01 16 26 Vol. 47 No. 20

THE ISLANDER

Father Dan Gardner spends retirement ministering in the Marshall Islands

By Moira Cullings moira.cullings@theleaven.org

MARSHALL ISLANDS —

Father Daniel Gardner’s commute to work looks a little different these days.

When he’s not riding his bike across Kwajalein Atoll, twice a month he’s hopping on a 28-seat plane for a short flight to a neighboring island to celebrate Mass.

“It’s getting pretty routine now,” said Father Gardner of his life on the Marshall Islands.

After officially retiring from active

WHEREVER I GO, MY FAVORITE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE IS THE PEOPLE. AND THERE’S QUITE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE HERE, BECAUSE IT’S NOT JUST THE AMERICANS BUT ALSO SOME OF THE MARSHALLESE AND THE FILIPINOS.

FATHER DANIEL GARDNER

duty in 2024, then serving briefly as parochial administrator of Holy Angels Parish in Garnett and St. John the Baptist Parish in Greeley later that year, he

WHEN

The Leaven will publish a list of Lenten dinners in the archdiocese on Feb. 13.

was invited by Father Jim Ludwikoski to serve as a contract chaplain on Kwajalein.

Father Ludwikoski, a retired military

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chaplain from the archdiocese, has been serving there off and on over the years. The current plan is that the priests will take turns serving there for six months at a time.

Now more than halfway through his first stint, Father Gardner said serving the island community has expanded his faith life.

“I’m more in awe of God and how God watches over us all and can treat us individually,” he said, “but he sees the whole picture, too — way beyond anything we can imagine.”

>> See “YOU” on page 5

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Appointments

Father Anthony J. Saiki, J.C.L., Chancellor, announces the following appointments made by Archbishop McKnight.

Parochial Administrator

The Very Reverend Mark Mertes, V.G., to Parochial Administrator of Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, KS, while continuing as Vicar General & Vicar for Clergy and Pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS, effective 2 February 2026 until 30 June 2026.

Parochial Vicar

The Reverend Keith Chadwick, from Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, KS, to part-time Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and part-time assistant to the Chancellor while continuing as Master of Ceremonies of the Archdiocese, effective 2 February 2026 until 30 June 2026.

Other

The Reverend Timothy Skoch, to Associate Director of Vocations, continuing as Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS, and chaplain of Bishop Ward High School, effective immediately.

The Reverend Nicholas Ashmore, from Associate Director of Vocations to further studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America while continuing as Director of the Didde Catholic Campus Center and Pastor of St. Catherine Catholic Church, effective immediately.

Deacon William Sutherland, from completion of seminary studies at KenrickGlennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO, to diaconal ministry at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles in Kansas City, KS, until ordination to the Sacred Priesthood on 23 May 2026, effective 1 January 2026.

† Published without editorial alteration

Correction

In the Jan. 9 issue of The Leaven, the article “Cancer victim fought back with faith, fundraising” mistakenly got Mike Scanlon’s name wrong. Scanlon, a member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Overland Park, biked 706 miles of the Kansas trail system to raise money for cancer research.

ARCHBISHOP MCKNIGHT

Jan. 16

Mass with chancery staff — chancery chapel

Interpreter gathering — St. Paul Church, Olathe

Jan. 17

Profession of first vows, Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ, Mass of thanksgiving — St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood

Catholic Charities Snow Ball and Mass — Overland Park Convention Center

Jan. 20

Meeting with Heart of the Redeemer leaders —Savior Pastoral Center

Jan. 21

Meeting with the archdiocesan College of Consultors — Savior

Presbyteral Council meeting — Savior

Jan. 22

Second annual Strengthening Hispanic Engagement in Schools through Connection, Culture, and Commitment — Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas

Jan. 23

Tour of Halo Care Collective — Olathe

Jan. 25

Mass — University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth

Jan. 27

Red Mass — Mater Dei Parish, Assumption Church, Topeka

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS NAUMANN

Jan. 17

Profession of first vows, Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ, Mass of thanksgiving — St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Leawood

Catholic Charities Snow Ball and Mass — Overland Park

Convention Center

Jan. 18

Vespers and dinner with monks — St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison

Jan. 22

Pro-life leadership Mass and reception — Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, Washington, D.C.

Vigil for Life — Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

Jan. 23

Mass with archdiocesan pilgrims — St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C.

March for Life — Washington, D.C.

Pope sets Jubilee to mark 800th year since St. Francis’ death

By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News

ASSISI, Italy (OSV News)

— Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee Year coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, issued a decree published by the Franciscan Friars Jan. 10, declaring a yearlong celebration in honor of the “Poverello,” or the “Little Poor One.”

According to the decree, Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis may be proclaimed, in which every Christian, “following the example of the saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”

In its decree, the Apostolic Penitentiary also announced that plenary indulgences will be granted to Catholics “under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), which can also be applied in the form of suffrage for the souls in purgatory.”

The indulgence will be granted to those who participate in a pilgrimage “to any Franciscan conventual church, or place of worship in any part of the world named after St.

Francis or connected to him for any reason,” it stated.

The sick, the elderly and caretakers unable to leave their homes can also obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions “if they join spiritually in the Jubilee celebrations of the Year of St. Francis, offering their prayers to the merciful God, the pains or sufferings of one’s life.”

In a Jan. 10 letter to the ministers general of the Conference of the Franciscan

Family, Pope Leo said St. Francis’ message of peace was needed now more than ever.

“In this age, marked by so many seemingly interminable wars, by internal and social divisions that create mistrust and fear, he continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace,” the pope wrote.

That peace, the pope added, “is not limited to the relations between human beings,” but extends to “the entire family of Creation.”

“This insight resonates with particular urgency in our time, when our common home is threatened and cries out under exploitation,” he wrote.

“Peace with God, peace among human beings, and with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.”

Pope Leo concluded his letter with a prayer to St. Francis, asking the saint’s intercession “to give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries.”

“In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers: unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ,” the pope wrote.

The pope’s letter was read during a Jan. 10 celebration marking the start of the Franciscan Jubilee Year at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, which houses the Chapel of the Transit, marking the site where St. Francis died.

Among the notable events taking place in Assisi during the Franciscan Jubilee Year will be the first public display of St. Francis’ body.

In October 2025, the Basilica of St. Francis announced that Pope Leo had granted permission to display the saint’s body from Feb. 22 to March 26.

A free but mandatory online reservation system has been set up on the centenary website, available in both Italian and English.

Culture missionaries looking for new host parishes

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS — How do you restore culture? How do you encourage young adults to live virtuously?

Those are a few of the questions Aaron Vrbka and three other Culture Project missionaries help students explore at their free presentations and through their mentorship to parishes and schools. The archdiocese is just one of five dioceses in the country served by The Culture Project.

Founded in 2014 in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, The Culture Project seeks to “restore culture through the experience of virtue.” Its mission is to “proclaim the dignity of the human person and the richness of living sexual integrity, inviting our culture to become fully alive.”

The Culture Project has been contracted for five years as a joint initiative of the archdiocesan respect life office, the office of evangelization and the Catholic schools office. Although the archdiocese is only in its second year of hosting missionaries, interest in it began nearly four years ago.

Searching for educational opportunities for young people in the archdiocese, Debra Niesen, lead consultant for the respect life office, is the one who discovered The Culture Project.

“I think it was just the Holy Spirit that allowed us to get it,” Niesen said.

The project assigns teams of recent college graduates formed in Catholic social teaching to parish communities. Within the archdiocese, teams have been placed at Holy Family and St. John the Baptist parishes, both in Kansas City, Kansas.

Describing it as a win-win, Niesen said both rectories had sat empty for quite some time. Now, they have been updated.

“Both of those parishes have completely wrapped themselves around these missionaries. So, it’s been a beautiful thing for the parishes,” she said.

The resource is free for schools and parishes. All expenses are covered by the generosity of donations received through the Respect Life Fund established by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann.

The missionaries give age-appropriate presentations to junior high, high school and college students and provide peer mentorship through lunch hour visits or dropping by after school. Presentation topics include human dignity, sexual integrity, social media and pro-life apologetics, as well as Q-and-A sessions.

Among the parishes that have hosted The Culture Project is Holy Angels Parish in Garnett. Youth leader Lindy Katzer said the missionaries made three visits and had a lasting impact.

“They were so awesome! They are young and relatable,” she said. “They took their time getting to know the kids and earn their respect before diving into some deep topics — ones that need diving into, but aren’t always easy to chat about.”

Katzer noted the presentations covered everything from embryology to social issues such as bullying and social media, concluding with separate purity discussions for girls and boys.

“It was powerful for them to hear a college-aged person truly living a life of purity,” she said.

Angie Bittner, rural youth ministry outreach coordinator, hosted the missionaries during a rural youth conference for high schoolers and was similarly impressed.

“Our students still in junior high and high school respond so well to a young adult who is combating the culture of death and not only living the culture of life, but sharing it so openly, confidently and courageously,” she said.

