McDonnell of Kansas City, Missouri.

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LOCAL NEWS

MAY 6, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG

Organist offers Bach concerts to raise funds for KCK school

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Catholic school here will get a fundraising boost through the efforts of a dedicated musician playing the works of a famous, deceased Lutheran.

Douglas O’Neill, director of formation in sacred music and liturgy at Christ the King School, will offer a series of 14 concerts presenting the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

The concerts will benefit the Christus Rex Schola Cantorum of the school.

The concerts will be free and open to the public at various locations over the next two years, with freewill offerings accepted at the concert or online.

No doubt Bach would have approved. He was, among other things, a teacher of young students himself.

The first concert, featuring an Easterthemed program, will be presented at the Martin Pasi organ at 7 p.m. on May 20 at the Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Rd., Kansas City, Missouri.

For future concert dates and locations, go online to: ctkclassical.org/ sacred-music.html.

This is a tremendous commitment

by O’Neill, and he’s happy to do it. He loves Bach, his school and his parishes.

“It’s something I’ve been considering for a while,” said O’Neill, who is also director of music at Christ the King and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Kansas City, Kansas. “I want to immerse myself in the great music of the master composer. But also, our program needs publicity and support, so I thought that I could link those since Bach has name recognition.”

But why all the back-to-back Bach?

“His music is masterful,” said O’Neill. “He’s the bread and butter of all organists. His music reflects our mission as a classical school because Bach’s music shows such a high level of form, skill of composition and joy. It’s intellectually remarkable but speaks to all people as well. His music has a nice balance of faith and reason, of the intellect and the soul.”

The term “schola cantorum” might be unfamiliar to many. It’s a Latin term

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Douglas O’Neill, director of formation in sacred music and liturgy at Christ the King School, will offer a series of 14 concerts presenting the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach. for “school of singing.” This ancient term goes back to the monasteries of medieval Europe, when groups of monks or even students at a cathedral school were trained to chant certain parts of the Mass.

Having a “schola cantorum” fits in

well with the model of the classical liberal arts educational model, said O’Neill. It connects intellectual and spiritual formation in the students, and it connects the school to the parishes.

“The children of the choir rehearse

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during the school year but are the principal choir of the parishes,” said O’Neill. “It’s somewhat unusual. A lot of Catholic schools have very fine music programs, but the goal is to prepare special-event concerts. They may sing for a school Mass but rarely for a parish Sunday Mass.

“Whereas, by contrast, our parishes and school are very much tied.

Father Nick Blaha, our pastor, is trying to strengthen the bonds between [the school and parishes]. He’s stated this is the parish choir. It’s a model that’s more common in Europe — in Britain and Anglican churches especially. We don’t have an adult English choir, but there are a few Spanish choirs that sing for Spanish Masses. The [‘schola’] is not the only parish choir.”

The “schola cantorum” has had a tremendous impact, said principal Cathy Fithian.

“I appreciate that Mr. O’Neill has really thought about different ways of raising money and awareness for the program we have begun at our school,” said Fithian. “Since implementing sacred music, we’re able to revel in the beauty of this integral part of the Mass.”

Currently, the schola cantorum has 12 members. The majority of members are in the fourth and fifth grades, which is expected in a startup program that’s only two years old, according to O’Neill.

Father Blaha is grateful for O’Neill’s work at the school and parishes, as well as his ambitious concert series.

“I’m delighted that we have such a gifted and devoted servant of this kind of encounter with beauty on our faculty,” said Father Blaha. “I think he is a remarkably gifted person and artist, and for us to be able put someone like him in front of our students, I’m delighted to see what effect that will have in 20 years.

“He is extremely zealous, extremely knowledgeable, and I’m constantly learning from him about how to be faithful to the liturgy of the church — and especially what the liturgy of the Second Vatican Council is asking us to do. I’m really grateful he’s on our team.”

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20 Paddle 23 __ Francisco 25 She

26 27 28 30 31 33 34 37 39 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 52 55 57 59 61 62 63 64 66 67 68

Exist Not septic Endangers Central Intelligence Agency Entire Remedy Person on horse Wrath Kid Pole Ram’s mate Afflictions sent against Egypt King after David Visits North and South _____ Dickens’Tiny __ Samuel’s mentor Spacecraft detachment Reverend (abbr.)

Disappointed Slope Garden of __ Mist Wing Espy French “yes” Cain fled to this land The Creator

Solution on page 2

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

7

Amendment must pass in order to limit abortion in state

By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org

K

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Prolife advocates warned that the Kansas Supreme Court’s 2019 Hodes & Nauser v.

Schmidt ruling would nullify more than 20 years of pro-life legislation and leave Kansas wide open for unlimited abortion.

Court rulings and a rising number of abortions are proving them BREAKING: As right. this issue goes On April 7, to press, a draft 2021, a Shawof a Supreme nee County Court decision judge struck overturning Roe down a 2015 v. Wade has just law banning been leaked. It live dismemis important to berment abornote that should tion. On Dec. 6, Roe actually be 2021, a Shawnee overturned, the County judge passage of the struck down a “Value Them 2011 law that Both” amendment will remain required clinic just as critical to licensing and the restriction of inspections. abortion in the Both rulings state. Watch for were based future issues of on Hodes The Leaven for & Nauser v. more coverage Schmidt, which of this vital issue. claimed abortion as a fundamental right under the 1859 Kansas Constitution, putting all abortion-regulating laws under a stricter standard of scrutiny.

Before the 2019 ruling, state laws regulating abortion were presumed constitutional until proven otherwise.

“The state Supreme Court did a reverse of that,” said Jeanne Gawdun, director of government relations for Kansans for Life. “They ruled because this ‘right of abortion’ is a fundamental right, now the courts have to presume [prolife laws] unconstitutional, and the state has to prove otherwise.

“So, it’s a total shift in the presumption of constitutionality that [pro-life] laws passed by the Legislature are afforded. That’s why every single limit that has been placed on the abortion industry by the people of Kansas through their legislators is in danger of being struck down because of that ruling.”

Although pro-life laws remain on the books, every single one could be taken down by challenges in the courts, and more challenges are coming, said Gawdun.

Kansans should be alarmed by this wholesale loss of pro-life laws, which were passed to protect women and — to the extent possible — unborn children, she said. They also protected all Kansans.

The clinic licensing and inspection

LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann leads a rosary in front of the suspected location of a new planned Parenthood Clinic in Kansas City, Kansas. After the Kansas Supreme Court found a fundamental right to abortion in the state constitution in 2019, abortions in the state have increased. On Aug. 2, a special election and the passage of the “Value Them Both” amendment will give Kansans the ability to put limits on the abortion industry once again. law was passed in response to horrific conditions discovered at a Kansas City, Kansas, abortion clinic. The informed consent law was passed because many women receiving abortions weren’t fully informed about abortion risks or fetal development. Another law was passed so predators couldn’t use abortions to hide their crimes against minors, and still another law required parental consent for minors to get an abortion. State funding of abortions by taxpayers, too, was prohibited.

All these, if they haven’t been lost, will be, Gawdun predicted.

“You have to remember, every single limit placed on the abortion industry was fought by the abortion industry,” said Gawdun.

“They want no limits whatsoever.

They want no oversight of what they’re doing,” she continued. “Based on all the testimony given to the Legislature for the past 25 years, the abortion industry has proven through its bad acts that it can’t be trusted to police itself.”

Not only does the Hodes & Nauser v.

Schmidt ruling make it impossible to enforce pro-life laws already on the books, it also makes new pro-life legislation unlikely, says Elizabeth Kirk, director of the Center for Law and the Human Person at the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“What this law does in addition [to making laws already passed vulnerable] is it discourages the Legislature from passing new laws because of the fear that they will be immediately overturned or enjoined,” said Kirk.

“It certainly discourages legislators from crafting new common-sense regulations. . . . Many legislators don’t like to pass laws that they fear are unconstitutional. There’s a separation of powers concern there, as well as knowing the cost of likely litigation. So, I think it definitely has a chilling effect on new legislation as well.”

Taxpayer-funded abortion is now likely under the 2019 ruling.

“Kansas is now a state that is fully committed to an abortion regime that is as unlimited as possible, that protects abortion to the greatest extent and hinted in the opinion that it ought to be paid for by taxpayer dollars,” said Kirk.

“In that sense, we can say Kansas, legally, has certainly postured itself as a state that welcomes unlimited taxpayer-funded abortion.”

Kansas has become a destination state for women seeking abortions, and abortions have increased since 2019, according to “Abortions in Kansas, 2021 Preliminary Report,” published by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The total number of abortions in

Kansas went from 6,916 in 2019, to 7,546 in 2020, to 7,849 in 2021. In 2021, almost half the abortions performed in Kansas were for out-of-state residents, with most from Missouri at 3,458. Residents from other states coming to Kansas for abortions in 2021 included: Texas, 233; Oklahoma, 137; and Arkansas, 31.

Pro-life advocates say there is only one way out of the tragedy caused by the Kansas Supreme Court’s overreach, said Gawdun. That path is to vote for the “Value Them Both” amendment to the Kansas Constitution in the Aug. 2 special election, which is also a primary election.

