Mary Helps Us Share
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“Let n�t��n� dep�e�� ���. Let n�t��n� alte� Southwest Kansas ���� �ea�t �� ���� ���ntenan�e. al��, d� n�t �ea� an� �llne�� �� �e�at��n, an��et� �� pa�n. a� i n�t �e�e ��� �� ���� ��t�e�? a�e ��� n�t �nde� �� ��ad�� and p��te�t��n?” atholic -- T�e H��� M�t�er, Our Lad� �� Guada�upe, t� Juan Dieg� CNewspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City www.dcdiocese.org/swkscatholic Vol. LI, No. 18 • Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 Mary His And the child helps us Name grew and became strong; he was share was fi lled with wisdom, called and the grace of Jesus God was on him. -- Luke 2: 40 + Most Rev. John B. Brungardt Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City his past week we com- pleted our Christmas TSeason with joy. Now we are celebrati ng Ordinary Time, which is actually very extra-or- dinary because God-is-with-us, Emanuel! Mary is with us as well. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are full of Mar- ian feasts. As we return to Or- dinary Time, we relate to our Blessed Mother, who raised Jesus in the ordinary-ness of Nazareth. How can Jesus help us know Mary, His Mom? Saint Teresa of Calcutt a writes: “How many things can we learn from the Virgin!. Ask Jesus to help you personalize your love for Mary—in order to be sources of joy, as he is; in order to be closer to her, as he is; in order to share with her everything, even the cross. Ev- ery one of us must carry his or her own cross; it is our sign of Y el niño crecía belonging to Christ. We need Lo Mary to help us share it.” y se fortalecía; As we begin 2017, let us ask llamaron estaba lleno de our Savior Jesus to assist us in knowing Mary. She is like us in JESUS sabiduría, y la receiving many crosses, joys, and sorrows from life. Our gracia de Dios Blessed Mother understands. Let Mary help us share this life, estaba sobre él. as we prepare for an eternal life with God, the saints and -- Luke 2: 40 our loved ones. Jesus will give us His grace: He loves us so much! Page 2 January 15, 2017 The Southwest Kansas Catholic It comes, the glow, and it goes t comes, the glow, and it goes. of us. We go through the moti ons only. The I The glow of Christmas was sti ll upon us, real Christmas eludes us, we no longer hear It reminds us that Christ when we began seeing other things. We saw its voice, we no longer sti r to its challenges. the fi rst martyr, Stephen, hurt by hate, prone The Liturgy makes sure we do not miss the was born to save us from among the stones. We saw the innocent gritti er feel of Christmas things. It reminds our sins, and that this will children, dead by Herod’s fear, their mothers us that Christ was born to save us from prone from grief. our sins, and that this will be the work of a be the work of a lifetime The glow of Christmas was sti ll upon us, lifeti me for you and for me. It reminds us of when we began hearing other words. the hundred ways we deceive ourselves, and for you and for me. It re- We heard the 1st lett er of John: If we say of how they change forms when they are minds us of the hundred we are free from sin, we are liars, the truth is found out. It reminds us that Gabriel’s word not in us. And John again: If we claim we have to Mary was a “word in waiti ng:” it waited ways we deceive our- known him without keeping his command- for her ‘yes’ then, even as it waits for our Bishop Emeritus ments, we are liars. And John again: One who ‘yes’ now. The Liturgy insists that we see the Ronald M. selves, and of how they claims to be in the light, hati ng his brother all whole picture when we see the Infant in a Gilmore change forms when they the while, is in darkness even now. manger. This is the Liturgy working upon us in its It comes and it goes, the glow, but (thanks Another are found out. usual quiet way. Gently, but fi rmly, it touches to the Liturgy) it can, and it does, … somehow Way us awake. We sleep through Christmas, most … stay. Children raise money to spread pro-life word in a big way ixth, seventh and eighth graders at sacred Heart Led by teacher Tony Frasco, the students held bake in the Pro-Life eff orts, fi ve years when he taught in SCathedral Middle School in Dodge City raised sales, car washes, sold hot chocolate, and uti lized Wichita and six years at sacred Heart Cathedral Middle $6,933.44 for Pro-Life across