Team leader Aaron Vrbka, now in his second year, said he values the

opportunity to speak openly about difficult topics such as pornography while offering hope.

“I’m surprised and very humbled at the boldness of students asking about how to seek out healing from pornography,” he said. “I just find that I’m always so proud of them when they ask, because that’s a very vulnerable thing to ask about.”

Vrbka said the team would love to reach even more students, if given the chance.

“I promise you we have good things in store for your students,” he said.

For more information about The Culture Project or to schedule a free presentation or visit to your school, parish or campus center, visit the website at: archkck.org/prolife/activities/ the-culture-project.

‘You

get to see a broader version of the world’

>> Continued from page 1

Island living

Father Gardner arrived on Kwajalein on Sept. 9, 2025, and was taken on a tour by the local Protestant chaplain via golf cart, where he learned more about his new home.

Residents of the Marshall Islands come from multiple countries, including the United States and the Philippines.

They include military personnel and Army civilians, but many are contracted employees and their family members.

The time zone is 18 hours ahead of Central Time, and the Kwajalein work week is Tuesday through Saturday to match the United States.

“They can’t grow anything here,” said Father Gardner, “so all of our food is brought in. A flight brings in the food. Tuesday is the big day.”

The local Catholic parish, Blessed Sacrament, shares the Island Memorial Chapel with the Protestant community, so both groups have to set up and tear down for Masses and services.

Father Gardner celebrates daily Mass for a small group of one to five people but sees around 90 on the weekends between the Saturday night and Sunday morning Masses.

He offers prayers during remembrance ceremonies for events like September 11.

At Christmastime, he celebrated an evening Mass for nine days for Sinbang Gabi, a Filipino devotion.

This month and next, he’s hosting showings of season two of the TV series “The Chosen” for the local community.

“Wherever I go, my favorite part of the experience is the people,” said Father Gardner. “And there’s quite a variety of people here, because it’s not just the Americans but also some of the Marshallese and the Filipinos.”

New perspectives

The lifestyle of the people Father Gardner has met has been captivating to witness.

“A lot of the people who work here on Kwajalein live on Ebeye (a neighboring island),” he said, “so they shuttle over on the boat to work and then shuttle back on the boat to go home.

“Some have worked here many, many years. Others grew up here, and they go back to the States, then come back here to work and raise their family. They’re known as ‘Kwaj Kids.’”

Father Gardner met a man whose company was sending him from the islands to Cuba and another who was being transferred to Djibouti in East Africa.

“There are so many different types of people who sacrifice a lot to work here,” he said, “because they’re away from their families.

“I’m thinking that in that sacrifice that they’re here, God is watching over them. They’re leaving a lot behind by working here — the comforts of home.”

Ministering to the island community has been a blessing for the Kansas priest.

“You get to see a broader version of the world,” said Father Gardner, “and understand that we’re all here as brothers and sisters.

“And we all have different experiences that we can share with each other but also grow together and help each other out.”

About the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands are located around 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii. Kwajalein Atoll is under a mile wide and three-and-a-half miles long.

The United States took control of the Marshall Islands from Japan during World War II and conducted nuclear weapons testing there after the war.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands became a sovereign country in 1979 and entered a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1986.

Maria and Slavo Ivicak, members of St. John the Baptist Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Jan. 25 with a Mass and reception for family and friends. The couple was married on Jan. 15, 1966, in Karlovac, Croatia. They have three children — Michael, Tom and Michelle — and two grandsons.

Joann (Elliot) and Phil Feehan, members of Holy Spirit Parish, Overland Park, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a family dinner. The couple was married on Jan. 21, 1956, on the feast of St. Agnes at St. Agnes Church, Roeland Park, by Msgr. Herman J. Koch. They have 11 children: John, Megan, Maura, Dan, Tom, Bridget, Sue, Jennifer, Kimiko, Dennis and Sam (deceased). They also have 30 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren.

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Benedictine Sisters condemn U.S. military attacks

We Benedictine Sisters of Atchison are saddened and appalled by the recent violent military actions of our country. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2025, the annual day of honoring Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the U.S. military bombed Nigeria, claiming to support the Christians in that country. Nine days later, on Epiphany, when we Christians celebrate all nations coming together in Christ, we awoke to images of Caracas, Venezuela, in flames caused by U.S. forces’ unprovoked attacks. We do not believe these events are in the spirit or message of Jesus Christ or St. Benedict. Similarly, the attacks were at the expense of many innocent lives and were contrary to international and national laws.

We call upon Congress to promote nonviolence and dialogue rather than armed responses to perceived injustices. We ask Congress to responsibly and courageously stand up to these illegal escalating activities. The motto of Benedictines worldwide is “PAX,” or “Peace.” We are compelled to do our part in living Gospel values and the Rule of St. Benedict to end the spread of violence and to pray for peace daily.

A desire for grandchild is hard-wired in the human heart

By Greg Erlandson OSV News

There’s been a lot written about falling birth rates in the United States. Less covered has been the simultaneous decline in grandparenthood.

Grandparents, to hear friends tell it, are an endangered species. Virtually every child-bearing demographic group except women over 40 is having fewer, if any, children. And let’s be honest: Potential grandparents with children over 40 are likely to be rapidly aging out of the “fun grandparent” demographic and into the “granny flat” demographic.

Our birth rate, according to the latest government statistics, is now 1.6 — below replacement level and sinking to where countries like Italy used to be. Italy’s birth rate has now fallen further to 1.18, which makes nonno and nonna even more endangered than grandpa and grandma.

Wannabe grandparents are addressing this issue in a variety of ways. Frequently asking their children when they are planning to reproduce is probably one of the least effective stratagems. Putting a brave face on the child’s decision to “parent” a couple of labradoodles doesn’t get you anywhere either, even if you slap a bumper sticker on your car boasting

that “My grandchild has four paws.” Politicians want to throw money at the issue, of course. After all, prospective grandparents vote. Governments for the past hundred years have tried to bribe would-be parents into having children. It doesn’t really work — whether in China or France or South Korea — because such a life-changing experience as parenthood is not so easily incentivized by a couple thousand dollars and a tax break. The disincentives are significant: Most cited are cost-of-living issues like expense of day care and education, but

everything from school shootings to the state of the world can be cited as well.

Prospective grandparents understand this, of course. But the desire to “live to see your children’s children,” as Psalm 128 puts it, is wired deep inside the human heart. We want to see the children we worked so hard to parent in turn bring the next generation into being. It’s a sign of hope and resilience that surpasses the headlines and the crises and the never-ending worries we have for our planet and our species. I am fortunate that I have one child who is now a parent.

Non-grandparent friends listen to my stories with a touch of envy. We aren’t sure when our kids will be having kids, they say wistfully.

I’m honest with them about the work of grandparenting. There are good reasons why childrearing should be left to the young. Child care is exhausting! It takes us two or three days to recover from a weekend of book-reading and diaper-changing and meal negotiating.

At the same time, grandparenting is a little bit of a time-travel experience, for we are reminded of what is generally a blur — what we did and how hard we

worked when we were younger parents.

Recently, in the middle of the night, a crying 1-year-old woke up both my son and me. I stayed in the dark room as my son rocked the baby and fed him a bottle. It evoked so many nights when I did that for him.

I felt a great surge of parental affection for my son. The love I had shown him long before he could remember, he was now passing on to his son as he gently rocked him back to sleep. It’s a circle of life I’m blessed to be a part of.

Parenting isn’t easy, but it’s the most rewarding work there is. There’s probably never

a perfect time to decide to have children, but in general, we rise to the occasion and become better people for it. As for the perfect time to be a grandparent, I think that is now. For would-be grandparents still waiting for the privilege, perhaps offer a prayer to St. Anne and St. Joachim, who tradition teaches us were the grandparents of Jesus. I’ll bet they could tell stories.

Greg Erlandson is an award-winning Catholic publisher, editor and journalist whose column appears monthly at OSV News. Follow him on X @ GregErlandson.

Trip to Holy Land set for June; spots still

By John Sorce john.sorce@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Looking to deepen your faith life this new year?

There is still time to fit a trip to the Holy Land into your summer plans.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has partnered with the Diocese of Wichita on a 10-day trip running from June 8-17.

Internationally known singer, songwriter and music minister Steve Angrisano and his wife Jenni will be joining the group on the trip, along with spiritual director Father Dan Duling of the Wichita Diocese.

They will be joined in the Holy Land by George Stephan, who lives in Jerusalem and will guide the tours.

Angie Bittner, who coordinates rural youth ministry outreach for the archdiocese, went on a trip there with family prior to COVID.

She knew immediately she wanted to find a way to give others the same experience.

“On that trip, I just knew we needed to figure out a way to have more people experience the Holy Land,” Bittner said.

“It changes everything about how you know Jesus,” she added.

The group coordinated a trip in 2023 with the help of Lori Janak at Amazing Grace Pilgrimages. Any age is welcome, but pilgrims under 18 must be accompanied by their parent.

Bittner was eager to work with them again and arrange another trip.