“What ‘Value Them Both’ does is reverse the Kansas Supreme Court ruling of April 2019 and returns to the people of Kansas their ability to enact limits on the abortion industry,” said Gawdun.

“It returns our voice so we can participate in this debate,” she added. “So, it’s important for folks to realize if they think there should be even one limit on abortion — whether that’s late-term abortions, or parents should have a right to be involved or you don’t want your tax dollars paying for it — you need to vote for ‘Value Them Both.’ Without it, no limits are possible, and we will continue to be a destination state for extreme abortion up to the moment of birth and paid for with tax dollars.”

Mothers are the first conduit

By Cassandra Palmer Catholic News Service

E

A mother plays with her triplets and other son at a park in St. Louis April 24, 2017. This Mother’s Day, let’s reconnect to the default “hardwiring” that God

“

“

very church with families knows this classic Sunday scene: Holy Mass is “accompanied” by the noisy cries of a restless toddler. Through the Liturgy of the Word, the parents have kept their wee one occupied with a book or a handful of cereal, but just like clockwork, by the time the consecration begins, that child has run out of tolerance for being contained in the prayerful quiet of the pew.

Their cries, yells or giggles begin to escalate until an exasperated parent seeks a quick escape from the sanctuary, with their wailing toddler flailing in their arms. Kind and understanding worshipers observe the scene with knowing glances, happily returning to their prayers once the disturbance has been removed from the pews.

This year, that noisy child is mine.

I am that exasperated mother.

Since I am also a lay pastoral leader in the same parish, my little boy is not only a busy toddler, he also is popularly known among many parish families. After a recent Mass, several older mothers gathered around me to commiserate and reminisce on their own similar experiences. Laughing at the memory of her child’s antics, a friend looked at me and stated, “Motherhood is absolutely humbling.”

And yet, we continue to bring them to Mass, trying to ingrain in them some consistency of faith life and religious practice. Catholic mothers and guardians are called to bring our children to the Lord and to nurture their faith as the most important relationship in their lives.

We continue to pray for our children, to dream for their happiness, fulfillment and holiness. We risk our own humiliation from their unpredictable behavior because we want them to get to know God at a young age and to grow in a friendship with Christ. Without our realizing it, our motherly love is actually the first conduit of God to our child.

After the shock and awe of childbirth, a baby is placed on her mother’s chest for a moment so that both of them may catch their breaths and gaze upon one another. Our bodies are so intricately designed for connection that immediately at birth a mother and baby can regulate each other’s temperature, blood pressure and breathing pattern.

From that moment on, the baby feels more secure and content whenever near the mother. I think God designed this sort of bond for us, so that our original “hardwiring” is to be at rest in the embrace of our maker.

Our mothers or guardians positively create our world in the first years of our lives. When we are very young children, we look at our mothers as flawless individuals. A child looking at his mother believes she is omniscient, omnipotent, and it goes without saying that she is absolutely beautiful.

As we grow much older, the harsh realities of life become more apparent to us, and by then, we come to realize that, just like any other person, she has always carried insecurities

EVEN BEFORE BIRTH, OUR VERY FIRST EXPERIENCES OF LIFE ARE THOSE OF LOVE: BEING CARRIED AND NURTURED BY OUR MOTHERS. FOR AN UNBORN AND NEWBORN BABY, TO EXIST IS TO KNOW NOTHING BUT LOVE.

CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC

A mother comforts her infant daughter at home. Our mothers or guardians positively create our world in the first years of our lives. and concealed personal wounds.

She is always special to us, but she is human. This makes her unconditional love for us all the more profound.

But reflecting on those earliest years in which a child simply basks in the glow of his mom’s warmth, we may first glimpse the nature of God’s love

for us, too.

Even before birth, our very first experiences of life are those of love: being carried and nurtured by our mothers. For an unborn and newborn baby, to exist is to know nothing but love. As we hear in the First Letter of John, to know love is to know God,

“because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. . . . For God is love” (1 Jn 4:7-8).

A few years ago, I had a miscarriage that taught me some unexpected lessons about motherhood. Early in my grief over the loss, I was sitting in spiritual direction one day, lamenting that I felt like I had failed at my job to care for my lost child, because my pregnancy had failed to carry to term.

My spiritual director, in her wisdom, suggested that I had not

t of God’s love to their child

CNS PHOTO/ASHLEIGH KASSOCK

A crescent moon rises in the background of the candlelit Mary Garden at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Dec. 8, 2021. On Mother’s Day, we can turn to Mary for inspiration and solace.

Discover the saints through their mothers

By Susan Hines-Brigger Catholic News Service

CNS PHOTO/LISA JOHNSTON, ST. LOUIS REVIEW

d installed in us, to be held in love. failed my baby at all. She reminded me that even though the baby wasn’t born, my baby had been fully loved into being. My baby knew nothing except my love and the love of God our father. Now, the soul of that child gets to live eternally in that love, and can love me back from heaven.

Hearing this — that my child can now spiritually take care of me, even better than I had dreamed of caring for my child in life — simply undid me. How is that for humbling? My prayer of lament transformed into a prayer of thanksgiving for the abiding love my baby and I would continue to share through eternity.

This Mother’s Day, let us reconnect to the default “hardwiring” that God installed in us, to be held in love.

To reflect his grace in our lives, the Lord has given us the hearts of our guardians, godmothers and grandmothers.

Cassandra Palmer lives with her husband and children in Baltimore, where she is director of religious education at Our Lady of Victory Church.

She holds a master’s degree in church ministries from the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in theology from Mount Saint Mary’s University.

E

very year on Mother’s Day, I make my way into my garden, dig my hands into the soil and begin to plant the flowers that I have so carefully chosen in anticipation of this day.

It’s a practice that I began with my own mom years ago, as her present for Mother’s Day. Since she passed, and now that I live in my parents’ old home, I have continued the tradition as a way to remain close to her.

For me, working in the garden is a spiritual practice. Being in such close connection with the earth seems to bring me closer to the one who created it all. Within my garden, though, there are two particular areas that always seem to speak to me as a mother.

The first place is the area around the statue of Mary that is nestled in the corner of the yard.

It always seems especially significant on Mother’s Day, since I have so often turned to her for inspiration and solace throughout my own parenting journey of more than 20 years. During those years, I have often thought about Mary outside of the Bible stories that we have all heard.

I think about how she would have felt or reacted in certain situations. I wonder if she and Jesus

ever butted heads the way that most moms and kids do at times.

Or how did she handle it when Jesus stepped away from her to begin his own journey?

When my two oldest kids moved out of state, I prayed to her for insight and comfort.

Surely, she knew what it was like to watch your kid walk away from you and out onto his or her own.

Then, I make my way to another corner of the yard to where my St. Francis bird feeder is located.

St. Francis’ outstretched hand holds a dish from which the birds can gain nourishment. Around the base, I place flowers that I hope will attract other living creatures, such as bees and butterflies.

As I do so, I find myself thinking not so much about St. Francis, but rather about his mother Pica.

We don’t know a lot about her, but the fact that she was Francis’ mom is all I need to know.

Given her son’s story — stealing cloth from his father, stripping off his clothes in the town square — surely, she heard the townspeople talking about her son and questioning his actions. It was a situation that at one point or another all of us moms can relate to when our kids do something that makes us question what we did wrong in raising them.

Having the perspective of knowing the full story of Francis, we can now look at those events

as part of his bigger story. But, at the time, his mother just saw her son behaving in a way completely foreign to his upbringing.

I wonder if she felt like somehow his actions were a reflection on her motherhood.

And, for some reason, knowing that brings me comfort. My faith is bolstered knowing that I am not alone in my struggles and questioning how well I’m raising my kids.

Our faith holds the saints up as inspirations of holiness. And while it is true that they serve as examples of devout faith, sometimes it is hard for me to find a connection.

But one place I can always relate to them is through their mothers. When I hear the stories of saints, I put myself in the shoes of the women who bore them and raised them. I ask myself, “What was their story? What did they think?”

Those are the women who bolster my faith. And though many of them may not be well-known, I know that there is a bond that connects them to me — mother to mother.

Susan Hines-Brigger is a mother of four, ranging in age from 11 to 23.

She is also an executive editor of St. Anthony Messenger magazine.

NATION

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

10

PRAYER — THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Prayer apps are popular, but users need to review privacy policies

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

W

CNS PHOTO/TYLER ORSBURN

Prayer apps are popular, but there are concerns about how personal content is gathered and used.

“

“

ASHINGTON (CNS) — In the digital world, smartphone users can find apps for just about any purpose: banking, news and information, entertainment, travel, finding a job, self-improvement and, of course, prayer.

That includes Catholic prayer.

Dozens of Catholic-specific apps exist. They have varying levels of presentation and content.

Styles range from a basic offering of prayer or Scripture to those that combine inspirational music or traditional chants with pleasant graphics to help guide users through the daily Mass readings, the rosary, meditation, the Liturgy of the Hours, prayers for the Lenten season and even step-by-step preparations for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Beyond devotional features, some apps have been built to allow users to post prayers or prayer requests, comment on a particular challenge they are facing or invite others to offer support at a troubling time.

