www.theleaven.com | newspaper of the archdiocese of Kansas city in Kansas | vol. 32, no. 18 december 10, 2010 A fireproof fAith the new st. ann church in effingham is dedicated By Joe Bollig leaven staff FFINGHAM — Gene Hegarty nearly shed a tear as the bell was rung for the last time be- fore it was removed the fire- Eweakened tower of the 111-year-old St. Ann Church here. The burning down of the venerable structure on April 21, 2008, was a ter- rible shock. But there were nothing but smiles on Dec. 5 as that same bell was rung in the tower of the new St. Ann Church at the conclusion of a dedication Mass. It was a bright but cold day when parishioners and other members of the community gathered in the church hall and then processed to the new church’s front door, led by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, pastor Father Benjamin Tremmel, OSB, and the other concel- ebrants. Building committee co-chairman Duane Coder presented the key to Arch- bishop Naumann, who then handed it to Father Benjamin, who promptly opened the doors to the congregation. The parishioners responded to the loss of their church in 2008 with com- mitment, faith, and dedication. It gave the parish new strength, said Hegarty, president of the parish finance commit- tee. “[Building the new church] united us,” said Hegarty. “It appears to me that now we have more vitality in the parish. I’m totally impressed with the younger people, how they grabbed ahold of this project. I’ve been here 77 years, and I feel good about our parish. I’m im- pressed with where we’re going.” Archbishop Naumann was the main celebrant and homilist of the dedication Mass. Concelebrants included Benedic- tines Father Benjamin, Abbot Barnabas Senecal, Abbot Ralph Koehler, Abbot Owen Purcell, Father Denis Meade, and Father Jeremy Heppler. Msgr. Gary Ap- plegate was master of ceremonies. In his homily, Archbishop Naumann praised parishioners for their determi- nation to rebuild their church, congrat- ulated them for doing so in a relatively short period of time, and expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support that came from the entire community of Effingham — Catholic and non-Catholic alike. “Today, we celebrate the completion of the building of this beautiful church, and we dedicate it to the glory of God,” he said. “With all the challenges of fi- nance and construction behind you — or at least most of them — we give thanks today for this building, which stands truly as a striking symbol of the priority this parish, St. Ann’s, gives to God.” The archbishop also thanked Father leaven photo by Joe bollig Benjamin for his outstanding leader- Archbishop Joseph f. Naumann joined members of St. Ann parish in effingham on Dec. 5 for the dedication Mass of the new church, which replaced the previous century-old structure destroyed by fire on April 21, 2008. the archbishop congratulated the pastor, father Benjamin tremmel, oSB, for his turn to “Beautiful” on page 15 leadership, and the parishioners for their determination to rebuild. 2 archbishop THE LEAVEN • DECEMBER 10, 2010 THE LEAVEN • December 10, 2010 sEcoND FRONT PAGE 3 LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS Distorted media coverage reveals a surprising irony hile driving home of another. He characterized it as Stamped out perhaps “a first assumption of respon- Archbishop NAumANN’s Wone night listening sibility, on the way toward recover- weekly cAleNdAr to a British Broadcasting ing an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do Dec. 11-12 this Marian art can’t be licked Corp. (BBC) “World News whatever one wants. But it is not really mass and pastoral visit — st. ann, hiawatha the way to deal with the evil of HIV Report,” I first heard the infection. That can really lie only in a Dec. 13 on display media claim that Pope humanization of sexuality.” adoration and benediction with bishop below is a sampling of phil Jensen’s And so, these are the factors that help ward high school — cathedral of st. peter, artwork on display at savior pastoral It is important to note that Pope Kansas city, Kan. Benedict XVI had modi- and lead to real progress: our twofold Benedict uses the example of a male center. fied the Catholic Church’s effort to renew humanity inwardly, to prostitute, implying that his comments the shepherd’s voice recording give spiritual and human strength for are directed toward homosexual activ- position on condoms. proper conduct toward our bodies and ity where there is already no possibil- Dec. 14 The report was based on an excerpt those of others, and this capacity to ity of openness to engendering new administrative team meeting from the book, “Light of the World: suffer with those who