“To pilgrimage with fellow Kansans who appreciate all of this is such a gift, so that’s why we wanted to book this second trip,” she said.

The group will stay at three different hotels, starting in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.

“I remember taking my shoes and socks off and standing on the edge of the sea,” Bittner said. “Every time you step somewhere, there’s a wonder if you are stepping right where Jesus and the disciples were.

“I think the awe of the sea and thinking about how many things took place

available

there is really special.”

Some of the other places that will be visited include the towns of Cana, Nazareth, Capernaum, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. A full day-by-day itinerary can be found on the brochure on the website at: archkck.org/holyland-pilgrimage-2026.

The group will also stay at hotels in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Another experience that stood out to Bittner in one of her prior visits was in Jerusalem.

“There was a time we did the Via Dolorosa and walked the Stations of the Cross where Jesus walked to go to Calvary,” Bittner said. “Then, we saw the stone they would have washed him on and his tomb, and we got to celebrate Mass there.

“You just cannot believe that you are actually there.”

To be able to attend Mass at so many biblical locations was hard for Bittner to put into words.

“We will be able to experience Mass at so many locations,” Bittner said. “You just understand things that you read about in Scripture and interpret as Americans differently when you get to see these places in person.

“Everything is different when you come back. You can’t explain it until you go.”

The travel package includes roundtrip airfare from either Kansas City or Wichita to Tel Aviv, Israel.

People have the option to book airfare through the package or separately. The cost of $5,299 includes both land

and air, while the land-only package costs $4,299.

Registration and payment will remain open until Feb. 27.

“I desire for people to live out this story and make it more than something you hear at Mass or read in Scripture,” said Bittner.

“If you experience where Jesus was and is,” she added, “it changes your heart and conforms you more to his because you understand better and have been there.

“If it’s on your bucket list and you can make it work financially, don’t wait, because this will change your life.”

People wanting to learn more can visit the website linked above or reach out to Bittner at (785) 221-2644 or by email at: ruralyouth@archkck.org.

a

more than 20

Rome’s underground:

ANCIENT HIDDEN HISTORIES

By Emily Stimpson Chapman OSV News

In Rome, the churches are legion. Little parishes and great basilicas alike meet travelers on every block of the ancient city, their facades mingling with shops and restaurants, apartments and ancient ruins.

Although unique visions of beauty and faith greet all those who cross the thresholds of these churches, on the outside precious few stand out, their sheer number often giving architectural wonders the appearance of sameness. For the most part, these churches are simply part of the city’s fabric, woven in as tightly as the government building to the left and the cappuccino bar to the right.

What’s true above is also true below.

Beneath the great basilicas of Rome, beneath the masterpieces of Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini, are the ruins of temples and domiciles, shops and baths. The same white marble remnants of the pagan past that lie scattered about Rome’s city center also lie buried in the basements of cathedrals. Upon them, the churches were built.

A journey down into the dark, humid corridors that snake below Rome’s houses of prayer reveal some surprising Christian foundations.

Consider the Basilica of Sts. John and Paul.

Originally constructed in the early fifth century, the basilica pays tribute not to the apostles John and Paul, but rather the martyrs John and Paul, saints

of the Roman Canon. Today, its interior bears few traces of its paleo-Christian beginnings. But below, it’s a different story.

There, more than 20 interweaving rooms tell the tale of the church’s origins.

The tale is a layered one.

It begins in the second century A.D. when two apartment complexes were constructed near the Roman Forum.

Joined by a courtyard, the buildings’ windows afforded the families who dwelt there a bird’s-eye view of military parades and the travels of the great.

Decades later, in the third century, the lower level of the complex was converted into an arcade of shops.

Later still, in the early fourth century, Rome’s population waned and the complex was once more restyled, this time into a single, noble dwelling. The home’s first owners are unknown, but eventually two eunuchs of the emperor’s court, the imperial guards John and Paul, took up residence there.

For a time, they served the emperor and practiced their Christian faith freely. But that changed with the accession of Julian the Apostate. Julian’s reign was short, from 360-363, but not short enough for John and Paul. Someone betrayed their secret, soldiers were sent to their home, and when they refused to worship Julian, they were murdered on the spot.

Fellow Christians buried the martyrs in the home’s walls. Soon afterward, three of them, Sts. Crispus, Crispiniano and Benedetta, were caught praying at

the tomb. More martyrs were made, and they, too, were buried inside the home. Eventually, Christians arranged for the purchase of the building, and under the auspices of the senator Bizante, remodeled the space for worship.

A few decades later, Bizante’s son Pammachio undertook the building of the great basilica above, using the pillars of the martyrs’ home as his foundation. The rooms beneath and the story they told were forgotten. The martyrs alone were remembered until, in the late 19th century, the Passionist Fathers who ran the basilica went exploring.

It’s possible they got the idea from the Irish Dominicans who had done some exploring of their own on the opposite side of the Forum.

In 1857, they went poking around the foundations of the Basilica of St. Clement, discovering not only the original fourth-century basilica, but also another, lower level, which formed the foundation of the first basilica. That basilica was destroyed in 1084 when Norman soldiers sacked the streets of Rome. Rather than restore the original, builders filled in the lower level with rubble and dirt and used its walls as the new building’s foundation.

Historically, it’s important. From its beginnings as one of the first churches of the newly Christian empire to its more recent history as a shelter for Jewish refugees during World War II, its walls have many stories to tell. But

the most interesting stories may lie one level deeper.

There, archaeologists have uncovered two more ancient buildings, which hint at the reason why the Basilica of St. Clement was built on that spot. The first building appears to have been the home of a wealthy Roman family, built shortly after Nero set fire to Rome, in A.D. 64. Later, the home’s owners donated it to pagan worshipers.

There’s always something appropriate about building a Catholic church over a pagan temple, but the real reason for the location of the Basilica of St. Clement may have more to do with the adjacent building, which was at first thought to be a government building.

But later research turned up evidence of a much different history. That evidence suggests that a wealthy Christian named Clement bought the property from Nero and there built an office for his freed slave, a Jewish convert to Christianity. That slave had taken his

former master’s name, and now shepherded the church as its fourth pope: St. Clement. In short, the building upon which the Basilica of St. Clement was

built may have been nothing less than the first Vatican. The modern-day Vatican has an underground story of its own, a story of

s “Martyrdom of St. John and St. Paul, by Guercino,” 1632. Sts. John and Paul depicted here are not the apostles, but rather the martyrs John and Paul, saints of the Roman Canon. They were murdered under the rule of Julian the Apostate when they refused to worship Julian. Fellow Christians buried the martyrs in the home’s walls. A few decades later, the Basilica of Sts. John and Paul was built using the pillars of the martyrs’ home as the foundation.

Clement, he also commissioned digging beneath the main altar of St. Peter’s. There, archaeologists found narrow streets paved with brick and lined with mausoleums. It was a necropolis, a long forgotten burial ground of ancient Rome hidden from view since the early fourth century, when Constantine, needing flat ground upon which to construct the first Basilica of St. Peter, razed the hill upon which the mausoleums sat. It had to be that hill, of course, because Christian tradition held that St. Peter was crucified and buried there. Instead of an elaborate mausoleum, his resting place was a humble hole in the ground, marked at first by the hidden tributes of Christians, then later by a small marble monument, the Trophy of Gaius.

Above that Trophy, Constantine was said to have placed his basilica’s altar. And in that same spot, more than a millennium later, Bernini too placed his altar.

Some believed the stories. Others thought them to be pious legends. But when Pope Pius XII’s archaeologists went exploring, they found the Trophy of Gaius right where it was supposed to be, directly under the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. They also found a wall covered in early Christian graffiti, marked again and again with one name: Peter. Most importantly, they found, wrapped in an ancient purple cloth, what likely are the skeletal remains of the fisherman pope.

Each of these underground worlds through which privileged pilgrims now pass, shed light on a different aspect of early Christian history. But each in its own way tells the same story, a story of a faith so vibrant, beautiful and true that it permeated the very stones of a wayward world.

buildings and bones uncovered at the height of World War II.

At the same time Pope Pius XII was hiding Jews in the Basilica of St.

And in that, they not only have a story to tell, but also a reminder to give. They remind all Christians that it’s not enough to have penetrated the past. The faith must also penetrate the present. It must penetrate what lies all around its churches — the streets and shops, offices and souls of the postmodern world. It happened once before. And with grace, it can happen again.

Cardinal Gregory says Rev. King ‘lived Catholic social justice’

By Tony Gutiérrez

The Catholic Sun, OSV News

PHOENIX (OSV News) — Last year, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory became the first African American to participate in a papal conclave, which eventually elected Pope Leo XIV.

While there have been African cardinals from the earliest days of the church, Cardinal Gregory is the first U.S. citizen of African descent to wear the red cassock.

The history-making prelate will concelebrate and preach at the Diocese of Phoenix’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass Jan. 17 at Xavier College Preparatory High School’s Chapel of Our Lady in central Phoenix.

