WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 30, NO. 35 MAY 1, 2009 JAYHAWKER EVANGELIZATION Red Tuesday changes the way KU students think about their faith BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD AWRENCE — On a recent Tuesday, University of Kansas freshman Leann Tracy was racing across campus so as not to be late for her L art class. As she blazed down the sidewalk in a flash of red, no one could miss the large block letters on the back of her shirt that spelled out “Ask me why I’m Catholic.” Tracy wears the shirt every Tuesday. When asked why, her answer is unequivocal: “Because it’s starting a revolution!” And she’s right. KU is indeed undergoing a revolution of sorts – Catholic students are tak - ing their message to the streets. In this, a formidably secular environment, Catholic students find their faith challenged on all sorts of fronts. But now there is a sanc - tuary, a home base, where they can turn for answers to the many questions college classes — and even college life — give rise to. It’s the Red Tuesday table hosted by the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, and it’s changing the way KU students think about faith, God, salvation, their world, their future and Catholicism. Turn to RED TUESDAY on page 8 Leaven photo by Jill Ragar Esfeld Leaven photo by Jill Ragar Esfeld Between classes, freshman John Esfeld stops by Wesco Beach to While overseeing the Catholic Campus Center’s table at KU’s Wesco Beach, director of formation Matt Kemnitz fields a question touch base with Kemnitz and get information on upcoming events from freshman Jonathan Shoulta. at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center. CHASING COME ONE, COME ALL THE MIRAGE Archbishop Joseph F. The president has lifted the Naumann invites everyone to the solemnity of Corpus ban on federal funding for Christi on June 14 at St. embryonic stem-cell Agnes in Roeland Park. COVERED IN PRAYER research, an action that St. Matthew Parish in Topeka is covering could have long-reaching sick people in prayer by giving them a ethical consequences. 2 prayer blanket. 3 4 2 ARCHBISHOP THE LEAVEN • MAY 1, 2009 THE LEAVEN • MAY 1, 2009 SECOND FRONT PAGE 3 LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS Source of late pope’s strength and energy is available to us that Pope John Paul II derived from the sions that previously had felt so over - Blanketed ecently, I had the op - Rportunity to partici - Eucharist are available to all of us. Jesus whelming. Yet, he experienced a makes himself uniquely and powerfully tremendous peace. He was no longer pate in the first present for all of us in the Blessed paralyzed by fear and worry. Sacrament. Each one of us needs to have a close Communion liturgy for When I was an auxiliary bishop in St. personal friendship with Jesus — my great-niece Grace. It Louis, I became acquainted with a very nourished frequently by receiving holy successful businessman. By the time we Communion, as well as adoring the was beautiful to witness first met, he was already in his 80s. I presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. by prayer was seated with him at a banquet at When we manifest faith in the pres - the excitement of Grace old, sick man do all of this? which he and one of his sons were hon - ence of Jesus in the Eucharist, we will and her classmates for the Archbishop Rigali had worked close - ored for all that they had done to help experience an abiding peace, receive a ly with Pope John Paul II for almost 20 disadvantaged youth in the community. remarkable energy and find more and privilege of receiving years in the Vatican. He had traveled He told me about a life-changing ex - more reasons to rejoice each and every Jesus in the Eucharist. with the pope on many of his pastoral perience he had almost 50 years earlier. day. Handmade covers comfort visits and knew the late pope quite well. At the time, he and his wife had five On Sunday, June 14, the solemnity Grace’s enthusiasm for receiving her With a twinkle in his eye, the archbish - young children. He owned his company of Corpus Christi, our Archdiocese is first holy Communion was an example op said the pope had a secret source of which employed a couple hundred peo - cosponsoring with the Kansas City-St. physically, spiritually Leaven photo by Marc Anderson of the “eucharistic amazement” that power. You could see the reporters got ple. He felt completely overwhelmed Joseph Diocese a eucharistic proces - St. Matthew parishioner Mary Jo Swietek prays as she stitches up her latest prayer blanket. Pope John Paul II desired to rekindle quite interested at this point. Perhaps, with his responsibilities. He was con - sion. The event will begin at 1 p.m. within the entire Catholic community. they thought the archbishop was going cerned about his ability to be the good with an hour of eucharistic adoration I just completed presiding at Holy to announce a papal endorsement for and loving husband and father that his at St. Agnes Church in Roeland Park. By MARC and JULIE ANDERSON Hours of eucharistic adoration in each some energy drink. wife and children needed and deserved. For those who wish to receive the Special to The Leaven of our Catholic high schools. In my Archbishop Rigali related that in the He was concerned about his business, sacrament of penance, several confes - homily for these Holy Hours, I recalled morning, after the one night the pope realizing that not only his family, but all sors will be available. At 2 p.m., the OPEKA — Parishioners Archbishop Justin Rigali’s response ten had spent at the archbishop’s residence, of the families of his employees, were Blessed Sacrament will be carried in of St. Matthew Parish in years ago to a question at a news con - our late Holy Father rose early to pray. relying upon his leadership of the com - procession to Bishop Miege High southeast Topeka have ference after Pope John Paul II’s historic He spent one hour and 40 minutes pany. He felt the burden of so many School, where we will conclude with found a way to literally pastoral visit to St. Louis. kneeling in prayer before the Blessed lives depending on his decisions. Benediction. blanket people in prayer T — and are now working The pope had come to St. Louis from Sacrament in the archbishop’s chapel. In retrospect, he described himself as I encourage all of our recent first Mexico, where he had spent several This was the pope’s practice every day, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. communicants to attend, if they wish, hard to spread the warmth. days preaching and teaching about the no matter where he was in the world. It In his desperation, he found himself attired in their first Communion dress When parishioner Sue Carson at - church in America. The Holy Father was was from praying before the Eucharist kneeling in church one morning pray - or suit. I also urge all those recently tended a funeral some years back in in St. Louis less than 48 hours. During that Pope John Paul derived his incredi - ing before the Blessed Sacrament. He confirmed or preparing for confirma - Great Bend, she noticed a relative of that time, he presided at a youth rally ble energy. felt inspired at that moment to surren - tion to attend as an opportunity to give the deceased holding a small blanket, with more than 20,000 young people; One of the first things that Pope John der his life to Jesus. By the simple act of public witness to their love for Jesus in about a square yard in size. When she he celebrated Mass with more than Paul II did after his election as the faith, of entrusting his marriage, his the Eucharist. questioned her cousin about it, Carson 100,000 people; he led an interfaith Successor of St. Peter, was to renew the family and his business to the Lord, he I hope that many will take advan - was told the blanket was known as a and ecumenical prayer service in the Corpus Christi procession in Rome. In felt a tremendous weight being lifted tage of this special opportunity to prayer blanket. cathedral basilica with leaders of other 1998, I was fortunate enough to be in from his heart. make a positive, public demonstration The idea had come from a church in faith communities; he met with the Rome for the solemnity of Corpus Nothing about the externals of his of our love for Jesus, for his church, Texas that makes and distributes the president; he interceded successfully Christi. Even though it was difficult for life had changed. Yet, he had changed. and for the sacrament of his body and blankets to those in need — particular - with the governor of Missouri to com - the Holy Father to walk, he dropped to He understood that he was not alone. blood. May we allow the Lord to use ly those desiring physical, emotional or mute the sentence of a man on death his knees in adoration before the mon - He received a confidence that every - this Corpus Christi as a time to renew spiritual healing in hospitals and nurs - row; and he prayed over some patients strance containing the Blessed thing was going to be all right. He did within our hearts the gift of eucharistic ing homes. The church also sent blan - from a local Catholic children’s hospital.