Whatever their design, prayer apps have become a popular option for millions of Catholics worldwide seeking to better connect with God and establish a stronger prayer life.

“The things we’ve heard from folks . . . is just that it is a place of peace amidst what is a relatively crazy world, both politically and the pandemic that obviously brought with it incredible suffering and grief,” Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, said of his popular Catholic app.

Jones, a University of Notre Dame graduate, told Catholic News Service that since its launch in December 2018, Hallow had seen more than 2 million downloads as of March 1.

He credits the app’s widening popularity to content that is regularly updated and expanded and speaks to people’s needs. The app offers a free version with more than 3,000 meditations, as well as a premium version, Hallow Plus, with more expansive content for a monthly or annual subscription fee.

While Hallow enjoys enormous popularity, other apps have garnered their own devoted followers as well, with some people using more than one prayer app in their lives.

Jennifer Kane, who catalogs and evaluates Catholic apps at her website — CatholicAPPtitude.com — told CNS she has found several excellent resources among the hundreds she has downloaded. Her website, which went live in 2013, has evaluations for apps such as Laudate, Click to Pray, Pray as You Go, Mass Explained, Divine Office and Universalis. Her site includes those that are free and those that require a fee or subscription.

Prayer apps are not just for Catholics. Christian prayer and meditation apps are burgeoning as well, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020. Among the most widely downloaded are London-based Glorify, founded in 2019, and Los Angeles-based Pray.com, founded in 2016.

Like Hallow, the Glorify and Pray.com apps offer free basic access as well as enhanced versions for monthly and annual subscriptions.

JUST BECAUSE IT’S LEGAL TO COLLECT DATA ABOUT PEOPLE DOING PRAYER APPS DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD. FLORENCE CHEE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR DIGITAL ETHICS AND POLICY AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO The growing popularity of prayer apps has attracted attention from investors.

Hallow, Pray and Glorify alone have raised more than $120 million from investors.

For example, in 2021, Hallow raised more than $50 million. Jones said pitching the app to potential backers was difficult, but that the funding has allowed the 40-person company to continue to expand its offerings in the hope of eventually turning a profit.

Meanwhile, Glorify announced in December that it had raised $40 million. Since its founding, Pray.com has raised $34 million in five funding rounds, according to Crunchbase.com.

Such large investments have led to questions about how the apps — like most other apps and online services — use the personal data collected from users and whether such information is being monetized.

Writing in an op-ed in The Washington Post in May 2020, venture capitalist Katherine Boyle said the pandemic especially contributed to the popularity of prayer apps, and high-tech investors noticed.

“A holy trinity is in place: isolated people hungry for attachment, religions desperate for growth in an online world and technology investors searching for the consumer niches yet to digitize,” Boyle wrote.

Such circumstances have led to questions about the actions of some prayer app developers as they try to generate greater revenues outside of subscription fees.

Media observers at two Catholic institutions said steps to sell or monetize personal data by any app developer pose ethical and moral questions.

They cautioned users to carefully think about what they post, especially on free apps.

Florence Chee, program director at the Center for Digital Ethics and Policy at Loyola University Chicago, told CNS that requiring users to enable certain smart device settings before an app can be used amounts to “coerced interactions.”

“The user has very little power, very little awareness in determining where their data goes and how long that data is used for what purposes down the line,” Chee said.

While gathering and sharing personal data is legal under current regulations, Chee questioned whether companies should be doing so. She compared prayers or reflections that a user may post on an app to being in the confessional with a priest, saying she believed they should remain private.

“Just because it’s legal to collect data about people doing prayer apps doesn’t mean you should. It is more nebulous, but this is what differentiates law and ethics. This is where more folks need to be advocating for a more ethical framing of apps for prayer services as an example,” she said.

Kane at CatholicAPPtitude said she has evaluated dozens of apps since 2013, looking at ease of use and the content of each, including those where users can upload personal thoughts and prayers. She has seen apps with very direct privacy policies that explain whether personal information will be shared to third-party data brokers.

“Marketing is very sophisticated. So most of the time your [information] is

going to get targeted and it’s going to get to other entities,” Kane said in reference to any online site or phone app.

At Hallow, an updated privacy policy took effect March 28. It specifically states that “we do not sell, rent or otherwise provide users’ personal data to any data brokers.” Any “private sensitive personal data,” such as journal entries or reflections generated by users, is encrypted and only accessible to the user, the policy states. Similarly, such data is not shared with “any advertising partners,” it says.

“We never sell data or send to data brokers or any of that stuff,” Jones told CNS, explaining that the company has “always tried to be as transparent as possible” to maintain the trust of users.

“I think privacy . . . is an incredibly important thing across industries, especially when you’re talking about something as intimate and personal as someone’s faith experience, in which oftentimes they’re inviting God and using the Hallow app to deal with grief or suffering or anything that could be sensitive,” Jones said.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, based in San Francisco, has long promoted privacy for users of any type of app, prayer or otherwise.

Bennett Cyphers, staff technologist at the foundation, said efforts have been underway for years to protect the online privacy of app users specifically and computer users generally but that they have achieved limited success.

“There’s a real lobbying push from the companies to water down any potential privacy laws or kill any laws that would threaten their business model,” Cyphers said.

“We don’t think that the bargain that users implicitly agree to when they download a free app — which is you get to use this free app and in exchange your data is collected and exploited and shared and sold without your consent, frequently without your knowledge — is fair or ethical at all,” he said.

CALENDAR

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA MARY’S HOLY HOUR Mater Dei-Holy Name Parish (chapel) 911 S.W. Clay, Topeka May 7 at 10 am.

Mary’s Holy Hour will be celebrated with a rosary followed by the auditors’ meeting in the parish hall. Deacon Chris Seago will officiate. Call chancellor Gen Orozco at (785) 272-9411 if you have questions.

BEREAVEMENT MEETING Curé of Ars Parish (Father Burak Room) 9405 Mission Rd., Leawood May 7 at 8 a.m.

The Bereavement Ministry meeting will be held after the 8 a.m. Mass. The speaker will be grief counselor Bruce Leisy. For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

ROSARY RALLY IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA Holy Spirit Parish 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park May 8 from 3 - 4:15 p.m.

Join us on Mother’s Day to 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 Holy Trinity Parish (Quigley Center) 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa May 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Deb Niesen from the archdiocesan prolife office will speak about the “Value Them Both” amendment at the meeting. Women from the archdiocese are invited. The group’s Cinco De Mayo taco salad will be served. Contact Sandy Cannon at (913) 3961564 or send an email to: csandyangels@ aol.com for more information. RSVP Cannon if you plan to attend.

FINISH FAITHFUL Holy Spirit Parish 11300 W. 103rd St., Overland Park May 14 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Finish Faithful conference will feature four engaging speakers. Topics include: “The Gift of Everlasting Life,” Advanced Healthcare Directives, Estate Planning with Wills and Trusts, and preplanning your funeral and burial. For speakers, agenda and free regis-

tration form, visit the website at: archkck. org/finishfaithful-registration, or call the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development at (913) 647-0365.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas May 15 from 8 - 11 a.m.

The Knights of Columbus will be serving pancakes, hot and mild maple sausage, eggs, and biscuits and gravy. The cost is a freewill offering. It is race weekend, so stop by on your way to the race! For more information, call Fritz Vertz at (913) 515-0621.

ST. ISIDORE FEAST DAY MASS AND BLESSING OF SEEDS AND SOIL Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Road, Easton May 15 at 10 a.m.

Join us for a day in honor of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, on his feast day. The day will begin with Mass with Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann followed by a rosary procession to the St. Isidore Shrine.

Bring seeds and soil in a small, decorated basket to be placed at the altar for blessing.

The event will end with lunch and a time of fellowship. A freewill offering will be taken up to support the center. To attend, send an email to: info@christspeace.com or call (913) 773-8255 to let us know how many people will be attending.

PILGRIMAGE JOURNALS The Keeler Women’s Center 759 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas May 16 from 10 - 11 a.m.

Join us for a morning of prayer, creativity and a unique way to journal. No prior Bible knowledge of journaling experience is required.

‘CHARLES DE FOUCAULD: WITNESS IN THE DESERT’ Christ’s Peace House of Prayer 22131 Meagher Road, Easton May 20 - 22

This retreat begins on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. and ends on May 22 at 4:30 p.m. Come be inspired by the life of one of our newest saints, Charles de Foucauld, who will be canonized on May 15. Find an effective aid to your spiritual growth in the example of holiness lived by his life of work, solitude, meditation and adoration. We will explore his writings, how he spent his life and his rule for living. There will be conferences,

eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and time for private prayer, reflection and walking. Cabins/courtyard rooms are: $170 single/$250 couple, or single guest rooms, $100 (meals included). To attend, fill out the reservation form online at: christspeace. com or call (913) 773-8255.

CHICKEN DINNER AND BINGO St. Patrick Parish 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas May 21 at 6 p.m.

There will be a two-piece chicken dinner with potatoes and gravy, corn, salad, roll and dessert. The cost is: $10 for adults; $5 for kids under 12; and $30 for a family of two adults and more than two children.