Following the Mass, the diocese’s Black Catholic Ministry will host the MLK Service Awards and Prayer Breakfast, recognizing students who have found ways to embody Rev. King’s legacy of justice, compassion and service in today’s world. Cardinal Gregory will also celebrate Mass the next morning at St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish in Phoenix — the diocese’s personal parish for Black Catholics.

MLK Day is Jan. 19 this year. The U.S. federal holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of January, honoring the Civil Rights leader’s life and achievements.

Cardinal Gregory, the retired archbishop of Washington, has had several firsts as an African American, including the first to be named a cardinal and first to serve as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. His tenure as USCCB president (20012004), when he was the bishop of Belleville, Illinois, came during one of the most difficult periods in the American Church’s history when the sex abuse crisis rocked the nation.

In the history of the church in the United States, there have been 29 Black bishops but only four archbishops, including Cardinal Gregory, who was Atlanta’s archbishop (2005-2019) before being appointed archbishop of Washington on April 4, 2019. Pope Francis named him a cardinal on Nov. 28, 2020.

“Each one of these ‘firsts’ has allowed me to realize how graced I have been and also the need for me to leave a heritage that makes my people proud so that whoever might be next in those same offices will have an example in which to take pride and to expand upon in achieving even more significant contributions to our church and society,” Cardinal Gregory told The Catholic Sun, Phoenix’s diocesan news outlet.

“One comment that I have repeatedly heard, especially since becoming a cardinal and that still manages to bring me to tears is: ‘Honey, I never thought that I would live to see the day!’” added the prelate, who turned 78 Dec. 7, 2025.

As a young man in Chicago, the future cardinal was among 35,000 people to see Rev. King speak at the Chicago Freedom Movement rally July 10, 1966, at Soldiers’ Field.

Ordained as a Baptist minister, the Civil Rights leader was well-versed in the Church Fathers, quoting St. Augustine in his famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” asserting that “an unjust law is no law at all.”

He famously locked arms with leaders of many faiths, including Catholic priests and religious Sisters, when peacefully marching for the rights of all. Following an audience with Pope

WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS PERFECTLY THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES. A SAD SIGN OF RACISM IS THE ATTITUDE THAT ONE MUST ‘BECOME LIKE ME’ IN ORDER TO FIT WITHIN THE CHURCH. . . . IT IS THE OBSTACLE THAT TOO OFTEN PREVENTS PEOPLE OF COLOR TO FEEL AT HOME WITHIN THE CHURCH.

CARDINAL

WILTON D. GREGORY

St. Paul VI in 1964, Rev. King referred to the pope as “a friend of the Negro people.”

Rev. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent struggle “for Civil Rights for the AfroAmerican population.” Cardinal Gregory referred to this use of nonviolence as a “positive and effective response to oppression everywhere.”

“Dr. King, although he was not himself a Catholic, lived Catholic social justice morality in an extraordinary fashion. He was saintly in the way that he followed the Gospel mandates to love one another as Christ has loved us,” reflected the cardinal.

Cardinal Gregory noted that some of those who are not Catholic can still be counted among the saints in heaven,

referencing Eucharistic Prayer 4: “Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead whose faith you alone have known.”

While he never met Rev. King, Cardinal Gregory did have the opportunity to meet his widow, Coretta Scott King, on multiple occasions during his ecclesiastical career.

When he was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago in 1983, she attended as a guest of then-Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. When he became archbishop of Atlanta — where the King family still lives — the prelate met her when participating in celebrations honoring the slain Civil Rights leader.

“Several of these encounters would have taken place at the Ebenezer Church in Atlanta during the annual observance of Dr. King’s January Commemoration,” he recalled. “I was privileged to be invited to Coretta’s funeral services.”

Throughout his life, Cardinal Gregory has experienced the sting of racism, even within the Catholic Church. People today often engage in discriminatory behavior even if they aren’t intending to, he noted.

“They might say things that suggest that they are surprised when people of color exhibit gifts that they might not have thought that we could even possess,” the cardinal said. “I have had people tell me that they were surprised that I spoke so clearly and distinctly. What did they expect?”

While there are many examples of individuals who have modeled racial healing and harmony, including those of different faiths or no faith at all, religious faith in itself should be enough motivation to live justly, Cardinal Gregory said.

“That is why examples of bigotry in the behavior of those who claim a religious heritage is an amplified source of scandal and shame,” he said.

Sister Thea Bowman’s address to the U.S. bishops in Newark, New Jersey, in June 1989 “describes eloquently how the Catholic Church must throw open our doors and hearts to cherish and embrace the many cultures and gifts that people of color have to offer to the entire church,” he reflected.

Sister Thea, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, was nationally known as a dynamic evangelist before she died of cancer in 1990. As a candidate for sainthood, she has the title “Servant of God” and is among seven Black Catholics with active sainthood causes — dubbed the “Saintly Seven.” Evangelization means to be open to welcoming people as they are in order to introduce them to Christ, Cardinal Gregory said. One of the biggest challenges to this is inviting people to bring their own gifts to the church.

“We have not done this perfectly throughout the centuries. A sad sign of racism is the attitude that one must ‘become like me’ in order to fit within the church,” he said. “If that were the case, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific lands would never be received and welcomed. It is the obstacle that too often prevents people of color to feel at home within the church.”

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit called the church to welcome people from throughout the world and to spread the good news of the Gospel to all corners of the earth. This is still a challenge today, the cardinal said, exhorting the church to “welcome the stranger.”

New staff highlights Christ’s victory over death

By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News

ROME (OSV News) — While Catholics have been accustomed to the famed silver papal staff featuring the suffering of Christ crucified and used by the pontiffs for decades, a new staff, or crosier, used by Pope Leo XIV, emphasized the victory of the risen Christ over death.

A statement published Jan. 8 by the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff noted that the staff used by Pope Leo at the Jan. 6 Mass for the solemnity of the Epiphany, which also marked the formal closing of the Holy Year, is nevertheless “in continuity with those used by his predecessors.”

The meaning of the staff, known in Latin as the “ferula pontificalis,” unites “the mission of proclaiming the mystery of love expressed by Christ on the cross with his glorious manifestation in the resurrection.”

“The paschal mystery, the gravitational center of the apostolic proclamation, thus becomes a source of hope for humanity. Death no longer holds power over man because Christ has redeemed what he assumed,” the office said in the statement.

The most well-known papal cross, used by pontiffs since St. Paul VI and designed by Italian sculptor Lello Scorzelli, was silver and featured a thin, emaciated Christ crucified on a curved cross.

The papal liturgies office said that staff became “a defining image of the modern papacy, symbolizing

carrying the weight of the world’s suffering.”

While the crucifix on Pope Leo’s new staff is similar to Scorzelli’s design, the notable difference is that it depicts Christ with his arms outstretched, not crucified, but displaying the wounds of crucifixion as he ascends to heaven.

The design, the statement said, suggested that while signs of Christ’s suffering remained, “it presents the wounds of the cross as luminous signs of victory that, while not erasing human pain, transfigure it into the dawn of divine life.”

The office noted that while the staff used by bishops highlights

their role as shepherds, the use of a staff by the Roman pontiffs, which has been since the Second Vatican Council, served as a visual testament “to the Petrine ministry of confirming the brethren in the paschal faith.”

“It is significant that Pope Leo used this new staff for the first time at the closing of the Holy Door ending the ‘Jubilee of Hope,’” the office said. “It symbolizes that there is no foundation other than in the crucified and risen Christ, who, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father while clothed in glorified humanity, brought the parable of the incarnation to completion.”

Machado asks for help in freeing political prisoners

By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News

ROME (OSV News) — Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado asked for Pope Leo XIV’s help in securing the release of political prisoners in the country following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The Vatican announced the meeting Jan. 12, which took place in the library of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, but gave no details.

However, in a statement published on X by the Venezuelan political opposition coalition, Comando con Venezuela, Machado said she sought the pope’s help in seeking the release of more than 1,000 political prisoners “and for an immediate transition to democracy.”

“Today, I had the blessing and honor of being able to share with His Holiness and express our gratitude for his monitoring of events in our country,” Machado said. “I also conveyed to him the strength of the Venezuelan people, who remain firm and in prayer for Venezuela’s freedom, and I asked him to intercede for all Venezuelans who remain kidnapped and missing.”

According to the statement, the opposition leader reiterated to the pope that the will of the Venezuelan people was seen in their electing Edmundo González, whose victory in the 2024 election was overturned by the Venezuelan election authority, which was

loyal to Maduro.

“Machado highlighted the spiritual struggle Venezuelans have faced for years and said that finally, with the accompaniment of the church and unprecedented pressure from the U.S. government, the ‘defeat of evil’ in the country is drawing near,” the statement read.

Comando con Venezuela said that Machado also met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, after her meeting with the pope.

