'I Really Want to Help Out'
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www.theleaven.com | newspaper of the archdiocese of Kansas city in Kansas | vol. 33, no. 3 July 29, 2011 ‘I really want to help out’ holy Spirit seventh-grader has volunteered for homeless organization for five years Story and photos by John Schultz overland Park’s robert dupin helps clean up at the uplift headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. for his tireless dedication, robert was named uplift volunteer of the month recently. aturday morning. For a five years now,” said the Overland Park urday morning childhood activities. lot of kids, it means an boy. “I started when I was seven.” “It makes me feel better to help out all-you-can-eat buffet For his efforts, Robert has accom- homeless people whatever way I can, of sugary cereal, mind- plished something even his older school- so that they can live a better life,” Rob- numbing cartoons, and mates at Holy Spirit School in Over- ert said. “It’s crazy how many homeless a few extra rounds on land Park haven’t been able to achieve: people there are, and I really want to the Xbox. He was named Uplift volunteer of the help out.” For soon-to-be 7th- month. So what drives the 12-year-old to defy grader Robert Dupin, however, Satur- The honor means Robert got a me- the stereotypes of his age group and give Sday mornings sometimes mean a trek morial railroad spike to recognize his up a Saturday each month to help the into the inner city for a six-hour shift at achievement, as well as his name on a homeless? Uplift, a Kansas City, Mo., homeless out- plaque in the Uplift headquarters at 15th “We have a theory in our family that reach organization. and Prospect. It also means ending the you do good, and good comes back to “I volunteer the second Saturday of day feeling a little more fulfilled than each month, and I’ve been doing it about one might with the average slate of Sat- turn to “young” on page 7 faIthfuL SuMMer faith and fun are the key ingredients to making summer camp at Prairie Star ranch a success. teaM PLayerS end of an era the archdiocese is now requiring all parents after more than 100 years, St. Joseph Parish and coaches of CYO teams to attend a seminar in Lillis has closed. Its last Mass was July 6. 3 8-9 emphasizing sportsmanship. 16 2 local news THE LEAVEN • juLy 29, 2011 THE LEAVEN • juLy 29, 2011 SECOND FRONT PAGE 3 Archbishop NAumANN’s Pakistani Christians hold onto hope weekly cAleNdAr By Joe Bollig Aug. 1 leaven staff evening prayer with the national assembly of Jesus caritas — savior LEAWOOD — Archbishop Evarist pastoral Center Pinto, prelate of the Archdiocese of Karachi, readily acknowledges that Christians represent only a tiny minor- Aug. 2-7 ity of the population of Pakistan. visit apostles of the interior life at But he doesn’t let that worry him — their summer retreat — cortina, italy or stop him. emily Boeckman wipes away a tear as she videotapes the last father Jim Shaughnessy, former pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Lil- Louise reust, 95, has been a parishioner at St. Joseph for her en- “Minority — we don’t like to use Aug. 7-12 Mass at St. Joseph Church in Lillis. lis, gets a laugh from parishioners during Mass. tire life. that word again and again,” said Arch- visit motherhouse of little sisters of bishop Pinto, who visited Curé of Ars the lamb — san pierre, france Parish in Leawood from June 21 to 30. The archbishop was here to thank Aug. 10 parishioners for contributing to con- visit shrine of our lady of lourdes — Parishioners say goodbye to St. Joseph struction of a new minor seminary in france his diocese. “We are also part of the larger com- Aug. 12-22 munity,” he continued. “We are Paki- world youth day — madrid stani. Our people contribute . to the progress and development of the country.” Archbishop keleher’s Because Pakistan is 97 percent Mus- weekly cAleNdAr lim, the contributions of Pakistan’s tiny Christian community often do not Aug. 6 make the headlines. Instead, rather wedding — ireland harrowing stories of violence and per- secution do: riots, rape, harassment, Aug. 7 police brutality, and coercive prosely- mass — Brosna, ireland tizing. The world was reminded of this re- ality when governmental minister for Catholics are only 1.3 percent of minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, Muslim-majority Pakistan, but was murdered on March 2 because of they are proud of their positive Want to help someone heal his activism against Pakistan’s notori- contributions to their country, from an abortion? ous, discriminatory “blasphemy laws.” said archbishop evarist Pinto of Life for the minority Christians can the archdiocese of Karachi. Call Toll Free 888-246-1504 be difficult, especially in certain rural leaven photo