Bingo is $10 for 10 cards. For more information, call Fritz Vertz at (913) 515-0621.

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall) 5972 SW 25th St., Topeka May 22 at 12:40 p.m.

A rosary will be followed by the business meeting and social time. If anyone knows of a member or family member of the Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers, call Diana Ortiz at (785) 554-4356.

11 events/thomas-more.

RETROUVAILLE MARRIAGE RETREAT Savior Pastoral Center 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas June 10 - 12

Retrouvaille is a program designed to help struggling marriages regain their health. It helps a husband and wife rediscover or reawaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. For more information or to register, go online to: www.helpourmarriage. org or call (800) 470-2230.

ENCOUNTER KC SUMMER INTENSIVE St. Agnes Parish (hall) 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park July 11 - 14, 6 - 8 p.m. each evening

This summer intensive is an evening school that provides a survey of the content offered in the first four quarters of the Encounter School of Ministry launching in Kansas City in September. With two teachings each night, this quick-paced course will educate, equip and activate you to partner with Jesus and further bring about the kingdom of God here on earth.

To register and for more information, visit the website at: encounterkc.regfox.com/ encounter-kc-summer-intensive or call Lee McMahon at (785) 218-2708.

PREMENOPAUSE NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASS St. John the Evangelist (extra building) 200 W. 13th St., Lawrence May 27 at 6:30 p.m.

CATHOLIC HEART WORKCAMP Kansas City Area July 10 - 16

ST. THOMAS MORE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM Savior Pastoral Center 12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas June 3 from 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SUMMER CAMP St. Thomas Aquinas High School 11411 Pflumm Rd., Overland Park May - August

To attend this class in premenopause natural family planning, call Shannon or John Rasmussen at (785) 749-1015 for more information about this class or other Couple to Couple League classes in the metro area. Online preregistration is required at: www.ccli.org.

The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) is providing a Catholiccentered continuing education program for those in the fields of law, accounting, financial planning and insurance. The cost is $80.

Credits are available. For more information about the program schedule, session descriptions, sponsorship opportunities or to register, go online to: www.cfnek.org/

Do you or anyone you know need assistance with minor home repairs, yard cleanup or house painting? Catholic HEART Workcamp will be in the Kansas City Area July 11 - 14. If you would like to be considered, please call (402) 3069043 or send an email to: chwc@gmail. com.

There will be a variety of camps for students entering grade K - 8 to explore.

Registration and further information is available online at: www.stasaints.net/ summercamps. Questions? Call the student life office at (913) 319-2416 or send an email to: btriggs@stasaints.net.

CLASSIFIEDS

12 EMPLOYMENT Grant accountant - Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is seeking an organized, passionate accountant. This position is responsible for managing all payable functions; analyzing and verifying documentation for proper approvals; authenticity; account coding designations; and vendor statement reconciliations. Bachelor’s degree in accounting preferred.

Apply at: www.catholiccharitiesks.org/careers.

Part-time handyman - Hermes Landscaping is looking for part-time handyman work with flexible hours as needed for our organization. This position will help with miscellaneous projects throughout the year.

Those projects include, but are not limited to, routine maintenance; electrical; masonry; painting; and work throughout our main building in addition to our multiple facilities. If you are skilled in these areas and have a flexible schedule, we encourage you to apply!

Please visit: hermeslandscaping.com/professionaljob-listings or give us a call at (913) 888-2400 to learn more.

Content marketing specialist – Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is looking for a gifted storyteller to join the marketing team. This position requires an excellent writer with strong editing skills who can create impactful digital and print content for a variety of communications. The content marketing specialist is primarily responsible for building awareness for programs, special events and social enterprises including TurnStyles thrift stores. In addition, this role will manage and help drive engagement across all social channels. To learn more or apply, visit: catholiccharitiesks.org and click on “Careers.”

STREAM director - Are you an educator looking to unleash your creativity, love collaboration and are driven by problem solving? Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea, is looking for a STREAM director for the 2022-23 school year. We are a National Blue Ribbon School with a well-developed STREAM program. We believe that God is our ultimate engineer and push for our students to be producers of technology and not just consumers. If you are interested in facilitating STREAM labs with K - 8 students, collaborating with professional educators on integrating technology into their instruction and designing problem-based learning opportunities, contact Mr. Nick Antista at (913) 533-2468 or: info@qhrwea.org.

Urban youth ministry - The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is seeking a dynamic individual of urban youth ministry at ReachKCK. The Wyandotte County youth outreach coordinator will assist with the creation and implementation of programs, as well as develop training for those serving the evangelization, youth ministry and catechesis efforts in Wyandotte County. The ideal candidate will be committed to Catholic teaching, knowledgeable of theology and catechesis, and possess leadership skills with a track record of innovation and collaboration. Fluency in Spanish preferred. Submission deadline is May 13. To apply, please visit: www.archkck.org/jobs.

Office manager - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking an organized office manager to oversee and support all administrative duties. This person will work with the principal and school staff to manage special projects and daily operations. Duties include: managing the tuition database; reconciling receipts and disbursements; assisting with human resources; arranging for substitute teachers; managing title funds; assisting PTO with their initiatives; maintaining student record files; and providing a warm, loving Christ-centered professional environment. Resumes can be sent to: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org.

In-home caregiver - Provide assistance to elderly veteran in his home, including light housekeeping; preparing meals; personal hygiene assistance if needed; and occasional assistance with transferring from wheelchair to bed. Promote independence whenever possible. More details provided during interview.

Preferred schedule is daytime hours Fri., Sat., Sun., but can be flexible. Text/call to Michelle at (913) 2102257.

Parish business manager - Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence is seeking a full-time business manager.

This person must have accounting/financial management expertise; management/supervisory experience; and computer and business skills. This person will be expected to be a proactive leader in managing and operating the business side of the parish; the annual budget; overseeing parish grounds and building maintenance; and working closely with the pastor, principal, staff, parish committees and parish members. Good oral and written communication are mandatory along with good organization and prioritization skills with attention to detail. A full job description can be found at: www.cccparish.org/our-parish/ employment-opportunities.

Drivers and aides - Assisted Transportation is now hiring safe drivers and aides to transport students with special needs in Johnson, Wyandotte and Clay County, Missouri, in company vans. Drivers earn $14 - $16 per hour. Aides earn $12 per hour. Part-time and full-time schedules available. CDL not required. Retirees encouraged to apply. Make a difference in your community by helping those in need. Call (913) 521-4955 for more information. EEO

Full and part-time assistant preschool teachers – St. Ann Young Child Center is currently seeking assistant preschool teachers for the 2022-23 school year. Interested candidates should have a love for children and a willingness to learn more about early childhood education. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. If you are interested, please contact Cara Schwarz, preschool director, at (913) 362-4660 and/or send resume and cover letter to: cschwarz@stannpv.org.

Full and part-time lead preschool teachers - St. Ann Young Child Center is currently seeking lead preschool teachers for the 2022-23 school year. The lead teacher is responsible for creating lesson plans and implementing teacher-led activities. All potential candidates should have a love for children and for maintaining the principles of Catholic education. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. If you are interested, please contact Cara Schwarz, preschool director, at (913) 362-4660 and/or send resume and cover letter to: cschwarz@stannpv.org.

Seventh/eighth grade science teacher - St. Ann School, Prairie Village, is seeking a seventh grade homeroom and science teacher for the 2022-23 school year. This teacher will also teach eighth grade science classes through a rotation. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs. org and email principal Liz Minks at: lminks@stannpv. org.

Preschool program coordinator - St. Michael the Archangel Preschool is seeking a program coordinator. This position is responsible for payment transactions using preschool data software (Procare); corresponding with families; assisting with classroom instruction; accurately implementing preschool programs and policies; and abiding by principles of sound Catholic education. The program coordinator must meet state requirements for working as a lead teacher in a preschool classroom. This is a part-time, hourly position. Please submit resume and cover letter to Jennie Wente at: jennie.wente@stmichaelcp.org.

DSPs needed - Direct care professionals needed in Overland Park in an intentional living community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Training provided.

Live-in or live-out options. Weekends, evenings and overnight shifts available now. $13 - $15 per hour.

Email: heartland@larcheks.org.

Director of children’s ministry - Prince of Peace is seeking candidates for the position of director of children’s ministry. This position is responsible for the religious formation programs of elementary grades (K - 6) for the school of religion; sacramental preparation for first penance and holy Communion for the parish; and collaborating with the family and marriage ministry.

Must be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the church, with a heart for sharing faith in Christ with the youth and families. To apply, send resume to John Meyers, business manager, at: jmeyers@popolathe.org.

Part-time chiropractic assistant - Busy chiropractic office in N.W. Olathe (K-10 and Ridgeview Rd.) is looking for a part-time assistant to work 6 - 10 hours a week, including two Saturdays a month, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the possibility of covering additional hours as needed. $12 per hour plus bonuses.