The pope’s meeting with the opposition leader comes just over a week

‘Many challenges remain’ in making abortion ‘unthinkable’

By Gina Christian OSV News

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — As the nation’s Catholics are set to remember unborn children in prayer, a U.S. bishop is stressing that amid several positive developments in safeguarding human life, “many challenges remain” in making abortion “unthinkable.”

“Our united prayers, sacrifices and efforts to protect human life and heal the wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, who serves as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

Bishop Thomas shared his thoughts in a Jan. 13 statement released by the USCCB, ahead of a number of national and local pro-life initiatives held throughout the month.

Those include the annual Jan. 22 Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, and the national March for Life, which will take place Jan. 23 in Washington.

The date of the annual day of prayer recalls that of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, which legalized abortion. Those rulings were overturned by the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the issue of abortion from the federal to the state level.

Since 2013, the U.S. Catholic bishops have also invited the faithful to join in the “9 Days for Life” novena ahead of the day of prayer, with the goal of ending abortion. Novena prayers and reflections can be found online at: www.respectlife.org/9-days-signup.

In his statement, Bishop Thomas lamented that the “tragic” Roe v. Wade decision “led to the loss of over 65 million children and immeasurable harm to their parents and family members.”

The day of prayer is a time for “prayer, penance and our personal recommitment to the cause of life,” he said.

Bishop Thomas pointed to “several pro-life victories” in the wake of the Dobbs ruling.

“Most recently, at the national level, Congress acted heroically last year in largely defunding Planned Parenthood of federal taxpayer dollars,” he said, while the current administration under President Donald Trump “has reversed several of its predecessor’s pro-abortion policies.”

after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured Jan. 3 in a U.S. military operation ordered by President Donald Trump.

Maduro and his wife were transported to New York, where they are currently facing narco-terrorism conspiracy charges.

After Maduro’s capture, Pope Leo expressed concerns over the United States’ increasing military presence in the Caribbean, and called for “the common good of the peoples” to be placed above “partisan interests.”

Yet, he warned, “despite these successes, human life is still gravely threatened by legalized abortion as it continues to be aggressively promoted at the state and federal level.”

Among the “many challenges” to be met are “pro-abortion ballot initiatives” and “the increased use and availability of abortion pills.”

According to data from the Guttmacher Institute and the Society for Family Planning, both of which support legalized abortion, an estimated 1,126,970 abortions were performed in the U.S. in 2024, up from 1,060,880 in the previous year.

EMPLOYMENT

Please note: The Leaven is no longer able to accept ad submissions over the phone. Please submit ads by email to: olivia.martin@theleaven.org.

Manager assistant - St. Mary’s Food Kitchen has an immediate opening for a manager assistant. Duties include: work closely with the manager; provide support to the day’s coordinator; ensure policies and procedures are followed and operational standards are achieved; participate in the frequency and scope of required daily cleaning tasks; availability to fill in for manager when absent; perform other work-related duties as assigned; and interact with guests for improved service. This position is part time. Weekends and holidays (time and a half). 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the occasional start time of 8:30 a.m. $20/hour.

Teachers - Nativity Parish School (Leawood) is seeking full-time teachers for the 2026-27 school year: fifth grade teacher, Spanish teacher, PE teacher; middle school teachers: ELA, reading, math and a full-time K-8th grade reading interventionist. Interested applicants should email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org.

Administrative assistant - St. Joseph Church in Shawnee is looking for a friendly and organized administrative assistant to join our team. The ideal candidate will provide support to clergy, parish staff, parishioners and visitors. Interested candidates are invited to apply at: https://church.stjoeshawnee.org/ news/697-now-hiring. For more information, contact Melissa Thomas at: mthomas@stjoeshawnee.org or call (913) 631-5983.

Safe driver - Needed to transport young adults with special needs to and from their job locations. This is a substitute position to serve as backup to our regular drivers. Company-owned vehicles. The Mission Project, a not-for-profit organization, is based in Mission, KS. See our website at: www.themissionproject. org. $16 per hour. At least 24-hour prior notification. Perfect for retirees willing to spend occasional time at a reasonable rate. All clients can enter and exit the vehicle independently. Excellent driving record, background checks and references are required. Call Alvan at (913) 269-2642.

Caregiver - Senior caregiver needed for a lady who lives in Prairie Village. Need 2-3 days/wk from 12-5 p.m. Please call or text Jeanne at (913) 415-7696. References must be provided.

Choral conductor - St. Patrick Church in Kansas City, Kansas, is looking for a choral conductor to lead the choir. This opportunity would be a paid, part-time position (4-5 hours per week) and would require a weeknight rehearsal and weekly Sunday morning. The candidate would work closely with our music director to choose liturgically appropriate music. Knowledge of Catholic liturgical music tradition is preferred. For a job description and application, please see our website at: stpatrickkck.org or reach out at: office@stpatrickkck.org.

Benet House Retreat Center director - Benet House is seeking a full-time director who is responsible for all operations, including programming retreats throughout the year. Benet House Retreat Center is owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Benedict at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, Illinois. It is located on 90 acres with walking paths, a wooded area, a lake and an abundance of wildlife. Benet House “welcomes each person as Christ” (RB) and is open to all faiths. The applicant must have at least 3 years’ experience in retreat ministry. For more information, go to: www.smmsisters.org/retreats or take a tour at: https://smmsisters.org/virtual-monastery. Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. The cover letter should speak to your qualifications and leadership experience. Please email to: rbussan @smmsisters.org.

Caregivers needed - Daughters & Company is looking for compassionate caregivers to provide assistance to seniors in their home, assisted living or in a skilled nursing facility. We provide sitter services, light housekeeping and light meal preparation, organizational assistance, care management and occasional transportation for our clients. We need caregivers with reliable transportation and a cellphone for communication. We typically employ on a part-time basis, but will strive to match hours desired. Contact Gary or Laurie at (913) 341-2500 if you want to become part of an excellent caregiving team.

Catholic financial planners - The Knights of Columbus Mahon Agency has openings throughout all of NE Kansas and western Missouri, including Kansas City, Topeka, Holton, Wamego, Lawrence, Gardner, Liberty and Chillicothe. We have much to offer professional, disciplined and determined men who would like to share needed life insurance, disability income, longterm care and annuity products with other Catholics. This is a full-time position with excellent, multi-tiered training and benefits, allowing the successful field agent to earn a professional level income. It’s an exciting career opportunity that may be the right fit at the right time for you, or someone you know. For more information, contact John Mahon at (785) 4088800, or john.mahon@kofc.org.

Catholic elementary school principal - St. Matthew School in Topeka is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and

spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Vince Cascone at: vcascone@archkckcs.org.

Catholic elementary school principal - Holy Spirit School in Overland Park is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for Catholic education. The principal will continue the school’s tradition of forming disciples, pursuing academic excellence and spiritual growth. The principal will lead by example and inspire a team of dedicated faculty and staff. Applicants must have or be eligible for Kansas licensure in educational leadership. Apply online at: archkckcs. org/apply. For more information, contact Vince Cascone at: vcascone@archkckcs.org.

Part-time kitchen assistant - Nativity School in Leawood is seeking a part-time kitchen assistant, 8 to 15 hours a week. Duties will include prepping food, serving food, setting up/breaking down food service line and garden bar, cleaning and washing dishes. Any candidate hired will need to pass a criminal background check and attend Virtus training as conditions of employment. Applicants should email principal Luke Jennison at: luke.jennison@kcnativity.org.

Office property manager - Edwardsville Court Apartments is seeking an office property manager. We are willing to train you. Inquiries, please call (913) 4416007.

Small equipment cleaning/repair - A locally owned family business is currently seeking part-time candidates to provide cleaning and repair services on microscopes. Expenses paid, work done in the field and each day is different! No previous experience necessary, on-the-job training provided. Needs to be detail-oriented team player, with good time management and customer service skills. Some travel with the team is required. Please contact us at: techneeded23@ gmail.com or call (913) 631-3000.

SERVICES

Dewfall Media Professional Video Services - We partner with you to tell meaningful and engaging stories through visual media. Holiday sale: 33% off select video packages through January 12. www. dewfallmedia.com. Contact Andrew: (717) 818-5168.

Tutor - Tutoring available from experienced teacher and tutor. Tutor teaches in a fun and meaningful context. For more info, please call/text Kathleen at (913) 206-2151; email: klmamuric@yahoo.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.

Joe’s Decks & More Deck and fence repair, mowing and handyman services Member of St. Joseph in Shawnee (913) 449-9848

Pure Touch Cleaning KC - Bringing warmth and comfort back into your home this winter! Locally owned • Women-led • Family-based care you can trust. Deep cleans • Regular maintenance • Move-in/out • Holiday prep. Call/text: Owner Nicole (913) 999-6267. Let us make your home feel fresh, cozy and ready for the season.

TOTAL HOME REPAIR

All aspects of interior home repairs. Retired master plumber. Professional interior painting, general repairs, tile work. Handyman services. Lifetime of experience. Army veteran. Ascension parishioner. (913) 488-4930

Pro Force Property Cleanout Services - Full home and property cleanouts: furniture, appliances, trash. Yard cleanup including trees or any debris. We do eviction or foreclosure cleanouts, move in, move out. Cleanouts throughout the Greater Kansas City area. Call Michael at (913) 565-5206 or email: MichaelMcMahan012@gmail.com.