america billboards to be many other creati ve ideas for fund raising. School. placed across the state of Kansas. This is the 11th year Frasco has led his students He�p Wanted Help for farmers Help for those with Coordinator of religious educati on • Kansas Rural Family Helpline, toll free, 866- gaming addictions 327-6578: Provides confidential, short-term Sacred Heart of Jesus, Larned, KS see Page 13 Do you need help with a gam- emoti onal support, advice, and qualifi ed referrals bling/gaming addiction? You’re directly to rural families struggling with an unmet not alone. Don’t wait until the emoti onal, medical, fi nancial, or legal need. addiction takes a serious toll on Pr�tecting G�d’s C�i�dren • Kansas Agriculture Mediati on Services, toll-free, your life. Call for help and join 800-321-3276: Helps farmers, agricultural lenders he Diocese of Dodge City requires st. Mary’s Parish Center, 510 n. 12th thousands of people who are and USDA agencies resolve disputes in a confi denti al all employees and volunteers who st., Garden City, Ks 67846 seeking help for their struggle. T and non-adversarial setti ng outside the traditi onal work with children to parti cipate in a PGC Facilitator: sharon stuart (620) legal process. KSgamblingHelp.com Protecti ng God’s Children awareness 225-5164; Contact Person: Hector • WORKs -- Work Opportuniti es for Rural Kan- session. Through the Diocesan Aware- rivera (620) 276-2716 800-522-4700 sans, toll free, 866-271-0853: Helps farmers, ranch- ness Sessions and other educati onal abuse Hotline Kansas Alliance for eff orts of the diocese, all people of the ers, and their families to make a transiti on from If you or someone you know may have Responsible diocese can learn how to discuss diff er- farming and ranching to non-farm employment. been a victi m of sexual abuse by clergy, Gambling ent aspects of abuse -- including sexual an employee or volunteer of the Diocese abuse -- with children and how to teach of Dodge City, you are asked to contact them to protect themselves. Dave Snapp, Fitness Review Administra- “Loving trust and total surrender made Our Lady say ‘yes’ to the For an up-to-date listi ng, go to htt p:// tor: (620) 225-5051 work; (620) 225-2412 message of the angel. And cheerfulness made her run in haste to www.dcdiocese.org/safe-environ- home; [email protected]. You serve her cousin Elizabeth. That is so much our life: saying ‘yes’ ment. always have the right to directly contact The next session is scheduled for: the Department for Children and Fami- to Jesus and running in haste to serve him in the poorest of the Garden City - English lies/Kansas Protection Report Center: poor. Let us keep very close to Our Lady and she will make that saturday, Jan. 28, 2017; 10 a.m. - 1 Hotline number is 1-800-922-5330. p.m. same spirit grow in each of us.” - Saint Mother Teresa The Southwest Kansas Catholic January 15, 2017 Page 3 ‘She kept her baby’ Donated home offers hope and help to a multitude By DaviD Myers including a tiny tuxedo for a toddler Southwest Kansas Catholic hanging low on a closet door. REAT BEND -- Across from Holy Fam- Approximately eight volunteers serve Gily School in Great Bend is a small the center. There are no paid positions. house used to promote large hopes. Even though the house has been paid off The house was a gift from Father Der- through the generosity of the Irish priest, mot Tighe to Birthright, an international Birthright still must pay utilities, taxes organization that offers friendship and and upkeep. It’s a constant challenge to support to pregnant women, and women keep up with the bills. But when you’re with newborn or young children. talking about supporting moms—and Father Tighe, one of the few left of the saving lives—kind hearts abound. band of Irish priests who came to serve While the Diocese of Dodge City does the newly-formed Catholic Diocese of not contribute directly to Birthright, the Dodge City back in the early 1950s, has organization does receive donations from served the diocese faithfully and with the Knights of Columbus, Daughters of hard-working determination, but this Isabella, local churches, and many gener- article isn’t about his life--it instead is ous individuals. The Birthright house, at 1420 about how he has provided life and hope Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas Wilson in Great Bend, will soon to a multitude of others.