are suffering, to human life. The individual is already priests personnel meeting The Pope, the Church, and the Signs of remain present in situations of trial.” involved in a severely disordered be- the Times.” The book is the publication In “Light of the World,” Seewald re- havior that by its nature is incapable of southern region planning meeting — of an extended interview of Pope Bene- calls the severe criticism that the Holy fulfilling one of the essential purposes sacred heart, ottawa dict XVI by Peter Seewald, a veteran Father endured for these statements of sexual intimacy — the potential German journalist. I was confident that and observed: “In Africa you stated creation of new human life. In this Dec. 15 the report was inaccurate and anxious that the church’s traditional teaching context, actions to prevent conception donnelly college board meeting to have the opportunity to read the has proven to be the only sure way to are irrelevant, because there already is actual words of the pope that had trig- stop the spread of HIV. Critics, includ- Dec. 16 no possibility. steering committee meeting for southern gered such an interpretation. ing critics from the church’s own ranks, The pope is obviously not granting region While reading the Holy Father’s object that it is madness to forbid a any measure of moral approval to ho- book, I was impressed by the author’s high-risk population to use condoms.” mosexual behavior or, for that matter, Dec. 18 difficult and penetrating questions, Pope Benedict responded by reit- any sexual intimacy outside the marital mass for nocturnal adoration group — which the Holy Father answers with erating that the church is doing more covenant. The Holy Father is straining all saints parish, Kansas city, Kan. clarity and charity. I was amazed again than anyone else both to prevent AIDS to find some glimmer of hope in a mor- and again at how thoughtfully and and to care for those with AIDS: “She ally dismal circumstance. One com- Archbishop keleher’s insightfully the pope responded to (the church) is the only institution that mentator compared the Holy Father’s weekly cAleNdAr the vast array of questions, several of assists people up close and concretely, example of a male prostitute using a which were inspired by the more con- with prevention, education, help, condom to a bank robber who does Dec. 11 26th anniversary as a bishop troversial events of his papacy. counsel, and accompaniment. The not use a gun. These actions reduce leaven photo by Joe bollig On the Holy Father’s pilgrimage to church does more than anyone else, the risk of harming others, but they do Dec. 14-15 A boyhood hobby of stamp collecting and a love of painting has led phil Jensen to create an unusual exhibition of watercolor paintings of Marian stamps Africa, during an in-flight press confer- because she does not speak from the not alter the moral reality that robbing ethical review board from nations and provinces around the world — even North Korea. the stamp paintings are the first of rotating art exhibits at Savior pastoral Center. ence, a journalist, who first character- tribunal of newspapers, but helps her banks is wrong or that sexual intimacy ized the Catholic Church’s methods of brothers and sisters where they are outside of marriage is intrinsically evil. Dec. 15 ANSAS CITY, Kan. — Who and send them in for a box of foreign Advent and art addressing AIDS as being perceived actually suffering.” The Holy Father had already identi- cardinals’ dinner — chicago is the woman who has ap- stamps. savior pastoral center will present an as “unrealistic and ineffective,” then Then he reiterated what he had said fied the trivialization of sexuality as peared on more postage “You’d get these in the mail and paste evening of advent preparation and art asked the Holy Father if he intended to in Africa: “We cannot solve the prob- one of the primary reasons we are Dec. 17 stamps than any other? them into books, and it was a great deal from 6 to 8 p.m. on dec. 21. the catholic way program taping address the African AIDS epidemic. lem by distributing condoms. Much fighting an AIDS epidemic. It is not Is it Marilyn Monroe? of fun,” said Jensen. “The stamps were the evening will begin with vespers Pope Benedict responded with more needs to be done. As a matter following the church’s teachings — (1) KThe Queen of England? not valuable.” and a rosary at the large chapel at 6 p.m., executive ethical review board — new candor: of fact, you know, people can get con- abstaining from sexual activity outside york Lady Liberty? One of his first stamps was a red followed by a reception and opportunity “I think that the most efficient, most doms when they want them anyway.