Popcorn ceiling texture removal

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

MIKE HAMMER MOVING - A full-service mover. Local and long-distance moving. Packing, pianos, rental truck load/unload, storage container load/unload. In-home moving and office moves. No job too small. Serving the KC metro since 1987. St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, parishioner. Call the office at (913) 927-4347 or email: mike@mikehammermoving.com.

Jack Harrison Heating & Air Conditioning - Proudly serving Johnson County, Kansas, parts of KCK and KCMO, we’re your trusted local experts in residential and light commercial HVAC. Whether you need a repair, seasonal tuneup or full system replacement, we’ve got you covered — with honest advice, quality work and friendly service. We’re a family-owned and operated company, rooted in the community as members of St. Paul Parish in Olathe. Call Jack Harrison Heating & Air today at (913) 308-3131 or visit: www. JackHarrisonAir.com to schedule online. Let our family take care of yours!

Landscaping Design or Renovate! Light tree trimming/gutters Fall cleanup/leaf removal Free estimates; local parishioners. Call Charles or Emily (913) 605-8145.

Two men and a brush - Refresh, repaint, renew your home with painting you can trust! Call for a free estimate on your house, deck or fence! Call John at (402) 763-7244

Double A’s Lawn Service

Lawn mowing, Mulching, Gutters, Leaf Removal Brush Removal & Hedge Trimming Free Estimates & Insured Alex Spoerre (913) 488-5195

Bill Dean Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling, Electrical, and Plumbing Furnace, AC and Water Heater Install and Service wmdean14@hotmail.com, billdeanmechanical.com Joco lic. # 2026-0008446, text or call (913) 724-3294

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.

GARAGE DOOR REPAIR EXPERTS

New Garage Doors & Openers

A Total Door, Inc. Since ’83. Leaven Discount buffy@atotaldoor.com or (913) 236-6440 www.atotaldoor.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Haus to Home Remodeling - Transform your space with affordable remodeling done right. Bathrooms, basements and everything in between — crafted with honesty and quality. Family-owned with free estimates. Haustohomekc.com | Cole (913) 544-7352.

Father and Son Home Remodeling - We specialize in kitchen/bathroom and basement remodeling, from start to finish. We also do decks, covered decks, porches, sun-rooms and room additions! If you’re not sure we do it, just call. From my family to yours, thank you for supporting my small business. To contact me, call (913) 709-7230 and ask for Josh.

PILGRIMAGE

European pilgrimage - June 22-30. Join Father Willliam Carey, Deacon Tom Doyle and Grace Legaspi on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje and Zadar. Traverse the steps of millions who’ve climbed Apparition Hill. Meet one of the visionaries who continues to allegedly see Our Lady yearly. Celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Simeon of the Presentation of Our Lord in Zadar. Email Grace at: mgracelegaspi@gmail.com for details.

Peru Pilgrimage: Evangelization of the Ancient Incas – July 19-30, 2026. Join us for an unforgettable 11-day journey from Lima to the Sacred Valley, exploring Machu Picchu, Cusco and the lives of saints like St. Rose of Lima. Experience the dramatic encounter between the ancient Incas and the flourishing Catholic baroque of Peru. Space is limited! Early bird pricing until Feb. 19, 2026. For details, email: olivia. stear@viaheritagetravel.com.

FOR SALE

For sale - Treasure Lake Luxury Resort & Campground Membership — Branson, MO. $1000 (dues paid for 2025). This private, gated RV resort has over 340 acres with 588 RV sites, mini golf with indoor/ outdoor pools, pickleball/tennis/basketball courts, community room, restaurant, playgrounds and a community clubhouse with activities. This worldclass RV resort is right in the heart of one of the USA’s premier vacation areas Branson, Missouri, close to the cleanest water recreation, professional entertainment venues, shopping, dining experiences and family fun. Treasure Lake requires a transfer fee of $331 (deed recorded at county courthouse/admin fees) paid by buyer and annual renewal of membership of $180 starting in 2026. You pay all fees for transfers. Sold our camper as husband is in nursing home. Phone (785) 221-2738 for info.

Small farm/business operation opportunity - STA Home Repair is moving to another state. Looking to sell property and business assets: 1955 Oregon Road, Princeton, Kansas. 3 buildings, 1 Barndo/Shop, RV hookups – 200 Amp service with portable heat and AC – office, kitchen area – 10-foot garage door and entry door, 1 cabin with wood stove and AC/shop, 1 pole barn, 2 sinks, 1 shower, 1 toilet, stocked pond, boat and equipment storage over half fenced, multiple gardens, minifarm, bring the horses. Great for contractor with trailers, 25-30 minutes to Gardner or intermodal facility; 35-40 minutes to Olathe and Overland Park; and less than 10 minutes to Ottawa. Close to the Hillsdale and Pomona lakes. Asking $290,000. Cash and/ or pre-approved financing. Showing by appointment only. Text name and number to (913) 579-1835.

For sale - Two plots in Resurrection North Cemetery, off of Cookingham Rd., in Kansas City, Missouri. Both plots are located in the Annunciation Garden, lot 185, section D, spaces 3 and 4. Beautiful location, shaded area with benches close by and easy access from the cemetery road. Value is $2095 each, selling both for $3000, which includes perpetual care. Please contact Chuck at (816) 519-9288 and leave a voicemail; I will return your call within the same day.

For sale - 2 casket crypt at St. John’s Corridor mausoleum at Gate of Heaven. Tier A, crypt 6, valued $15,885. Asking $11,000 (includes transfer fee). Contact Kristen (913) 645-3428.

For sale - Two plots at Mt. Calvary cemetery in KCK, including opening and closing, section 11, lot 119, space 1A-2A. $4500 includes transfer fee. Contact Dave at (913) 302-3924.

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

BUYING OIL & GAS ROYALTIES

Simplify your life. Paying 48 times average last 6 months income. Call Dan (913) 980-0946.

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

Wanted to buy

Do you have a spare 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.

$$Paying Cash$$ - Antique Furniture, crocks, tin and cast iron toys, old tools, glassware, American coins, jewelry. Most anything old. Please call Patricia at (913) 515-2950. A member of Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

CASH PAID FOR COIN COLLECTIONS! Silver dollar coins, half-dollars, quarters, dimes, old pennies. Cash in hand. Also paying cash for old paper currency. Cash in that old dusty box of coins! Call Kirk (913) 213-9843. Member of Holy Trinity Parish. Please sell to local people.

WANTED TO BUY - PAYING CASH Antiques & Collectibles: jewelry, military items, railroad items, sterling, OLD holiday/toys & more. Renee Maderak (913) 475-7393 St. Joseph, Shawnee.

REAL ESTATE

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

We are local people who can buy your house - Big companies from all over the nation come here buying houses, but that’s not us. We are parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish and we enjoy giving you personalized service. We can offer you a fair price and are flexible to your needs. If I can help, call me, Mark Edmondson, at (913) 980-4905.

CAREGIVING

Caregiving - Homecare CNA with 15 years’ experience. Monday-Friday. Call (913) 526-0797.

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.

BEREAVEMENT MEETING

Curé of Ars Church

9405 Mission Rd., Leawood

Jan. 17 at 8:30 a.m.

The bereavement ministry at Curé of Ars will have a grief support meeting in the Father Burak Room after the 8 a.m. Mass. The topic will be: “The Serenity Prayer.” For more information, call (913) 649-2026.

WIDOWED WOMEN OF FAITH

Perkins Restaurant (back room)

1720 S.W. Wanamaker Rd., Topeka

Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us for lunch and companionship. No RSVP needed; just come and invite others. We meet every month on the third Tuesday through 2026. Questions? Email: WidowedWomenofFaith@gmail.com or call Julie at (913) 558-0191.

WIDOWS/WIDOWERS MEETING

Most Pure Heart of Mary Church (Culhane Room)

3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka

Jan. 22 at 1:30 p.m.

This will be a free potluck lunch. Bring a covered dish or dessert. Quarter bingo will be played after dinner. For more information, text Gen Orozco at (785) 230-2473.

RETROUVAILLE OF KANSAS CITY

Savior Pastoral Center

12601 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, Kansas

Jan. 23 to 25

Is your marriage struggling or do you know a marriage that is struggling? Retrouvaille is a program that helps couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. This is a practical program to improve communication and help couples connect. Life is too short to not live in joy. Register online at: www.helpourmarriage.org or call 1 (800) 470-2230.

SANCTA MARIA FUNDRAISER

Abe & Jake’s Landing

8 E. 6th St., Lawrence

Jan. 24 at 6 p.m.

Join us for a silent auction, raffle, games, dinner and dancing in support of Catholic Montessori education. Semi-formal attire is required. A $50 ticket includes dinner and two alcoholic drinks. Contact Theresa Clark for more information by email at: raventmf@ yahoo.com or call (785) 727-0942.