Job duties include: answering phones; scheduling and checking in patients; insurance; assisting with patient therapies, etc. If you are professional, friendly, hard-working and would like to help others, our office may be the place for you! Must have great phone and computer skills. Must be a people person and have a flexible schedule. Insurance experience is a plus, but not necessary. We will train on patient therapies. Email resume to Dr. Craig Koshlap at: drk@ ridgeviewchiropractic.com or fax to (913) 890-7372.

Staff job openings – Hermes Landscaping has been a premier full-service landscaping provider throughout Kansas City for over 50 years! The company is growing and has the following job openings available: controller and seasonal staff accountant. Come work where passion and creativity collide to create breathtaking landscapes and hardscapes. At Hermes, we consider ourselves innovators and leaders in the green industry. Join us and you’ll be joining a company that has helped carve and create much of the scenic landscape in Kansas City. To find job descriptions and details, go to: hermeslandscaping.com/professional-job-listings or give us a call at (913) 888-2400.

Physical education teacher - Nativity Parish School in Leawood is seeking a full-time physical education teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Interested applicants should apply online at: archkckcs.org and please reach out to principal Luke Jennison at: luke. jennison@kcnativity.org Catholic high school principal - Maur Hill-Mount Academy in Atchison is seeking an individual with demonstrated skill in spiritual and academic instructional leadership for the 2022-23 school year. Maur Hill-Mount Academy is a top-ranked Catholic, Benedictine boarding school with around 200 students in the 9th - 12th grades. Applicants for principal must be an active, practicing Catholic in good standing with the church, and have licensure in educational leadership. Please send resume and cover letter to MH-MA president Phil Baniewicz at: philb@mh-ma.com, or apply online at: www. archkckcs.org. If you have questions, call the Maur HillMount Academy office at (913) 367-5482.

Music director - St. Agnes Church, an active and vibrant parish community of close to 1,300 families in Roeland Park, is seeking a music director to facilitate worship experiences that celebrate and strengthen our parishioners’ faith journey. Five Masses are celebrated each weekend. Duties would include: Easter week, Christmas and other holy days; communal sacramental celebrations of first Communion, confirmation and reconciliation. The director is responsible for a range of ministries, including: volunteer recruitment and support; musical direction of vocal choirs, both adult and children’s; hand bell choirs; accompanist responsibilities; and art and environment direction.

The director will be responsible to collaborate and coordinate with families on music for weddings and funerals. The director must be flexible and demonstrate collaborative skills with staff and music volunteers. Hours are negotiable. Qualifications: must be a practicing Catholic in good standing; bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent program of study required; knowledge of and prior experience as music director a plus; supervisory experience and ability to speak Spanish helpful. To see a full job description go to: www.stagneskc.org, and look for the “Career” tab. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of interview with key members of staff, background check and attendance at a Virtus Protecting God’s Children program at the first available opportunity. Send resume and cover letter including salary requirements to: Director of Parish Ministries, St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park KS 66205. Email: gomez.mike@stagneskc.org. Please apply by May 6.

Teachers - Christ the King School, Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking elementary and middle school teachers for the 2022-23 school year. Partnering with parents in their role as primary educators, Christ the King School extends the mission of the church in forming true disciples of Jesus Christ. Through a Catholic classic liberal arts education centered on Christ, we provide an integrated approach fostering a love of truth, beauty and goodness. We seek to instill a natural desire for wisdom and virtue in all students. We seek candidates who will provide engaging and active instruction and also exhibit a love of lifelong learning. The ideal teacher at Christ the King has not only developed a level of mastery in the discipline/grade level that they teach, but also understands how that discipline belongs within the context of a strong liberal arts education. The candidate should understand how a Catholic worldview permeates the curriculum and the instruction, understand the role of poetic imagination in education, and be a disciple of Christ committed to providing a Gospel witness.

Qualifications include: a bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred and reflected in compensation; mastery of subject matters to be taught, as demonstrated by references and education; two years of teaching experience preferred, with exceptions granted for outstanding candidates who demonstrate a record of effective leadership in a relevant field of work; the applicant must also possess a love of teaching and a passion for mentoring and a desire to continue in their own learning. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume and CV to Cathy Fithian, principal, at: cfithian@ctkkck.org or mail to: Christ the King School, 3027 N. 54th St., Kansas City KS 66104.

Client advocate - Olathe Pregnancy Clinic has a need for a part-time client advocate. This is a rewarding but challenging position requiring a deep faith and belief in the sanctity of life. You will help mothers choose life for their unborn children and provide services that lend support to mothers, their unborn babies and their families. You will be a front- line worker in the goal of making abortion unthinkable one life at a time. Olathe Pregnancy Clinic desires a bilingual counselor but it is not required. Please contact Diane Drouhard at (913) 669-7089 or at: ddrouhard@olathepregnancyclinic.org.

Youth ministers for junior and senior high parishioners - Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Overland Park, is seeking a part-time youth minister for junior and senior high youth parishioners. This person will work alongside the office of religious education and our parish school staff to engage our youth in meaningful, dynamic programming. The youth minister will coordinate, help develop and supervise teams of volunteers to carry out programs, activities and events designed to engage the youth and their parents of this parish.

This individual will perform a wide variety of activities to direct and coordinate a strong faith-filled youth ministry program aimed at helping youth grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, acting as liaison and presence to our youth community by providing support, resources and a prayerful presence to this ministry. We are looking for that unique individual who has the spirit and heart for ministry as well as the ability to organize and run a comprehensive, fun, engaging ministry. BA in theology, pastoral ministry or related field; knowledge of Catholic teachings, catechesis and documents on youth ministry are required. Applicants must be Virtus-trained. Please send your resume to Father William Bruning, Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, KS 66204 or email to: wmbruning@gmail.com.

Fifth/sixth grade teacher - St. Ann School, Prairie Village, is seeking a sixth grade homeroom and ELA teacher for the 2022-23 school year. This teacher will also teach fifth grade ELA classes and sixth grade reading classes through a rotation. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs.org and email principal Liz Minks at: lminks@stannpv.org.

MAY 6, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG Technology teacher - St. Ann School, Prairie Village, is seeking a part-time technology teacher, approximately 20 hours per week, for computer and keyboarding skills for grades K - 6. This teacher will also potentially work with middle school students in elective courses. Applicants should apply online through the archdiocesan website at: archkckcs.org and email principal Liz Minks at: lminks@stannpv.org.

Maternity home residential mentor - Hiring for all shifts. Do you have the passion to serve mothers and babies? Nativity House KC is a nonprofit maternity home in Kansas City, Kansas. Our mission is to provide help, hope, healing, shelter and services for adult pregnant women experiencing homelessness in a faith-based environment. Essential duties and responsibilities: provide ongoing support services and spiritual mentorship to mothers and their new babies; work with mentees to progress toward an individualized service; lead devotions, prayer and/or book study; lead parenting, budgeting and other classes as a part of curriculum; participate in assigned team meetings and/or consultations, staff development and training; provide all assigned paperwork, completely, accurately and on time.

Requirements: high school diploma; GED or higher; understanding of and sensitivity to homeless women with children; understanding and support of a trauma-informed system of care; valid and clean driver’s license; basic computer skills; be self-directed and flexible to meet the needs of the clients; ability to support the agency’s mission and philosophy and demonstrate sensitivity to cultural diversity and workplace harmony.

Experience with infant and child care preferred. If interested, email: lkabuya@nativityhousekc.org.

Nativity Day School open positions - Our school is growing! We are a private preschool in Leawood that provides a premier school experience. We are open from August-May. We are seeking teachers for the 2022-23 school year. Desired skills and experience: must meet basic requirements of local child care regulatory agency; previous teaching or assistant teaching position in a licensed early childhood program preferred; four-year degree in early childhood or related field required; must meet all KDHE requirements; must be Virtus trained; if not Virtus trained, will be asked to take class and to complete all required bulletins in accordance with the archdiocese. Nativity Day School is an equal opportunity employer. Open positions: lead pre-kindergarten teacher, M - F, full time; lead preschool teacher, M - F, full time; assistant preschool teacher, M - F, part time; and special education teacher, M - F, part time. Interested applicants, please email our day school director Katie King at: Katie.King@kcnativity.org.

Teachers - St. Patrick School, Kansas City, Kansas, is seeking a middle school math teacher and a middle school social studies/PE teacher for the 2022-23 school year. Interested applicants who want to join our team of outstanding educators and spiritual leaders are asked to submit a letter of interest, resume including references and a copy of their current teaching license to: tconrad@stpatrickkck.org. The positions are open until filled.

Director of faith formation - Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park is seeking candidates for the position of director of faith formation. This full-time, exempt employee is responsible for providing leadership, oversight and direction in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of initial and lifelong faith formation. This includes children’s catechesis; School of Religion program; sacramental preparation (baptism, reconciliation, first Communion and confirmation); RCIC program for young parishioners and Vacation Bible School program. Preferred skills include: a bachelor’s degree in a field commensurate with the qualifications of the position and experience in managing a religious education office; recruitment, training and supervision of all program staff and volunteers; planning programs for both youth; and evaluation of program curriculum. Bilingual skills in English and Spanish would be beneficial but not required. Applicant will be a practicing Catholic in full communion with the church. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s education and work experience. To apply, please send resume to: Father William Bruning, pastor, Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, 7023 W. 71st St., Overland Park, KS 66204 or email to: wmbruning@gmail. com. Resumes accepted through the month of April.

