Men Under Construction XVII Drew Hundreds of Men from Across the Archdiocese to Menchurch of the Ascension in Overland Park
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THELEAVEN.COM | VOL. 34, NO. 28 | MARCH 1, 2013 UCTION UNDER CONSTR Men Under Construction XVII drew hundreds of men from across the archdiocese to MENChurch of the Ascension in Overland Park. A packed house at Church of the Ascension heard talks by San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, for- Leaven photos by susan Mcspadden mer Kansas City Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney, Deacon Alex Jones (below) of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Father Gregory Lockwood, administrator of Christ the King Parish, Kansas City, Mo. Join The Leaven’s own Joe Bollig as he blogs the coming conclave from a unique perspec- Depending on the timing of the conclave, one of the next two issues of The Leaven tive — his office in Kansas. Find him at: theleavenkc.wordpress.com, on Twitter at: @the will be a special one and will focus on the process of electing a new pope. There will leavenkc, or on our website at: www.theleaven.com. For email updates of new blog en- be no calendar, columnists or anniversaries in that issue. tries, click the “follow” button at the bottom right of the WordPress page. 2 archbishop THELEAVEN.COM | MARCH 1, 2013 MARCH 1, 2013 | THELEAVEN.COM second front page 3 LIFE WIll BE VICTORIOUS confession can fuel conversion of heart, renewal of faith CONFEssION very diocese has a formation of the world, vantage of the grace of the patron saint. The through our own witness sacrament of reconciliation CALENDAR primary patron for of a penitential heart, and during this Lenten season our archdiocese is our own full embrace of the and make this sacrament a arcHBISHOP Enone other than Mary, under sacrament of penance.” regular part of your spiritual NAUMANN EXPERIENCES the title of the Immaculate Cardinal Dolan reminded life throughout the year. Conception. Our secondary the bishops: “The sacrament I invited you at the begin- March 2 patron is St. John Mary Vi- of reconciliation evangelizes ning of our Faith Initiative 40th anniversary of anney, patron for priests. ARCHBISHOP the evangelizers, as it brings — “Faith: Love It, Learn It, pro-life apostolate in the Archdiocese of St. Louis A REBIRTH St. John Vianney was not JOSEPH F. NAUMANN us sacramentally into contact Live It” — to gaze on the a gifted student. He strug- with Jesus, who calls us to face of Jesus depicted on a gled to make it through his conversion of heart and allows crucifix, while asking the March 3 Benedictine College sees seminary studies. After a us to answer his invitation to Lord how he wanted you to Honoree at benefit for As part of the obser- Our Lady’s Inn residential few years as an associate vance of the Year of Faith, repentance — a repentance observe this Year of Faith. scores of students take pastor, John Vianney was from within that can then The name for this year’s home for women with cri- every member of the sis pregnancy — St. Louis appointed the pastor of Ars. Archdiocese is invited to transform the world without.” Lenten confession cam- In 1815, the village of Ars Every bishop and priest paign is “Gaze on the Face advantage of the sacrament consecrate themselves March 4 consisted of 40 houses and must first be a penitent. We of Christ.” If you go to our to Jesus through Mary in Confirmation — St. Pius, a very dilapidated church. It must first face the truth that archdiocesan website — StORY AND PHOTO BY BY SARA StACEY the method originated Mission was considered in contem- by St. Louis de Montfort. we are sinners in need of archkck.org — and visit our porary clerical circles that The consecration is ide- a Redeemer. We must first special Lenten confession March 5 being sent to Ars was like ally to be done on a feast allow ourselves to be trans- site, you will find a host of Administrative Team being sent to Siberia. of Mary, preceded by 33 formed by God’s mercy. It is resources, e.g., examinations meeting The story is told that days of prayerful prepa- out of our own experience of conscience, information during his early years at Ars, ration. I suggest that you in the sacrament of penance on how to make a good Confirmation — Sacred some of the parishioners make this consecration of the unconditional love of confession, and many other Heart, Emporia circulated a petition to the or reconsecration on the Jesus for us in our weakness pertinent articles. bishop requesting that John feast of the Annunciation, that we find the grace to be Pope Benedict in 2011 March 6 Vianney be removed as the which this year is