BOOK REFLECTION FOR WOMEN

Church of the Nativity (Magi Room)

3800 W. 119th St., Leawood

Jan. 24 from 8:15 to 11 a.m.

The Society of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales invites women to reflect on Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel” and celebrate St. Francis de Sales’ feast day after Mass. All materials are provided, and coffee and light refreshments will be served. RSVP to Ruth Owens online at: rowens4853@ gmail.com. For additional information, visit the website at: www.sfdsassociation.org.

LITTLE FLOWER CIRCLE #503

Christ the King Parish (Yadrich Hall)

5973 S.W. 25th St., Topeka

Jan. 25 at 12:50 p.m.

Join the Daughters of Isabella for a rosary, business meeting and social time. If anyone knows of a member or family member of Daughters of Isabella in need of the circle’s prayers call Shirley Gustafson at (785) 554-3028.

ROSARY RALLY

All Saints Church

811 Vermont Ave., Kansas City, Kansas

Jan. 25 from 3 to 4:15 p.m.

Please join us to honor Our Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Fatima. We will pray the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, followed by Benediction and the opportunity to enroll in the brown scapular.

For more info, visit the website at: www. rosaryrallieskc.org.

CFNEK QUARTERLY INVESTMENT WEBINAR

Zoom (online)

Jan. 28 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Please join the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas (CFNEK) for our quarterly investment update webinar. Chuck Maggiorotto, chief wealth officer of Country Club Trust Company, a division of FNBO, and Derek Lyssy, executive director of the CFNEK, will discuss portfolio review, economic outlook and more. Register online at: www.cfnek.org/events or send an email to: mcorrigan@archkck.org.

IGNITE FOR LIFE RALLY

Kansas State Capitol

8th & S.W. Van Buren, Topeka

Jan. 28

Join the bishops of Kansas and Catholics from across the state for the 2026 Kansas March for Life! IGNITE for Life is a Catholic, pro-life rally for the protection of unborn children and women facing challenging pregnancies. The event includes live music, inspiring speakers, the celebration of Mass with the Kansas bishops and a ministry fair. Eucharistic adoration is offered from 1 to 3 p.m. at Assumption Church across from the Capitol. Go online to: archkck.org/ignite for details and to register. Registration is free; space is limited.

SINGLES DANCE FOR 45 AND OLDER

Church of the Ascension

9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park

Jan. 30 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Come join us for an evening of music and new connections, low key and relaxed, for adults 45 and older. Tickets are $20 and include professional DJ, beer, wine, sparkling water and appetizers. Tickets are available online until noon on Jan. 28 at: kcascension.org. Wallflowers and free spirits — all are welcome to dance, meet and mingle.

JOURNEY TO JOY RETREAT

Church of the Nativity

3800 W. 119th St., Leawood

Jan. 31 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Join us for a women’s retreat that will be filled with faith and friendship. It starts with Mass and will include breakfast, talks by Father Luke Doyle and national speaker Kelsey Skoch, and reconciliation. Cost is $25. Register online at: www.kcnativity. org/journey or send an email to Patti at: pbgehring@gmail.com.

BINGO

Sacred Heart Church

1100 West St., Tonganoxie

Jan. 31 at 6:15 p.m.

The 4:ThirTEENs youth group will be hosting their bingo fundraiser. A concession stand will open at 5:30 p.m. A $10 donation for the bingo card plays all night. Regular game prizes are valued between $5 to $10 with multiple winners at each game; cash prizes of up to $100 for the blackout game. Door prizes will be given out throughout the evening.

BINGO NIGHT

Sacred Heart Church

2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas 2nd Saturdays at 7 p.m.

The Sacred Hearts Knights of Columbus will be hosting bingo for cash prizes. Refreshments will be sold. For more information, call Kevin at (913) 207-0900.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

DEADLINE: Noon, Thursday, eight days before the desired publication date.

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: olivia. martin@theleaven.org.

DAILY READINGS

SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

Jan. 18

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Is 49: 3, 5-6

Ps 40: 2, 4, 7-10

1 Cor 1: 1-3

Jn 1: 29-34

Jan. 19

Monday

1 Sm 15: 16-23

Ps 50: 8-9, 16b-17, 21, 23

Mk 2: 18-22

Jan. 20

Fabian, pope, martyr; Sebastian, martyr

1 Sm 16: 1-13

Ps 89: 20-22, 27-28

Mk 2: 23-28

Jan. 21

Agnes, virgin, martyr

1 Sm 17: 32-33, 37, 40-51

Ps 144: 1b-2, 9-10

Mk 3: 1-6

Jan. 22

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

1 Sm 18: 6-9; 19: 1-7

Ps 56: 2-3, 9-13

Mk 3: 7-12

Jan. 23

Vincent, deacon, martyr; Marianne Cope, virgin

1 Sm 24: 3-21

Ps 57: 2-4, 6, 11

Mk 3: 13-19

Jan. 24

Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of the church

2 Sm 1: 1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27

Ps 80: 2-3, 5-7

Mk 3: 20-21

841 - circa 869

An English patriotking, Edmund began life with a Saxon lineage and Christian upbringing. He may have been elected king of East Anglia as early as 855, when he was 14, and of Suffolk the following year. He ruled wisely and was regarded as a good man. The great Viking invasion of 866, led by Ingvar, reached his domain a few years later. Because of his faith, Edmund repeatedly rejected Ingvar’s attempts to have them rule jointly. Ingvar finally had him scourged, pierced with arrows and beheaded. Edmund is sometimes depicted in art with the wolf that allegedly guarded his head after his murder, and is the patron of wolves.

May the new year bring many happy returns

When we wish one another a happy new year, what do we mean? In other words, how do we see happiness?

Many people in our world seem to believe that happiness consists in wealth, health, power and fame. Sadly, those who have many or all those things rarely appear genuinely happy. In fact, rather than being satisfied, they instead spend their life in a quest for “even more.” All that they possess is never enough.

So, what constitutes real happiness? I found one answer to that in a meditation last Aug. 21 in Christopher Books’ “Three Minutes a Day.”

The entry focused on “The Gift of Aging,” a book written by Marcy Cottrell Houle. The author interviewed 97-year-old Rabbi Josh Stampfer who was in a wheelchair, accompanied by a caregiver. Houle expected the rabbi’s handshake to be frail but was surprised

IFATHER MARK GOLDASICH

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

by his grip and “a personality that conveyed ‘dynamism.’”

He served at Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland, Oregon, helped Jewish people in China and Russia, and continued to teach and give sermons on the radio long after his retirement. When asked how he could do all this at 97, Rabbi Stampfer responded:

“In all of us, there is an innate need for happiness, but happi-

MARK MY WORDS

ness is not just based on good health. Not everyone has that. . . . What I have found — and suggest to others — [is that] the way to be happy is to be good. When people do a good deed for others, they enjoy life more.

“It’s nice to have wonderful thoughts, but it’s also important to translate those thoughts either into deeds or into words. Bringing happiness to others is the quickest way to have it yourself.”

With that in mind, Jesus had to be the happiest person who ever lived. His entire life was directed outward, toward satisfying the needs of those around him. The Gospels never

specifically mention something about Jesus — maybe because the evangelists thought it should be obvious to anyone hearing the Gospels — and that is: Jesus must have smiled and laughed a lot.

It’s so easy to picture Jesus as solemn and “above it all.” But I can’t imagine him being other than deliriously happy at feeding thousands of hungry people with a few fish and loaves of bread and catching the shocked facial expressions of his apostles. And how he must have smiled at bringing sight to the blind, healing to lepers, hearing and speech to the deaf and mute. He must have laughed, too, when he told the apostles to let the children come to him so he could share in their joy and playfulness.

Jesus’ face must have glowed with happiness after raising people from the dead, especially his friend Lazarus. And like every good teacher, Jesus probably felt a sense

of satisfaction when the deeper point of his teachings — often using common images like shepherds and sowers or vines and lost coins — dawned on the faces of his listeners.

True happiness comes in shifting the center of our universe from ourselves and our desires outward to the needs of those around us. Jesus understood and lived this reality, as did the saints — and Rabbi Stampfer, who died in 2019.

How can you make 2026 a happy new year? Look outward. Generously use your time, treasure and talents to heal a world so often broken by the darkness of greed, indifference, injustice, violence and division.

And start with your own heart, keeping in mind these words of philosopher John Stuart Mill: “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather in attempting to satisfy them.”

May your 2026 be truly happy!

Channel your inner John the Baptist this Ordinary Time

f you need help spotting Christ, you can always count on John the Baptist.

“Behold, the Lamb of God!” he cried out when he saw Jesus. But that wasn’t enough. He needed to explain. He made a point of telling anyone who would listen, “This is the one I was telling you about! He’s here!”

With that, the Gospel this Sunday serves as a bracing wake-up call as we return once more into Ordinary Time. For some of us, the holidays can’t end soon enough; for others, it seems, they’re ending much too soon.

