Southwest Kansas “then Jes�s t�rne� to the t�e��e an� as�e�, ‘are �o� a�so �oin� to �ea�e?’ “Si�on Peter ans�ere� hi�, ‘lor�, to �ho� sha�� �e �o? yo� ha�e the �or�s o� eterna� �i�e’.” — JOHN 6: 67-68 CNewspaper of the Catholicatholic Diocese of Dodge City www.dcdiocese.org/swkscatholic Vol. LIII, No. 12 Sunday, October 14, 2018 Pope Francis on Bishop Eugene At Youth Rally, students learn that sexual abuse: J. Gerber Church and Every life is precious 1931-2018 society have The Most Rev. John B. Brungardt, A ‘new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of conscience’ Dodge City Francis spoke during a press ood shepherd. Gentleness. Inner conference Sept. 25 on the return Peace. Trust in the Lord. These phrases come to mind as I think fl ight from a four-day papal visit G of Bishop Eugene J. Gerber, who died to the Balti c region. September 29, 2018. Bishop Gerber was our third bishop for Vati can City (CNA) - Pope Francis said the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City. He that renewed procedures and prioriti es Photos courtesy of the Youth Ministry Offi ce was appointed by Pope Paul VI, ordained in handling sex abuse cases have yielded Father aneesh Parappanatt u, mSFS, right, a bishop by Bishop David Maloney, and results in the Church, and have developed celebrates Mass with the young people installed as our bishop, all in late 1976. alongside a greater moral awareness of gathered for the 2018 middle School youth In 1982, Bishop Gerber was named by the dangers of child abuse. Francis spoke rally. Below, “Wichita adores ministry” Pope Saint John Paul II to lead the Catholic during a press conference Sept. 25 on the performs at the rally. at bott om, Bishop Diocese of Wichita. I was ordained a return fl ight from a four-day papal visit to John Brungardt addresses some 300 youth priest by Bishop Gerber 20 years ago in the Balti c region. and adult team members. Wichita. Citi ng the Pennsylvania grand jury By ADAM URBAN During my episcopal Ordinati on Mass report released July 14, Francis said Editor’s Note: Adam is in 2011, I commented that Bishop Gerber the diff erence between the number of the Director of the Offi ce of “is a wonderful example of a good historical and recent abuse cases is clear, Youth Ministry for the Catholic shepherd.” Bishop Gerber’s gentle and and indicates true progress in the way Diocese of Dodge City, and the compassionate care for his fl ock was/is the Church addresses the problem of primary organizer of the Middle a great example for me. His teaching, clerical sexual abuse. School Youth Rally. care for the hungry, and compassion for “We see that in the fi rst 70 years there hen Luke Maxwell, the sick were modeled aft er the Good were so many priests that fell into this keynote speaker at Shepherd, Jesus. A few examples: corrupti on, then in more recent ti mes the Oct. 7 Middle • Teaching. Bishop Gerber gave a it has diminished, because the Church W School Youth Rally in Dodge City, profound lesson on “The Wheel of noti ced that it needed to fi ght it in was 16, he crashed his family’s Balance,” to us seminarians in the another way,” the pope said. “Watch the full-size van into an oncoming mid-1990s, which I have used ever [number of cases] and watch when the vehicle in an att empt to kill since, in order to “have life and have it Church became conscious of this.” himself. more abundantly” (John 10:10). [Go to Francis stressed that while meaningful Instead of cutti ng short dcdiocese.org, scroll to the bott om and progress should be recognized, there his young life, he was led on click on “wheel of balance”.] is no such thing as a tolerable level of a miraculous journey, the • Care for the hungry. Bishop Gerber abuse: “Even if it was just one priest who story of which he shared with lived in the Cathedral rectory in downtown abused a boy or a girl, this is atrocious, 300 middle school students, Wichita for years. He would speak with because that man was chosen by God.” catechists, Directors of Religious homeless folks. Bishop Gerber would While the pope noted that sexual Educati on, and parents gathered make a sandwich for a homeless man who abuse was not confi ned to the Church stopped by the rectory. This was his initi al alone, it was in the Church that it was Conti nued on Page 16 impetus for the Lord’s Diner, which