THELEAVEN.COM | VOL. 34, NO. 16 | NOVEMBER 23, 2012 Advent Seven-year-old Devin Wassman — son of Todd and Andi Wassman, members of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor — lights the first candle on the traditional Advent wreath. The Advent season starts this year on Dec. 2. Leaven photo by Joe Bollig 5 8 16 NO LEAVEN NEXT WEEK DAY OF RECOLLECTION MINISTRY INTO THE FIRE Because of Thanksgiving, The Leaven will Donnelly College chaplain leads a day for Church of the Nativity’s ministry to the el- Father Pat Sullivan joins other volunteers in next publish on Dec. 7. local priests centered on Vatican II. derly fills a growing need in Leawood. answering the call of the local fire department. 2 archbishop THELEAVEN.COM | NOVEMBER 23, 2012 NOVEMBER 23, 2012 | THELEAVEN.COM second front page 3 LIFE WIll BE VICTORIOUS give thanks for your many blessings, but especially your faith ecently, calling him: “Uncle Robert!” A few months later, the CALENDARS when I was man called Robert at the Dec. 8 The members wear sim- hotel. Robert inquired about Feast of the Immaculate in Baltimore archbISHOP ple flip-flops in confor- the health of his sick daugh- Conception (holy day of Sister Paula assists R NAUMANN obligation) mance with their vow ter. The man told Robert Father Jerry Arano-Ponce for the meeting of of poverty. “We live off that his daughter had died. Nov. 27 at the anniversary Mass Deacon aspirants confer- charity,” said Brother the U.S. Conference Robert’s heart sunk. He Administrative Team meeting of the Fraternity of Mis- ence Casio. “Everything in this ARCHBISHOP was saddened and shocked. sionaries, the Poor of of Catholic Bishops, house is a donation.” Robert knew her condition Catholic Foundation of Jesus Christ. JOSEPH F. NAUMANN archbISHOP I arrived at the hotel was serious, but he did not Northeast Kansas annual several hours before appreciate that she was meeting KELEHER be the hotel’s mistake. The so close to death. Despite the official check-in man became increasingly her illness, the young girl Dec. 1 Nov. 25 time. belligerent, making quite seemed to be so filled with Mass for All Saints’ noctur- Mass — federal prison a scene. Robert was aggra- the joy of life. nal adoration group — All Saints, Kansas City, Kan. Dec. 3 The hotel employee vated by the man’s attitude Robert expressed his LIVING THE BEATITUDES Mass and lunch — St. James (whose actual name I do and felt like responding to sympathy to the man. The the man’s hostility by calling man thanked him but con- Dec. 2 Academy, Lenexa not recall, but for the sake Installation of Father John of this article I will refer security. However, some- soled Robert, saying: “Don’t fraternity of Missionaries, the poor of Jesus christ bring their ministry to KcK Cordes — St. Joseph, Olpe, Dec. 5 to him as Robert) was very thing (I am certain it was be sad. She is in a much and St. Catherine, Emporia Confessions — St. Michael courteous and apologetic the Holy Spirit) prompted better place.” He went on to By Sheila Myers the Archangel, Leawood that the hotel was unable Robert instead to ask why tell Robert the most amaz- Special to The Leaven the man and his family were ing and inspirational story Dec. 6 TO LEARN MORE to accommodate my early Religious Alliance Against To donate to the Fraternity of in Baltimore. about the circumstances of Dec. 8 n the second floor of an un- arrival. Pornography conference call Missionaries, the Poor of Jesus The man’s demeanor Feast of the Immaculate marked building in a broken About an hour later, after his daughter’s death. Christ, or to get involved, call (913) immediately changed. There The man said that, be- Conception (holy day of neighborhood of Kansas eating lunch, I checked back Open House for chancery obligation) 387-4696. with Robert at the registra- was sadness in his eyes. He cause of her blindness, his staff City, Kan., a tender ministry told Robert that his five-year- daughter could not read Ois quietly unfolding. tion desk, who communi- cated sadly that there was old daughter, who was blind and she had never seen You won’t see ostentatious deliver- The order has lay missionaries in ing weeks, I will share with given to us by the victory still “no room at the inn.” from birth, had recently colors. Shortly before her ies of food and clothing, flashy mar- New York and Boston, and religious you some of the content of of Jesus over death and the I thanked Robert for his been diagnosed with a very death, the young girl began keting brochures or slick videos