Reality sets in.

After the merriment

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

of Christmas, we get down to the hard work of ordinary life. That includes our challenge

to put the message of Christmas into practice — to carry a proclamation of joy and hope into the world and to dwell, for at least a little longer, in a sense of possibility and peace.

We also need to hear once more the Baptist’s cry in the wilderness. Keep your eyes open, he tells us. The Lamb of God is here. Pay attention!

When John pointed out Jesus to those around him, he was not only telling them that the One they had been waiting for had arrived; he also signaled that the great work was now beginning.

Things were about to change. It was time

to live, pray and love differently.

In the same way, all of us these days need to refocus our energies after the frenzy of the holidays.

But behold! The Lord is here. How will we make that matter?

For starters, we need to keep the message of the season going, cherishing the reminder we got just a couple weeks ago that God is with us. Our world is different because of that. We need to realize that the Incarnation was not a one-time event; Christ continues to be born, to live among us, as long as we seek him and help make him visible ourselves.

Do we recognize Christ when he approaches us? Do we acknowledge him in the way we live our lives? Do we see him in those around us? Do we live in a way that tells the world we are his followers?

“Behold the Lamb of God!” John said those words with awe and with love — and, undoubtedly, with joy, the same joy that caused him to leap in his mother’s womb when the unborn savior entered his life.

Let it be our prayer to experience that awe and love and joy daily — and to behold the Lamb of God the same way in those around us.

Pope Leo calls on faithful to keep the church alive as Jubilee Year ends

VATICAN CITY (OSV News) —

After a Jubilee Year not seen for centuries — with one pope opening the Holy Door and another closing it — Pope Leo XIV ended the Jubilee Year of Hope at St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 6 telling the world to love and seek peace, protect what is holy and flee from modern efficiency. But what really stayed with the faithful — not only the lucky hundreds inside the basilica but also

the thousands soaked in the pouring winter rain in St. Peter’s Square — was Pope Leo’s urging to keep the church alive.

Pilgrims from Europe, Latin America, Africa and beyond echoed the pope’s message, describing renewed faith, unity across cultures and a call to bring hope home. For Diane, who is originally from Peru but who has lived as a member of the Secular Institute of Mary Servant

of the Lord in Mexico for the last 23 years, the church can reach those who seem distant, especially young people today “in their hardships — or a day-to-day where they manifest their inner doubts about faith,” she said, adding “we can walk along with them.”

As the Holy Doors closed, the jubilee was seen by many not as an ending but as a beginning.

Campers find friends in the hubbub, and God in the silence

This summer will be the 29th anniversary of Camp Tekakwitha in the archdiocese. Camp registration opens Jan. 27 for Extreme Camp and then Middle School and Kateri/ Family Camp opens on consecutive Tuesdays.

The directors of Camp Tekakwitha are working hard to create the best summer thus far by hiring holy and engaging staff and developing deep faith experiences and outrageously fun activities.

SEEKING CHRIST’S HEART

DEACON DANA NEARMYER

Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the director of evangelization for the archdiocese.

You can help, too. Please share your memories about camp with your family and friends. Think about all the memories that you made with friends and with the Lord himself. If you did not attend Camp Tekakwitha, please ask some 45,000-plus campers who have.

So many marriages and lifelong friendships started by meeting wonderful holy friends at Camp Tekakwitha. Even more importantly, vast numbers of campers each year say that their prayer time became more real and meaningful. Most junior high and high school campers say that they

had a deep, personal encounter with Christ, often during eucharistic adoration and Mass.

Please share your memories about camp with your family and friends, so they too can grow closer to their Catholic faith and to God.

Fifth and sixth grade camps, Camp Kateri, offer boatloads of fun things to do and introductory opportunities for campers to claim their faith as their own, which is a key step in a person becoming a lifelong disciple.

Going to Camp Kateri builds confidence and leads campers to meaningful prayer by praying before and after each activity about

the simple and obvious challenges of the day.

Middle school in today’s culture is a lot more like what high school was for previous generations.

These students are making adult decisions about their beliefs, relationships and identity.

Camp Tekakwitha knows that and connects campers with the church’s new and ancient wisdom in the matters that they care most about. The combination of raucous activities and prolonged silence and prayer time give campers the opportunity to find the peace of God, the opening for God to minister to them directly.

Extreme Camp is a

powerful culmination of young disciples figuring out how to integrate the wisdom of God into their daily grind.

Family Camp, Special-Needs Family Camp and Spanish/ English Track Family Camp are very special long weekends where entire families experience the peace and healing of God, while having a blast!

Camp Tekakwitha’s zip lines, mountain bikes, water slides, kayaks and campfires are only part of the story; the reason people come year after year is the closeness that they feel to God and the Catholic community.

Special-needs and deaf ministries plan survey of those they serve

The specialneeds ministry of the archdiocese, in partnership with the deaf ministry of the archdiocese, will be starting the new year by trying to get to know you better.

We will be conducting a census of sorts to learn who you are, how well you are being served by your parishes and how we can better support your parishes in serving you.

LEARNING TO LOVE LIKE HIM

JOSHUA RUOFF

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

We don’t yet have a timeline of when this census will be “live” nor do we have all the details of what it will

collect. We wanted to take the opportunity of the new year, however, to make you aware that it is coming and to explain to you why it is so important.

In Chapter 10, Verse 14 of the Gospel of

John, Jesus gives us a small, simple — yet powerful — definition of what it means to be a good shepherd: “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”

The ministries of the archdiocese and their leaders exist to assist the archbishop, our shepherd, in serving you. To allow us to serve you the best we can, we need to get to know you better.

That is why it is so important that you participate in our upcoming census. You won’t simply be a number on a sheet. Although numbers help

us to determine how to best allocate our resources, this census will allow us to build more effective and personalized ministries rather than a one-sizefits-all approach.

Another reason to participate in this census is to tear down walls and fight against anonymity and loneliness. Far too often people with disabilities, mental health challenges and other special needs go unnoticed. This can especially happen in our larger parishes.

By participating in our census, we hope

to be able to build on your relationship with your parish community and with Christ. The Good Shepherd knows you and wants you to know him. So, stay alert for more information in the future. If you know someone who would or already does benefit by being served through either the deaf ministry or the special-needs ministry of the archdiocese, make sure they stay alert as well. Reach out to us if you want to be a part of our newsletters and other ministry updates.

Kids’ Kids’

CHRONICLE CHRONICLE

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic Courier

fter becoming king of Israel, David and his men went to Jerusalem and captured it from the Jebusites. David built up the city’s defenses and made it his home.

King David brings the ark of God to Jerusalem Bible accent A

David then wanted to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem.

For 20 years, the ark — which contained the tablets of the law that God gave to Moses — had been kept at the house of Abinadab, which was located on a hill not far from Jerusalem.

David handpicked 30,000 men of Israel, assembled them and set out for the house of Abinadab to bring the ark to Jerusalem.

The men transported the ark on a new cart. Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart, with Ahio walking before it. David and all the house of Israel danced, sang and played music using lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

As the ark was being transported, the cart started to tip. Uzzah reached out and touched the ark to steady it. Touching the ark was forbidden by God, so God’s wrath broke out against Uzzah, and he died.

David was angry, and then he became scared.

“How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” he wondered.

David left the ark in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months. When he heard that God blessed Obed-edom and all he possessed because of the ark, David returned with joy to bring the ark to Jerusalem.

As soon as the bearers of the ark had advanced six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fatling. Then, girt with a linen apron, David came dancing before the Lord with abandon as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.

The ark was set within the tent David had pitched for it. He offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

When he finished making the offerings, David blessed the people in the name of God. He then distributed to each man and woman in the entire multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes.

1. What did David want to bring to Jerusalem?

2. What did David give the people of Israel?

What did the ark of God look like?

In Exodus 25:10, we read that the ark was made of acacia wood, and it was approximately 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet high.

It was plated inside and out with pure gold, with a molding of gold around the top.

Two rings of gold were fastened on each side of the ark. Poles made of acacia wood and plated in gold were put through the rings, and the ark was carried using the poles. The poles were to remain in the rings and were never to be withdrawn.

The ark’s cover was made of pure gold and had a cherubim of beaten gold on each side. The cherubim faced each other, and their wings spread out to shelter the cover.

“In the ark itself, you are to put the covenant which I will give you,” God told Moses when he was instructing him on how the ark was to be made. “There, I will meet you, and there, from above the cover, between the two cherubim on the ark of the covenant, I will tell you all that I command you regarding the Israelites.”

t. Joseph of Leonessa was born in Italy in 1556. He became a Capuchin Franciscan at the age of 18.

He had a talent for preaching, and in 1587, he went as a missionary to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) to minister to Christian galley slaves.

After recovering from the plague, he was arrested for preaching to Muslims. He was sentenced to death, but he survived being hanged. He was banished and returned to Leonessa, where he lived and preached for another 20 years until dying of cancer in 1612.

We remember him on Feb. 4.