by Joe Bollig areas, said Archbishop Pinto. But incidents of violence and dis- the Nestorian, Assyrian, and Eastern tion — he came from a Catholic village crimination, although tragic, are only Orthodox churches. in the middle of the Punjab,” said the part of the story. There is also a great There are also churches — Protes- archbishop. deal of positive Christian and Muslim tant and Catholic — that were found- In a homily he gave at Curé of Ars, interaction, said the archbishop. ed there during the period of British Archbishop Pinto quoted Bhatti: “I am “In Karachi (a large port city on the colonial rule. Catholic missionaries a disciple of Christ who gave his life for Arabian Sea, in the southern part of from Britain, Belgium, Holland and us; I know the meaning of the cross. Pakistan), we don’t have this big prob- the United States established several I am ready to sacrifice my life for the lem living with Muslims,” the arch- parishes. cause of my people.” bishop said. “We grow up together. Now, in more recent years, Pakistan Bhatti lives on as an example and Our children study together. We work has seen the advent of Pentecostal symbol for Pakistani Christians. together.” churches — often referred to as sects. “I think he is a role model for us “Sometimes it can happen,” he con- Today, the 1.3 million Catholics of now, especially our youth,” said Arch- Pakistan are organized into six dioces- bishop Pinto. “He did not marry. He tinued. “Some of your young people father Pat Sullivan, at the time parochial administrator of St. Joseph in Lillis, celebrates Mass with several former pastors of the parish. Concelebrating with father Sullivan are: (from left) father Carl es and one apostolic vicariate. did not think of his own future. For working under Muslims can be ha- dekat, father david Smith, father george Seuferling, father Bob hasenkamp, father Mike Stubbs (partially blocked), father Phil Winkelbauer, father Jim Shaughnessy, and father arul Carasala. rassed, ‘Why don’t you become Mus- Pakistan’s Christians and Muslims the church to produce such people lim?’ But generally in Karachi we re- often face the same problems, such is a great thing. Our church can as finding adequate employment and also produce men of caliber, of strong spect each other and live together in ILLIS — The final tolling of the bell. Parishioner Robert Bergmann was overcome with difficult in its own way. education. And life beyond the oppor- faith who are dedicated to the com- apartment houses with great respect The last hymn sung. The last Mass cel- emotion reading the petition as he prayed for St. Jo- “But I would have to say that this one is perhaps the tunities city life can offer can be harder munity.” and tolerance.” ebrated at St. Joseph Church here. seph parishioners. most difficult,” he said. on both. Pakistani Catholics are looking for- In fact, Christians are often respect- It was a time for goodbye, and to It was their last time together as a congregation. “That’s right, I said this one,” he continued. “It “In cities like Karachi, people come ward to a future where they will move ed for their work ethic and honesty, remember this parish that would be foolish for us not to see this event for what it there to find jobs and send their chil- beyond the model of the European especially in certain economic sectors would now be closed. really is — or at least what it feels like: We’re suffering dren to school, join a community and missionary. The Catholic bishops of a new reality like banking. There is widespread ap- Louise Reust remembers. a loss.” parish,” said the archbishop. “But, in Pakistan don’t want their flock to al- Story by preciation of the beneficial impact that “It was the seventh of More than one parishioner didn’t think the Then he turned to the topic of baptism. contrast, in the interior provinces, in ways be on the receiving end. They JeSSica Christian institutions have on the na- June, and it was hot — it was hot.” reality would really hit them until it was time The gifts we receive at baptism can’t be undone and Sindh or Punjab, life can be more dif- want some self-sufficiency. LAngdon tion, especially Christian hospitals and LSo hot, she got sick that day during her to go to Mass again and they couldn’t come are ours forever, he said. Like those, the memories of ficult — economic and social.” “It is our contention that any church schools. first Communion. Her mother hurried her to here. life at St. Joseph belong to the parishioners forever. Despite these difficulties and chal- and community can also contribute,” Photos by “Proof of this is that most of our the pump outside and splashed water in her “It doesn’t feel like it’s sunk in,” said “No one can change or undo the memories cre- lenges, the outlook for the faith is far he said.