Part-time companions needed - Perfect job for any kind-hearted, energetic person wanting to be a team player in a small growing family company. Must have reliable transportation. Job entails driving clients to appointments and running errands. Person must be personable, able to talk, do puzzles, play cards and entertain. We are not a hands-on caregiving company.

Some clients may be standby assist. Driving around metro area may be required. Trip charge or mileage also given. Drug, background checks and COVID vaccine are mandatory. Call Jen at (913) 530-1795. Clarkson Companion Care.

Director of marketing and communications - The monastic community of St. Benedict’s Abbey is seeking a full-time director of marketing and communications to lead and oversee communications initiatives that effectively describe and promote the abbey and its mission.

To learn more and apply, go online to: Kansasmonks. org/jobs or call (913) 360-7908. >> Classifieds continue on page 13

CLASSIFIEDS

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG >> Continued from page 12 Part-time aide - St. Michael the Archangel Preschool is seeking a pert-time aid for transitional kindergarten and LEAP (Learn, Explore and Play) class for the 202223 school year. This position is Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Teacher aides assist the lead teacher in conduction daily activities, carrying out licensure rules and regulation and maintaining principles of sound Catholic education. Send cover letter and resume to Jennie Wente at: jennie.wente@stmichaelcp. org.

Elementary school secretary - Sacred Heart Catholic School in Ottawa is seeking an individual with a wide range of skills to run a welcoming and organized school office. Please contact Lisa Blaes at (785) 242-4297 or send a resume to: lblaes@sacredheartottawa.eduk12. net.

Financial representatives - Knights of Columbus has full-time openings in northeast Kansas and western Missouri for full-time financial representatives. Ideal for determined, disciplined, professional, high-expectation individual desiring to serve others. We work exclusively with the families of brother Knights and Catholic gentlemen who are eligible to join the Knights. We have established territories where agents devote their working day to the needs of the members in their assigned councils. Excellent, multitiered training and benefits are provided, allowing the successful field agent to earn a professional level income. This is a career opportunity that may be the right fit at the right time for you, or possibly for someone you know. For further information, contact John A. Mahon, general agent, at (785) 4088800 or email: john.mahon@kofc.org.

Caregivers - Daughters & Company is looking for several compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide light housekeeping/light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation services for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. A CNA background is helpful, though not mandatory. 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.

Full-time assistant teacher for preschool classrooms - Prince of Peace Early Education Center is seeking a year-round, part-time assistant teacher in our preschool classrooms who has a love for children and a background in early childhood (education and/ or experience preferred). Job duties include: care and supervision of children at all times; face-to-face parent communication; closing and cleaning procedures; and implementing activities. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. You may find the application on our website at: popolathe.org/earlyeducation-center.

Full-time lead teacher - Prince of Peace Early Education Center is seeking a year-round, full-time, lead teacher in our two-and-a-half-year-olds classroom who has a love for children and a background in early childhood (education and/or experience required). Job duties include: care and supervision of children at all times; face-to-face parent communication; closing and cleaning procedures; and creating and implementing lesson plans and activities. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience. This position will be available for training in May and teaching at the end of May. You may find the application on our website at: popolathe.org/early-education-center.

Part-time teacher in our after-school care program - Prince of Peace Early Education Center is seeking a year-round, part-time teacher in our after-school care program who has a love for children and a background in early childhood (education and/or experience preferred). Job duties include: care and supervision of children at all times; face-to-face parent communication; closing and cleaning procedures; and implementing activities. We offer competitive wages based on education level and experience You may find the application on our website: popolathe.org/early-education-center.

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 Carolyn Andruss at (913) 894-0131, ext. 102.

Nonmedical caregivers - Saint Rita Home Care is hiring nonmedical caregivers for seniors. Seeking compassionate individuals to fill all shifts. Call or text Renee Margush at (913) 229-4267.

Faculty/adjunct faculty positions available - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, a Catholic college offering higher education for those who may not otherwise be served, has the following faculty job openings include: Director of Baccalaureate programs. Adjunct faculty job openings include: biology, clinical nursing, math, and sociology. Find job descriptions and details on: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Staff job openings - Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, has the following staff job openings available: academic and student affairs specialist; admissions counselor; ADN specialist; assistant registrar; business office controller and nursing intake coordinator. Find job descriptions and details at: www.donnelly.edu/careers.

Part-time lunch coordinator - St. Ann Young Child Center is seeking a lunch coordinator for the 2022-23 school year. Hours and wages are negotiable. If you are interested, please contact Cara Schwarz, preschool director, at (913) 362-4660 and/or send resume and cover letter to: cschwarz@stannpv.org.

HOME IMPROVEMENT STA (Sure Thing Always) Home Repair - Basement finish, bathrooms and kitchens; interior & exterior repairs: painting, roofing, siding, wood replacement and window glazing. Free estimates. Call (913) 579-1835.

Email: smokeycabin@hotmail.com. Member of Holy Trinity, Lenexa.

Popcorn ceiling texture removal Interior wall painting specialist.

Jerry at (913) 206-1144. 30 years’ experience.

Member St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Gearing up for spring! Here is a list of the construction services I offer: flooring; tile; interior/exterior painting, as well as deck and fence staining; ceiling scraping/ retexturing; bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling; siding; decks and covered porches. We also do cabinet refinishing! Look me up on Facebook at “Father & Son Home Exteriors & Remodeling.” I work on all jobs, no subcontractors. Thank you to all my clients!

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

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

Everything is guaranteed 100% (913) 461-4052 www.windowservicesoverlandpark. com drcconswindows@gmail.com Concrete construction - Tear out and replace stamped, stained or colored patios and drives. Retaining walls, footings, poured-in-place safe rooms, excavation and hauling. Asphalt drives and lots. Fully insured; references. Call Dan at (913) 207-4371 or send an email to: dandeeconst@aol.com.

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

SERVICES Tutor - Summer tutoring and music lessons available.

For more information please call Kathleen at (913) 2062151 or email: Klmamuric@yahoo.com.

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

Mike Hammer local moving - A full-service mover.

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

Garage Door Repair Joe Pickert New Garage Doors A Total Door - KC family owned since ‘83 www.ATotalDoor.com or (913) 236-6440 (913) 205-0926 cell ACT Prep - Founded by a Bishop Miege graduate, Pathway Prep has helped over 250 students during the last four years improve their scores. In-person or virtual sessions available. For more information, visit: path wayprepkc.com and contact Alex Pint at (913) 991-8217 or: alex@pathwayprepkc.com.

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

Doll dresses - First Communion dresses for American Girl dolls or any 18” dolls. To include dress, veil, shoes, tights, and cross necklace for $35. Call (913) 345-9498 or send an email to: wwelch4@kc.rr.com to order. The dress is on display at Trinity House, 6731 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS. 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.

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Tutor - Improve your child’s reading level and comprehension with Wilson Fundamentals. Reading support, fundamentals and Wilson reading offered for K - 5th.

Michaela Bowler, St. Agnes. Master math essential skills and prepare for next year with IXL math. 3rd - 8th grade, Algebra 1 and 2, and geometry. Cathy Geisel, SMS. Check out all of our programs at: www.tutoring plus.online or call (913) 674-9558.

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).

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.

Thinking about downsizing? - Just want to get some stuff gone? I am always buying: old jewelry, old coins, pocket watches, pocket knives, old trains, crocks, oil lamps, old toys, glassware, old clocks, old fans, Coca Cola items and spool cabinets. Most old items considered. Call Patricia at (913) 515-2950.

Will buy firearms and related accessories - One a whole collection. Honest evaluation and top prices paid. Contact Tom at (913) 238-2473. Member of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawnee.

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.

Saint Rita Home Care - Compassionate care in the comfort of home. We serve people in Miami and south Johnson counties. Kansas state licensed, nonmedical home care agency. Contact us today for supportive care at: www.saintritahc.com; margush@saintritahc. com; (913) 229-4267; owner, member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

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

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

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 as is never felt so good. Jon & Stacy Bichelmeyer (913) 599-5000.

WANTED TO RENT

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Wanted to rent - Third-year mechanical engineering college student at Purdue University is seeking to rent a furnished room near Mission, Kansas, for three month this summer. He has an internship with Script Pro from 5/14/22 - 8/14/22. He has a car and is great with designing and fixing things. Inquiring to Joan at (313) 5986004.

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.