with houses in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. the bishops’ meeting. Yet, share in his eternal life we efforts to help me. Then, he aggressive form of cancer. to quote passages from the heart-wrenching testimonials. Sister Magdalena thinks they have 53 from an inspirational point received through the waters said: “Father, can I tell you They had come to Baltimore Gospel about the resurrec- For the Fraternity of Missionaries, houses, but she’s not sure. of view, the highlight for of baptism. what happened to me a cou- for his daughter to be evalu- tion that she said Jesus was the Poor of Jesus Christ, a Brazilian- “It’s always changing because the my time in Baltimore took As we give thanks for ple of months ago?” I had no ated and, hopefully, to begin whispering into her ear. She based mendicant religious order, the order is growing so quickly,” she said. place at the front desk of the our many blessings during place to go, so I was happy a regimen of treatment. told her father that Jesus mission is simple: “To seek Jesus com- Soon, Brother Casio will travel to hotel. this season of Thanksgiving, to pass the time by listening Robert was moved by was showing her heaven as pletely and to belong completely to Je- Brazil to begin studying for the priest- You might want to recall may our greatest gratitude to Robert’s story. the man’s situation. He she proceeded to describe sus.” hood. Three new Sisters will join the this story if you encounter be reserved for the precious Several months ago, conferred with his manager the brilliant colors she was “We live with the poor, as the poor Kansas City, Kan., chapter in 2013, after this week someone who is gift of our Catholic faith! Robert was unable to find a and arranged for the family now seeing for the first and for the poor,” said Sister Magda- their visas are approved. angry or belligerent. You During this Year of Faith, reservation for a family that to receive an upgrade at no time. lena of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the may want to follow Robert’s may our friendship and had arrived eager to check additional cost. Robert was The girl, with great ex- chapter’s custodian. “The poor in their example and choose not to love for Jesus grow; may we into their rooms. The hotel able to get them immediate- citement, said that Jesus was multiple faces are receivers of the mis- Companionship respond to anger with anger, come to understand more did not have any rooms ly into some of the hotel’s going to take her soon to the sion of our community.” but rather to try to figure completely the truth and available that were com- best rooms. Father. Then with remark- Since their arrival here last January, LEAVEN PHOTOS BY SHEILA MYERS and compassion out the reason for the per- beauty of our Catholic faith; parable to what the family The family stayed at the able sensitivity to her earth- Sister Magdalena, Sister Agatha, Sister Sister Anatha holds a crucifix the Fraternity of Missionaries, the Poor of Jesus Christ make and sell son’s hostility. and may we live in such a The Poor of Jesus Christ take their was convinced that they had hotel for several days. Rob- ly father, she said, “Don’t Paula and Brother Casio have started to support the ministry. During this liturgical way that when the hour of vow of poverty literally, wearing flip- reserved. ert had become a hero and a worry you will always be my ministries to the homeless, to wayward season, when we pray for our death approaches, we Heart of Jesus and her late-life conver- flops and simple brown tunics cinched The father of the family friend to the family because Daddy. But I am going now youth and to struggling Hispanic and “People say it the dead and ponder read- may hear Jesus whispering sion led her to choose the name, “Sis- with rope at the waist. They wear boots was furious. He was becom- of his extra effort on their to my other Father.” African-American families. ings about the end times, let in our ear! ter Magdalena of the Sacred Heart of only when it snows. ing more and more agitated behalf. By the end of their Robert’s story sent chills Father Mark Mertes, pastor of Bless- is a poor area us give thanks for the hope Jesus.” “We live off charity,” said Brother by what he was convinced to visit, all of the children were down my spine. In the com- ed Sacrament Parish in Kansas City, Kan., calls it a “ministry of presence.” — that there is a lot of Casio. “Everything in this house is a “It’s a fairly simple ministry,” said donation.