Southwest Kansas Newspaper of the CatholicC Diocese of Dodge City atholic www.dcdiocese.org/register Vol. L, No. 18 • Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016 mercy (noun) alleviation of distress; showing Family great kindness toward the distressed in 2016 An Iraqi + Most Rev. John B. Brungardt girl’s brief Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of respite Dodge City from fear s we return to Ordinary Time this week- Aend, we reflect on the many feasts of the just completed Christmas season, and plan for a Brought to greater emphasis on family during 2016. Connecticut by The Immaculate Conception celebrated fami- ly with our remembering Mary being conceived the Knights of without sin in the womb of her mom, St. Anne. St. Joachim and St. Anne, Jesus’ grandparents, Columbus for taught Mary the mercy of the Heavenly Father medical treatment, through the Old Testament scriptures. Grand- parents: are you assisting your family with your Katreena heads wisdom and experience in faith? Our Lady of Guadalupe, in appearing to St. home to Iraq Juan Diego some 500 years ago, began a great See Page 13 conversion to the Catholic Faith of the people of present day Mexico. Our Lady leads us to her Son Jesus. Do we have a devotion to Mary Katreena enjoys Autumn and the rosary in our families? leaves at the Little Sisters Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord, is a high- of the Poor St. Joseph’s light of our liturgical celebrations each year. At Residence in Enfield, CT. times, we are distracted from the Christ Child by our focus on things, things, things. Jesus brought us the way of love, unity, and salvation. Photo courtesy of the Knights of Columbus Continued on Page 3 LA CROSSE -- Students of the St. Michael Parish School of Religion share the ELLINWOOD -- Karson Harrington, grade good news of the birth of the Savior by presenting “The Christmas Story,” Dec. six, plays the part of the Virgin Mary, and 16 in the parish center. The program was directed by DRE Ruth Baalmann with Darian Haynes, grade six, plays one of the Three the help of catechists who made sure the performers were where they needed to Kings, at the St. Joseph Catholic School Christ- be. Santa made a visit to the manger, and afterwards visited with the younger mas program on Wednesday, Dec. 23. Kinder- children who let him know what they wanted for Christmas. Members of the garten through sixth grade students sang many It’s a boy! La Crosse Knights Council #2970 helped Santa hand out toys, and they also Christmas songs as other students shared the provided refreshments for all who attended. story of Christ’s birth. Page 2 January 17, 2016 The Southwest Kansas Catholic World Day for Consecrated Life celebration Feb. 13, Great Bend he Catholic Diocese of celebration will bring a con- TDodge City fifth annual clusion to 2015 as the Year of celebration of the World Day Consecrated Life. The year of for Consecrated Life will take prayer and recognition of those place Saturday, Feb. 13 at who dedicate their lives to God 10:30 a.m. This year’s celebra- in a special way was initiated by tion is being hosted by the Pope Francis. Dominican Sisters of Peace at “A radical approach is the Dominican Motherhouse in required of all Christians, but Great Bend, 3600 Broadway. Sister Catherine religious persons are called Please note: The date was in- Bertrand, SSND upon to follow the Lord in a correctly listed in the last issue special way: They are men and as Feb. 14. woman who can awaken the world,” the Holy Mass will be 10:30 a.m. followed by pope said when he made the announcement a dinner and presentation by guest speaker, of the Year for Consecrated Life. Sister Catherine Bertrand, SSND. “Consecrated life is prophecy. God asks us RSVP for the dinner to Becky Hessman, to fly the nest and to be sent to the frontiers of 620-227-1530 or [email protected] the world, avoiding the temptation to ‘domes- by Jan. 29. ticate’ them. This is the most concrete way of All are invited to attend. The Feb. 13 imitating the Lord.” and the Sister Evarista Callhe first to Sunday Continuing of Lent is a special moment Conversion Rite of Election, Feb. 14 Durler, longtime Church and stress to them that they are not just Tin the life of the Church. A once-a-year joining a parish community, but are becoming gathering takes place in each of the cathedrals part of the Catholic Church throughout their teacher, dies of the world. Women, men, youth and chil- diocese and throughout the world. It is always a dren who are journeying through the Rite of very joy filled occasion for me as their bishop,” Christian Initiation, along with their families, said Bishop Brungardt. and sponsors will come from every corner of “This also serves as a great reminder to all the diocese to fill the Cathedral, of Our Lady our parishes to always seek to be hospitable of Guadalupe 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 14. communities, inviting people to a life of dis- Bishop Brungardt will invite Candidates cipleship,” added Bishop Brungardt. to reaffirm their baptism in word and ritual Parishes must complete an online registration as they ask for Confirmation and Eucha- form for each candidate and/or catechumen, re- rist. In the name of the Church, he will gardless if their parish is or is not participating. call them to a special lent of preparation. and give them their godparents, as the Visit www.dcdiocese.org and click on the Rite Bishop will “elect”, confirm God’s choice, community surrounds the elect with prayer of Election badge. Please respond by January the Catechumens who seek Baptism, Con- accompanying them in their aspirations to 25th. For further information contact Coleen firmation, and Eucharist. They will sign receive the sacraments. Stein, [email protected], 620-227-1538, the Book of the Elect. Bishop Brungardt “This is also a wonderful opportunity for or Becky Hessman, [email protected], will call them to the Easter Sacraments these new Catholics to feel part of the larger 620-227-1530. See Page 23 Protecting See signs of Life? Thank Sacred Heart students God’s Children The Diocese of Dodge City requires all employees and volunteers who work with children to participate in a Protect- ing God’s Children awareness session. Through the Diocesan Awareness Ses- sions and other educational efforts of the diocese, all people of the diocese can learn how to discuss different as- pects of abuse -- including sexual abuse -- with children and how to teach them to protect themselves. Currently scheduled sessions are as follows: Garden City Sunday, Jan. 17; 1–4 p.m. St. Dominic Parish Center 615 J.C. St., Garden City, KS 67846 Contact Person: Sr. Myra Arney (620) 276-3500; PGC Facilitator: Cherry Deges (620) 338-7501 hanks to students at Sacred Heart half will go toward the placement of “We are looking for places TCathedral School in Dodge City, several billboards for a period of one near highways all throughout the Dodge City commuters will soon see large signs year. One will be placed in Dodge Dodge City diocese where we can Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, 6–9 p.m. of Life around the diocese. Led by City at the east end of Wyatt Earp post pro-life signs,” Frasco said. Hennessy Hall, Newman University teacher Tony Frasco for the tenth Blvd. Frasco invites anyone with land “Let us pray, fast, and promote Western Center, 236 San Jose Dr. year, the students raised $8,000 -- who would like a smaller billboard the pro-life cause so that we Room 22, Dodge City, KS 67801 exceeding their goal of $7,000 -- half placed temporarily on their prop- can build a culture of life. God Contact Person: Amy Falcon (620) of which will go directly to “Pro Life erty, to contact him at tony.frasco@ bless you!” 227-1590; PGC Facilitator: Sharon Across America,” while the other dcshcs.com. Stuart (620) 225-5164 The Southwest Kansas Catholic January 17, 2016 Page 3 New educators Family SW Kansas residents choosing to earn degrees close to home through Newman University’s ITV network in 2016 From Page 1 Do we celebrate weekly Mass as a family this new year, to receive His Body and Blood? The Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph highlights the impor- tance of family in our lives. Let us imitate this extraordinary fam- ily in 2016. Mary, Mother of God is funda- mentally a feast about Jesus. The Council of Ephesus in the year The Holy Fam- ily, Jesus, Mary and Joseph highlights the importance of family in our ewman University opened the West- tion, and other formation programs. Church through the Western Kansas Center in lives. Let us Nern Kansas Center in Dodge City after in Partnership uses an Interactive Television Dodge City. The students all graduated St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge Network (ITV) to facilitate communication with Bachelor of Science degrees in El- City closed its doors in 1992. across the 23,054 square mile territory of ementary Education. Pictured, front row, imitate this For 50 years, SMPC prepared Education Southwest Kansas. l-r: Hugo Hernandez, Dodge City; Sarai majors for the classroom; many taught in These 10 sites are located throughout Alvarez, Garden City; Amanda Kisner, the Catholic schools. Thanks to modern the diocese in Dodge City, Garden City, Kismet; Cori Vigil, Sublette; and Maria extraordinary technology, residents from across south- Great Bend, Liberal, Ness City, Pratt, Scott Sanchez; Garden City.