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COLUMNISTS

DAILY READINGS FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER May 8 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 13: 14, 43-52 Ps 100: 1-2, 3, 5 Rv 7: 9, 14b-17 Jn 10: 27-30 May 9 Acts 11: 1-18 Pss 42: 2-3; 43: 3-4 Jn 10: 1-10 May 10 John of Ávila, priest, doctor of the church; Damien de Veuster, priest Acts 11: 19-26 Ps 87: 1b-7 Jn 10: 22-30 May 11 Wednesday Acts 12:24 – 13:5a Ps 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8 Jn 12: 44-50 May 12 Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs; Pancras, martyr Acts 13: 13-25 Ps 89: 2-3, 21-22, 25, 27 Jn 13: 16-20 May 13 Our Lady of Fatima Acts 13: 26-33 Ps 2: 6-11b Jn 14: 1-6 May 14 MATTHIAS, APOSTLE Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26 Ps 113: 1-8 Jn 15: 9-17

Pancras died circa 304 According to an early legend, the Roman martyr Pancras was a native of Syria or Phrygia (now Turkey) brought to Rome by an uncle after he was orphaned. They converted to Christianity there and were martyred during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Pancras reportedly was only 14, the likely reason for his being a patron saint of children. A strong cult of Pancras developed in Rome and in England from the time of St. Augustine of Canterbury, who dedicated a church to him around 600. Pancras is also mentioned in St. Bede’s martyrology and in most medieval English calendars, and the famous north London train station takes its name from an ancient church there dedicated to St. Pancras.

“D

Life lessons in the mother tongue

id you get your taxes

done?”

Around the middle of January each year, this question starts to dominate my thoughts.

It was something my mom asked relentlessly from the first moment I had to file taxes. Quite frankly, it drove me nuts . . . but I never didn’t get my taxes done. (OK, it’s usually not till late March, but still . . .)

With Mother’s Day weekend, I think of Mom, who died about three years ago. And I smile as I remember her many “momilies.”

I’m not sure who first coined that word, but I’ll credit author Michele Slung, who wrote at least a couple of books with that title.

Essentially, “momilies” are sermons or advice delivered by mothers.

For example, Mom and I often visited Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas, over the years to put wreaths on the

T

he theologians who created the cycles of biblical readings used in the liturgy decided that it would be best for us not to spend too much time in Antioch of Pisidia.

This was a wise choice. If you turned to the person next to you at Mass and asked them where Antioch in Pisidia was located, what would they say?

“Hmm. Antioch in Pisidia. . . . Now, if you’d asked me about Antioch on the Orontes or Antioch on the Mygdonius, I could tell you in a minute. But Antioch in Pisidia — I’m blanking on that.”

Yeah, right. No one has ever heard of Antioch in Pisidia.

MAY 6, 2O22 | THELEAVEN.ORG

MARK MY WORDS

FATHER MARK GOLDASICH Father Mark is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. He has been editor of The Leaven since 1989.

graves of relatives. The wreaths cost around $10 apiece. One day, though, on a shopping trip to Walmart, we walked by a huge display of artificial flowers.

“What are those?”

Mom asked.

“Flowers?” I sarcastically responded.

“Let me see some,” she replied and pointed out several to examine. “How much are they?”

“A buck apiece,” I

answered. I thought she was going to faint.

“WHAT?” said Mom. “They’re only a dollar each?” The words were barely out of her mouth before she had me loading bunch after bunch after bunch into the shopping cart. “The heck with those wreaths,” she said. “We can get these instead and go up and decorate the graves a lot more often.”

And from that day on, that’s what we did.

So, in preparation for Mother’s Day, I hit up Dollar Tree for some of Mom’s favorite flowers. I’m afraid that if I bought a wreath instead, she’d haunt me!

Hardly a week goes by now, when I don’t find myself saying something like, “You know, my mom always used to say . . .”

Some things were embarrassing, like when she’d ask my parishioners after Mass, “Is he behaving?” Or when she insisted on calling me, “Father Mark,” despite me saying, “Mom, please, I’m your son. Call me Mark!”

Some things were downright hilarious like “Put on a coat, Mark, I’m cold” or “Don’t fall off that jungle gym and break your leg and then come running to me!”

Mom could never pronounce “aluminum”; it was always just “the foil.” And I can’t forget how her eyes would light up when she’d get a box of the “oh, that’s that good chocolate, GO-dee-vah.” (That’s Godiva for the rest of us.)

But many of her momilies formed me.

Whenever I got into

trouble, her “I thought we raised you better” never failed to make me think and get back on the right track.

Her “always say good things about people, you never know who’s related to who” saved me from more than a few potentially awkward conversations.

But Mom’s greatest impact is reflected in this story: Two college students went to a lecture

by Robert Ingersoll, a famous agnostic. Afterwards, one student said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other replied, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll didn’t explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain my mother’s life, I will stand by my mother’s God.” (Story found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” by James S. Hewett.)

I, too, will stand by my mother’s God. Why? Because my mom practiced what I preach!

God has entrusted his word to us, too ,

KEVIN PERROTTA Perrotta is the editor and an author of the “Six Weeks with the Bible” series, teaches part time at Siena Heights University and leads Holy Land pilgrimages. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Those who selected today’s excerpt from Acts of the Apostles decided that one day in Antioch of Pisidia

would be enough. To offer just one reading of reasonable length on Paul and Barnabas’ time there, they dropped two-thirds of Luke’s account.

If you listen closely, you may notice that something is missing.

We’re told that Paul and Barnabas go to the synagogue and sit down. Next thing we know, many Jews and gentiles are following them. How did that happen? Did people get inspired just by

sitting next to the missionaries?

No. St. Paul delivered a homily in the synagogue. He reminded his fellow Jews and gentile visitors how God had shown the people of Israel his power to save. He announced that God has now brought his plan of salvation to fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth. This lengthy homily, omitted from today’s reading, is why so many people wanted to follow Paul and Barnabas.

If Paul had not spoken to the people in the synagogue about Jesus that Saturday morning, maybe they would have invited him to coffee after the service, but there wouldn’t have been

anything for St. Luke to write about. Nothing important would have happened.

You can see where I’m going with this.

God has entrusted his word to us, too. We have a responsibility to speak about him to other people. It might be a word about how we have experienced God’s love, an encouragement to seek him, an assurance that he is present in a dark situation, an explanation of the Gospel.

Sometimes, if we speak, God’s word will have an effect. Often if we do not speak, nothing will happen.

By the way, Antioch in Pisidia was in present-day central Turkey.

Good or bad nations do not exist — wickedness is everywhere, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — There is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” nation because wickedness can be found everywhere, Pope Francis said.

“Once there was a habit of dividing humanity into the good and the bad: ‘This country is good,’ ‘But it makes bombs!’ ‘No, it’s good and this one is bad,’” he said in off-the-cuff remarks April 25 at the Vatican.

“No. Today wickedness has

pervaded everyone and there are good and bad people in every country. Wickedness, today, is everywhere, in every nation.

Perhaps even at the Vatican!” he said.

The pope made his remarks during an audience with members of the Trinitarians who were in Rome attending an annual conference of Trinitarian International Solidarity, the order’s international organization that

supports communities of persecuted Christians.

The Trinitarians were founded by St. John de Matha in the 12th-century to promote devotion to the Holy Trinity. In the beginning, the order’s unique apostolate was the ransom of Christians held captive by nonbelievers during the Crusades, reflected in their formal name of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives.

COLUMNISTS

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

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Eucharistic Amazement initiative to launch this June

evival: Eucharistic Amazement is a threeyear initiative in which parishes and the archdiocese will offer parishioners opportunities to learn about and experience the ever-unfolding mystery of the Eucharist.

We all have jobs and important terrestrial tasks to juggle, but each of our primary sacred jobs is to be in a thriving relationship with Jesus and his church and to share the joy of that relationship with others.

Revival: Eucharistic Amazement asks each of us to more deeply understand and experience Jesus in the Eucharist, and to nurture eucharistic faith in our families and friends.

SEEKING CHRIST’S HEART

DEACON DANA NEARMYER Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the director of evangelization for the archdiocese.

Revival: Eucharistic Amazement kicks off the archdiocesan phase on the solemnity of Corpus Christi, June 19, but you do not have wait until then to dive in. The revival

websites, local and national, are up and running. A free course is offered there. The archdiocesan revival site offers many opportunities in the three main areas of concentration: • formation of the laity • enhancement of eucharistic zeal in priests, deacons and liturgical ministers

• experiences of eucharistic amazement We will be offering formation of the laity for all ages. Exciting eucharistic reading and experiences for young people are highlighted on the website.

Camp Tekakwitha’s theme this summer is Revival: Eucharistic Amazement! Please sign up your young people and take a look at our three family camps.

All are welcome to the camp’s annual Echo of Kateri picnic and Mass on July 30; it will be an afternoon and evening of eucharistic learning and experience.

Camp will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, as is the Kelly Youth Rally. Both are featuring eucharistic formation. Eucharistic

formation and eucharistic processions are being offered in late summer in both the Southern Region and Nemaha-Marshall Region. Many things are planned.

Priests are encouraged to attend a study day on Ars Celebrandi, which involves: • fidelity to the texts and rubrics of the church • prayerful understanding of the liturgical texts, feasts and seasons • reverent sense of the ministers and assembly engaging in an exchange, which is the dialogue of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit • proper preparation for celebrating the liturgy Deacons will attend

a regional workshop on the Eucharist. The archdiocesan office of liturgy and sacramental life will be offering workshops for musicians and liturgical ministers.

Each of our parish liturgies and times of eucharistic adoration are opportunities for us to be amazed by the love of the Lord, through the sacrifice of Calvary and gift of the Eucharist.