was “the most scandalous, because [the opened in 2002, and has served over fi ve Church] should bring children to God and million meals since. not destroy them.” • Compassion for the sick. Bishop Francis also said that in the past, a Gerber, many years ago, was speaking mentality had existed in the Church and with a priest about reti rement. The priest the wider culture which contributed to Diocese mourns commented: “I have no place to go.” a patt ern of abuse and cover-ups. The This planted the seed in Bishop Gerber’s pope said that previous approaches to heart for the Priest Reti rement Center in handling sexual abuse allegati ons were death of Bishop Wichita. oft en informed by consciences more Thank you, Bishop Gerber, for your concerned with scandal and taboo than Eugene Gerber faithful service in the Lord to your fl ocks with protecti ng victi ms. in the dioceses of Dodge City and Wichita. “In the old times these things were Eternal rest grant unto you. Thank you, covered up, they even covered them up Third Bishop of Diocese dear Jesus, for the gift of Bishop Eugene at home, when the uncle was molesti ng J. Gerber. You love him, and all of us, so the niece, when the dad was molesti ng his See Page 8 much! Conti nued on Page 6 + Bishop John Page 2 October 14, 2018 The Southwest Kansas Catholic ‘Clay in the hands of the Lord’ Remembering Bishop Gerber ishop Eugene J. Gerber was six years Those who knew him longest, those who He took delight in his people, the psalmist a Bishop in Dodge City, twenty- knew him best … they saw it right away, even said. You helped him treasure that line. The Bfi ve years a Bishop in Wichita, and if they could not quite put their fi nger on it. delight never left him all the days of his life. seventeen years a Bishop-Emeritus also He was just … well … diff erent. Nor is it any wonder. From you he learned in Wichita: aft er almost forty-two years Monsignor John Gilsenan came close to how to bishop. The way you responded to a Bishop, he returned on Saturday to the getti ng at it when he said Bishop Gerber was him helped deepen him even as he learned. Father who made him, and the Son who more refl ecti ve somehow, aft er all he had He hoped that you delighted in him half as called him, and the Spirit who shaped him. seen and heard and done in Dodge City. much as he delighted in you. That’s the outside of the story, but there is He did not rightly know what you did for Because you belonged to the Lord, he an inside to the story as well. Some of that him. I do not know now what you did for came to belong to the Lord, and in ways that Bishop Emeritus inside concerns you, the priests and people him, or how you did it. But you, priests and surprised him right up to his last days. He Ronald M. Gilmore of the Diocese of Dodge City. He wasn’t the people of Dodge City, you broadened him, was clay in the hands of the Lord to the very same man, you see, when you were through that I do know. You deepened him. You end, because the Lord made him clay in your Another Way with him in 1982. molded him into the man who was so widely hands at the very beginning. He came back to Wichita a changed man. loved in Wichita and all of southeast Kansas. Dominican Sisters Bishop! Are You Kidding Me? present: ‘Movies With a Message’ Simplicity of Life? oin Dominican Sisters of Peace and others for an Simplicity of life in the The next morning I woke up, Jevening to watch and refl ect upon a movie that priesthood? But money and my thought about my new car, and conveys a meaningful spiritual or ethical theme. things are important to me! Well, said to myself, “Self, big deal, I have Movies With a Message begin at 6:15 p.m. on a new car.” I was quite shocked the dates below, and are presented at the Great I guess they aren’t important, just Now even more happiness as a that this car did not give me lasti ng Bend Dominicans Motherhouse Auditorium. useful. True, my family and friends bishop. Not a short-term pleasure, happiness, that this material Refreshments are served. Free-will donati ons are more important than money not a fl eeti ng high, but lasti a ng joy. possession didn’t fulfi ll me. Less are accepted. and possessions. Yes, and God is Guys, let go of an emphasis on than 24 hours aft er I bought the Aft er the movie (for those who wish to stay), the most important.