Southwest Kansas “Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty ATHOLIC and happiness.” — Floyd W. Tomkins CNewspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City www.dcdiocese.org/swkscatholic Vol. LIII, No. 4 Sunday, April 15, 2018 Let us grow in prayer e often hear people say “I would like a deeper Some 120 women, men and children enter fully the Wprayer life.” But, how? ‘Come to the Water’ My favorite definition of prayer is Catholic Church at Easter Vigils held across the diocese “being aware of the presence of God.” God is with us always; if He wasn’t, we would cease to exist – Poof! But how do we deepen our awareness of the presence of Led by the Spirit our Loving Lord? + Most Rev. John This article continues our series B. Brungardt on the Good News: we need a Bishop of the Savior, He is Christ Jesus, who Catholic Diocese died and rose for us, who invites of Dodge City us to believe and respond, and who asks us to follow Him and His Church, not the world; and on Kingdom Living: How do we put this Good News of Jesus into practice? The start: Daily Prayer. Other definitions of prayer: -- Communicating with God: both speaking and listening, -- Using our voice, mind, heart, soul, hands/feet to show our love to God, and receive His love, -- A characteristic of prayer: “ceaseless” -- to pray at all times! St Paul: “Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18), or -- “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC #2559). The Catechism lists five forms of prayer (CCC # 2623- 2649): 1. Prayer of Blessing (both descending and ascending), this form includes adoration of the Trinity. “With heartfelt love let us adore him” (Good Friday, Morning Prayer — MP— Intercessions). 2. Prayer of Petition, includes asking for forgiveness. “May we die with you, to rise with you in glory” (Good Friday, MP, Intercessions). 3. Prayer of Intercession, asking on behalf of another. “Help us to share your love to one another” (Good Friday, MP, Intercessions). 4. Prayer of Thanksgiving. “Thanks be to God” (last words at every Holy Mass). “We give you thanks for your great glory” (Gloria). 5. Prayer of Praise, simply because “GOD IS.” “May we offer you our joyful sacrifice of praise” (Easter Sunday, MP, Intercessions). My favorite little prayers of exhortation: -- “Jesus, help me.” -- “Mary, be with me.” -- “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, Your beloved.” (The Jesus Prayer) But all the definitions and lists and examples do not tell us how to deepen our prayer life. We need to pray! We need to beg our Compassionate Heavenly Father to teach us to pray, to assist us to grow in our prayer life. And we need to do our part to reserve time each day to pray, and expect prayer times which occur unexpectedly! Hope in Jesus, the Risen One, our Savior. Photo by Annie Peters Trust in the Holy Spirit, who “helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that ather Wesley Schawe, pastor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City, baptizes very same Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for Carolina Rodriguez at the Easter Vigil March 31. As Father Schawe completed a baptism, Father words” (Romans 8:26). Our Gentle Trinity will assist, Aneesh Parappanattu, MSFS, Parochial Vicar, baptized an individual on the other side of the for we are beloved children of God, who wants us to font. Rodriguez was one of approximately 120 men, women and children who received the deepen our relationship with Him. Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, at Easter Vigils held across F the diocese. + Bishop John Page 2 April 15, 2018 The Southwest Kansas Catholic To be set free from the dark places he Resurrection is a deep current power of the Resurrection within you. to the surface of your minds and hearts, flowing through you, the deepest part But that is the very time when that He is allowing you to feel the weight of + Most Rev. Tof where you are and who you are. power is most present and most active their dead hands. Ronald M. That’s easy enough for you to see when in your lives. You just don’t like what it is He wants you to notice, and to feel Gilmore life smiles upon you. Easy, when you are then doing in you. You just don’t like what these things, because he wants you to Bishop rested, and refreshed, and riding on top it is then showing you. You are just not do something about them. Without his Emeritus of of your world and your life. Then you can ready for the steps it is then asking you to Grace, you could not recognize them. Dodge City almost feel the power of the Resurrection take. Without recognizing them, you could not within you. What the Risen Lord is showing you is open yourself to his redeeming, healing That’s not so easy for you to see when the dark list of the things that are holding power. life frowns upon you. Not so easy, when you back from him. Your wounds, your His Resurrection is meant to set you free you are pressed, and pressured by the fears, your hesitations, your compromises, from all those dark things, and to do so by tasks, and the worries, and the anxieties of your anxieties, your addictions, your sins: healing them. Replace the dead hand with life. Then the last thing you can feel is the he is allowing all these to work their way his healing hand. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, May 28-June 7, 2018 hanks for reading this article. I’m your bishop, Bishop John, and I invite you to reflect on this series of articles Tabout God’s vocational call for you (all boys and single men). Yes, that boy is me, in my Cub Scout uniform – maybe you were/are in the Scouts. My family lived in Manhattan at the time, and I attended Seven Dolors Catholic Grade School and Parish. Then our family moved to a farm between Chapman and Abilene. I was blessed to be raised by my Dad and Mom in a Catholic family. As an adult, my job was as a science teacher in Wichita. Then I began to ask God who He wanted me to be in my life. Note that I was not asking what I ather John Forkuoh, pastor of St. Supper • Getsemani • Tel Aviv. wanted to do with my life. It is a question of identity, FJohn the Baptist Parish in Spearville, The price is discounted at $3,800 and of being, versus a question of doing/occupation. The will lead a trip to the Holy Land from includes Mass each day, airfare, 4-5 star question focuses on God, and His plan for my life. I May 28 - June 7, 2018. hotels, breakfast and dinner, tips, taxes, listened. I was patient. I was humble. And I heard that The trip will include the following etc. Call 855-842-8001 in order to sign God wanted me to be a priest, and later a bishop. And I locations: Jerusalem • Nazareth • Beth- up and ask any questions you have. You took courage and strength from Jesus to be “in persona lehem • Via Crucis • Cana • Dormition can also e-mail Sandi at sandi@proxi- Christi”, “in the person of Christ”. The priesthood gives • Nativity Church • Capernaum • Last motravel.com. me great joy, happiness and fulfillment, as I serve God and others. Thanks be to God! Your parents, family, parish priest, and others can assist you with this “vocational discernment” (prayerfully Help Wanted figuring out who God is calling you to be). Our Vocation Team (in the Office of Priestly Vocations), led by Father Director of Finance and Administration Wesley Schawe, will be glad to help. He is assisted by the The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe is seeking a Director of Finance and priests Father Rene Labrador, Father Ted Stoecklein, and Administration. This leadership position is the steward of the finances of Cathedral of Father Juan Salas. Our Lady of Guadalupe to include managing and developing resources for the benefit I hope and pray these reflections will assist you to of the ministries of the parish. ponder, pray, and listen to God in your hearts. He has The Director will have responsibility for the Administrator of the Office and Facilities. a wonderful plan for you as a priest, or as a husband Working collaboratively to provide accurate and timely information to the parish, school, and dad. Listen to Him in prayer. And Jesus said to and other agencies, in regard to effective reporting and processing of financial reporting, “Follow me” (Luke 9:23). compliance, and internal control systems. Please pray for me, and be assured of my prayers for you. Remember, Jesus Additionally, this position serves the Church and its related entities with expertise loves you more than you can ask or imagine! in financial affairs that include payroll processing, accounting, data systems, risk + Bishop John management, operational efficiency, real estate matters and various legal matters and financial analysis of the financial condition of the parish and the operational controls ith this issue, Bishop John is updating his previously-run series inviting boys related to each parish entity.