In year one, parishes are to plan for what they will offer and implement officially starting on the solemnity of Corpus Christi in 2023. The goal is to create a culture of Eucharist amazement for all ages.

Explore the opportunities to grow closer to our eucharistic Lord.

Afghan refugees to the area met with outpouring of support

“T

hank you for all of your efforts to protect me and my family.”

These words of gratitude came from an Afghan man, who left Kabul as the Taliban began its violent takeover. He is one of the 231 Afghan refugees who Catholic Charities has had the privilege to welcome since the Afghanistan humanitarian crisis began.

Many of the refugees resettled by Catholic Charities spend years — even decades — in a refugee camp before coming to the United States. For our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, they had to flee suddenly, their trauma is recent and many are mourning the loss of family and

INSIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES

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

friends left behind.

Most Afghan evacuees have only been permitted temporary status in the United States.

This allows them two years to remain in the country before needing to adjust to a more permanent status. In an

effort to stabilize these families and support them in finding their pathway to permanent status, our La Luz Immigration Clinic has been hosting a monthly Afghan Asylum Legal Clinic.

The response from legal professionals in the community willing to volunteer has been overwhelmingly positive. One volunteer shared, “Helping

someone who needs to be here, stay here,” was her favorite part of the experience.

Initially, Catholic Charities was asked to support resettling 75 Afghans. Almost immediately, we had to adjust that number and our staffing, because of the growing need.

Our greatest challenge was locating longterm housing for these Afghan families.

By the grace of God and with the generous support from the community, we were able to house all of them. Transportation remains one of our biggest difficulties. We need volunteers who are willing to drive refugees to a variety of appointments and to places like our TurnStyles thrift stores for clothing, shoes and

other basic necessities to meet the needs of their families.

The outpouring of support from our parishes and other community groups since the onset of this humanitarian crisis has left all of us at Catholic Charities feeling joyful and hopeful. There have been offers of temporary housing and furniture drives. One family volunteered to cook basic Afghan meals after hearing that refugees often miss the familiar food and spices from their former homeland.

The kindness of strangers has not gone unnoticed. “Seeing the sense of cooperation of kind people like you with immigrants, I forget the problems,” said one of the Afghans.

“I wish to publish a

book from my collection of notes one day to tell the children and future generations of America that you are the offspring of great and kind human beings of whom human society and refugees are proud.”

We do not yet know how Catholic Charities will be called upon as the U.S. prepares to accept those fleeing from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

What we do know, is this verse from the Letter to the Romans will continue to be our guide: “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God” (15:7).

For more about our humanitarian efforts, go online to: https:// catholiccharitiesks. org/humanitarianand-refugee-aid.

MAY 6, 2022 | THELEAVEN.ORG

LOCAL NEWS

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Classic car hobby helps soon-to-be priest reach others

By Joe Bollig joe.bolig@theleaven.org

K

COURTESY PHOTO

Deacon Andrew Gaffney stands with his father John and his prized Victory Red 1969 Chevy stepside pickup truck that he works on as a hobby.

“

PERSONALLY SPEAKING Deacon Andrew Gaffney

Age: 27 Born: Topeka Raised: Tecumseh and Topeka Parents: John and Lori Gaffney Siblings: Three sisters: Elizabeth Crane, Morgan Kaufman and Emma Heinen Home parish: St. Matthew, Topeka Education: Hayden High School in Topeka, 2013; bachelor of arts degree from Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, 2017; master of divinity degree from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, Denver, 2022 Favorite food: Chick-fil-A Least favorite food: Olives Favorite childhood toy: Tractor What I wanted to be growing up: Nurse Worst job I’ve ever had: Baskin Robbins Best job I’ve ever had: Aboud’s Catering Book recommendation: “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky A place I’d like to go: Rome. I’ve never been there, and I’d love to experience the beauty and history of the faith.

Favorite devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus because the heart is a place of encounter Most important life lesson so far: I am not Jesus.

If I could do it all over again, I’d: still want to be a priest.

My greatest adventure/most interesting experience: seminary Most inspirational Christian I’ve met: Father Jim Thermos Best vocational advice I received: Marriage is messy, newlyweds are messy, the priesthood is messy, baby priests are messy — embrace the mess.

Favorite seminary class: “Dante as Theological Aesthetic.” We read “The Divine Comedy” through the lens of beauty. It was an incredible way to finish my theological studies and reflect on everything I learned.

My advice to vocational discerners: Trust where the Lord is leading you.

He will not abandon you, even when the light is hard to see.

What I’m looking forward to as a priest: Being back with the people of the archdiocese, celebrating Mass and hearing confessions.

2017. He went to St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver for a year of spirituality and to study for a master’s degree in divinity. At the end of his first year, he made a 30-day silent retreat.

“At the end of that retreat, the Lord made it known that he called me,” he said, “and I’ve been at peace ever since.”

He’s even found ways for his hobbies to serve his ministry.

One of his longtime interests has

been working on older cars, and he has two project vehicles: a Victory Red 1969 Chevy stepside pickup truck and a British Racing Green 1969 MG Midget sports car. He’s discovered a way to use his mechanical talents for ministry.

“I believe I have the ability to reach certain people that a lot of other priests struggle to relate to,” he said.

“I’m a classic car guy. I love restoring cars and getting my hands dirty. In my summer assignments . . . I’d bring

“

ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Deacon Andrew Gaffney’s start in ministry was not an auspicious one. His pastor at the time, Father Jerry Volz, fired him from being an altar server.

“In fourth grade, everyone [at St. Matthew School in Topeka] became an altar server if they wanted,” said Deacon Gaffney. “While I was in the sixth grade, I was so bad that they asked me to not serve anymore. I kept falling asleep and really didn’t pay attention or care too much at that point.”

It’s something they laugh about now.

Father Volz — who is a distant cousin — will vest Deacon Gaffney at his ordination Mass on May 28 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas.

He was ordained a deacon on May 22, 2021, at St. Matthew Parish.

Deacon Gaffney is the son of John and Lori Gaffney. He has three sisters — two older, one younger — and they were members of St. Matthew.

They were “a normal, run-of-the-mill, modern Catholic family,” said the deacon.

Other than his pastor, the person who influenced his faith the most while growing up was his mother.

“She is a very holy and devout person to this very day,” said Deacon Gaffney. “She had the eucharistic adoration hour at the parish on Tuesdays at 11. She was the rock [of faith] for my family.”

It wasn’t until he was at Hayden High School in Topeka that his faith really took off and he began to think about the priesthood.

“During my sophomore year of high school, I realized that I hadn’t made my faith my own,” he said. “[That year,] I went on a retreat, and I encountered Christ for the first time in my life in the confessional, and it had a very big impact on me,” he recalled.

He began helping out on retreats, serving on the retreat teams. He discovered he loved helping other people encounter Christ in a personal way. In his junior year, he began spending time in the school chapel, asking the Lord what he wanted him to do after high school.

“He was very involved in our youth group,” said Father Volz. “He was one of the leaders, so much so that we made a CD of the rosary to send to homebound people and he was one who prayed one of the decades.”

“I got to the point where I couldn’t push it away,” said Deacon Gaffney.

“I talked to Father Jerry Volz . . . and I said I needed to give it a shot for a year. The Lord confirmed one year and that turned into nine years.”

His parents were surprised when he told them.

“It was never talked about,” he said.

“The basic assumption was that I’d go to college, get a degree and get married. But they never pushed me one way or another.”

There was some concern because he was so young — just out of high school — when they helped him move to Conception Seminary in northwest Missouri. Meeting the other seminarians put them at ease.

“I remember my parents leaving that day,” said Deacon Gaffney. “My mom told me, ‘This is a good place. You will be happy here.’”

Deacon Gaffney graduated from Conception with a bachelor of arts in

I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN’T PUSH IT AWAY. I TALKED TO FATHER JERRY VOLZ . . . AND I SAID I NEEDED TO GIVE IT A SHOT FOR A YEAR. THE LORD CONFIRMED ONE YEAR AND THAT TURNED INTO NINE YEARS. DEACON ANDREW GAFFNEY

my car and invite guys in the parish to work on the car,” he said. “I realized a lot of the guys I worked with aren’t the kind of guys who’d just walk into a priest’s office and set up a meeting.

There’s something about working on a car . . . that brings down a barrier in some men. You’re able to talk with them when normally that would be a struggle.”

It’s quite a conversation starter when he goes to a classic car meet and steps out of his truck wearing a Roman collar. It’s gearhead evangelization.

Father Volz is looking forward to Deacon Gaffney’s ordination. He appreciates the passion and energy he brings to ministry.

“He’ll be a great priest,” said Father Volz. “He has a desire and passion for the church and ministry, and a love for the church and for people. He likes to be around people — he’s a big extrovert.”

Deacon Gaffney’s advice to other men discerning the priesthood can be distilled into one word: Trust.

“Trust in the Lord and where he is leading you,” said Deacon Gaffney. “It’s very easy to get lost in the day to day, and it can be hard to see the future the Lord is calling you to. But the Lord has a plan, and that is the way of true light and true joy, and he will provide for you. He won’t abandon you.”