cele- the Lord’s instruments of stated: “The new evangeliza- Mass and blessing of new pastor. One of John Vian- brated on April 8. There- mercy for his people. tion . begins in the confes- chapel and renovated ney’s supporters brought fore, we will begin our 33 In his address, Cardinal sional.” In that same ad- wings — Villa St. Francis, days of preparation on him a copy of the petition Dolan observed: “What an dress, our now-retired Holy Olathe March 6. To prepare for The lines of Benedictine College students waiting to receive the sacrament of reconciliation at St. Benedict’s Abbey church in Atchison have grown longer during the Lenten season. that accused the future saint irony that despite the call of Father said: “The sacrament the consecration, I en- March 7 of being a sinner, ignorant courage you to purchase the Second Vatican Council of reconciliation, which and awkward. John Vianney for a renewal of the sacra- begins with a look at one’s Confirmation for Leaven- TCHISON — Benedictine Senior Brad Geist has been going to we wouldn’t know how to treat other a copy of “33 Days to worth parishes — Immac- College here has an interest- the sacrament of reconciliation weekly “What moves me people when they hurt us, she explained. read the petition carefully Morning Glory” by Father ment of penance, what we actual condition in life, con- and signed it. got instead was its near dis- tributes uniquely to achiev- ulate Conception, Leaven- ing problem. The confession for a few years. Skubal’s favorite part of the sacra- Michael Gaitley, MIC, ei- worth lines are too long. “It always seems to give me a new is when students ment of reconciliation is “the feeling of This past November, ther at your local Catholic appearance.” Essential for ing the openness of heart AAnd they grow even longer during strength,” he said. joy that you get when you walk out of the Cardinal Timothy Dolan the renewal of the church in which enables one to turn bookstore or online. March 8 who have carried sig- of New York in his address our time is the rediscovery one’s gaze to God so that Lent. His appreciation of the sacrament confessional and you feel like you could Conception Seminary to his brother bishops, as by all Catholics of the power he may enter one’s life. The It was not always so, however. grew after a particularly bad day. float in the air.” board meeting nificant crosses in their president of our episcopal and beauty of the sacrament certainty that he is close “When we saw Mass participation go “I had spent all day just tearing myself “ Junior Jared Hafey is about to cele- on the credibility of the conference, quoted from the of reconciliation as a tool and in his mercy awaits the up and perpetual adoration began, we saw down. I decided to go to confession, but brate his first year of being a Catholic. mission. We are certain- March 9 lives, alone and without closing message of this past for growth in holiness. human being, even one who students making a personal commitment I was too early, so I just sat in the chapel “I feel like I’m in the honeymoon ly aware — we bishops Conception Seminary October’s Synod of Bishops. The church in France at is involved in sin, in order to Christ in the Eucharist. That’s when we and stared at the crucifix,” he said. “Then encouragement, turn to phase of being Catholic, but shouldn’t first of all — that we can board meeting The Synod Fathers said: the time of St. John Mary Vi- to heal his weakness with also saw a significant increase in confes- it hit me what I’d been doing to myself we all be?” he asked. never really be equal to the “We, however, should anney was reeling from the the grace of the sacrament sions on campus,” said Fa- all day.” Christ in the sacrament “I love confession. I love that fact that Lord’s calling and mandate March 10 never think that the new effects of the French Revo- of reconciliation, is always a ther Brendan Rolling, direc- By the end of his con- no matter how bad, I get I have the op- to proclaim his Gospel Pastoral visit — Christ the evangelization does not lution and the ensuing per- ray of hope for the world.” tor for mission and ministry fession, Geist was crying. of confession and dis- portunity to experience the mercy of to the nations. We do not King, Topeka CONFEssION concern us as bishops secution of the church. The Pope Benedict observed at Benedictine College. Geist thinks many God in my day-to-day life,” Hafey said. hesitate to recognize our DURING LENT personally. In these days, faith in France had grown that it is from our “experi- Three years ago, he noted, people are afraid of the cover real freedom.” “It’s hard going to confession — to ex- personal sins.