Southwest Kansas Catholic December 20, 2020 Vol. XLV No. 17 Page 1 Dec. 20, 2020 Southwest Kansas Catholic News Magazine The Word Became Flesh By The Most Rev. JOHN B. BRUNGARDT Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City hristmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the weekend of the Holy Family are four- consecu�ve days this C year. What gi�s do we receive from Jesus, Mary and Joseph during these solemni�es? • we receive from Jesus the gi� of Himself as Savior, who is “Wonder- Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:5). • we receive from Mary her gi� of the Word made flesh: Mary “gave birth to her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). • we receive from Joseph the gi� of his many examples of obedience: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Ma�hew 1:20-21). As these feasts bring us hope and joy, we are impelled to follow the Christ Child more sincerely. What gi�s do we give God during this Holy Season? We give our valuable �me to listen to the Word of God in Sacred Scripture. We give our humble devo�on to the Sacraments. We give our compassionate service to our family and others, especially those people most in need of our love. Let us ask our Newborn Savior Jesus to assist us in our struggles in this life, as He prepares us for eternity. May the Lord abundantly bless you this Christmas. May Jesus show His love to you beyond measure! + Bishop John “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Page 2 Dec. 20, 2020 Southwest Kansas Catholic News Magazine This beau�ful portrait INSIDE THIS ISSUE was taken by Nicole Cur�s of Pra� on a Sunday NEWS FEATURES COMMENTARY a�ernoon in February of Christmas in Ellinwood, 5 2018. “I only remember Pope announces Year The Word Became this one instance when all for St. Joseph, 33 Christmas Concert at Flesh, 2, By Bishop John four of our children fell Homeless make Windthorst to air on PBS, 6 Brungardt asleep on my lap at once. I ornaments for Va�can Church treasures find new Mater Amabilis, 4 took this picture and edited it with the PicsArt Christmas tree, 37 life at cemetery, 8 By Bishop Emeritus app because it was a Different looking Sister Patricia Mae Stanley Gilmore sweet moment I wanted to na�vity brings hope, dies, 9 Whom shall I fear? 26 document and remember.” Honoring Our Lady, 10 Nicole has been married to 38 By Le�zia Magri Brandon for 10 years; the U.S. Adopts rule The Star Singers con�nue The Journey of the family lives on a farm in protec�ng freedom of to inspire in Poland, 40 Magi, 27 Pra� County where they religion, 43 Could the rare Christmas By Dave Myers are members of Sacred Heart Parish. Brandon Prison ministry during Star visible this December A Miracle at raises ca�le and farms, the pandemic, 45 be the Star of Bethlehem? Ravensbruvk, 30 while Nicole work as an 42 By Corrie ten Boom accountant in Pra�. SPANISH 49-57 OBITUARIES 58-59 PUZZLES 60-61 Page 3 Dec. 20, 2020 Southwest Kansas Catholic News Magazine Pray it; learn it; live it! Mater Amabilis “The love of God was revealed to us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him” (1 John 4:9). Most Rev. Ronald M. Gilmore Bishop Emeritus “Love One Another as I Love You.” Catholic Diocese of (John 15:12) Dodge City Pastoral Plan Outline for the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City 2020-2025 To Evangelize with Joy – Proclaim Christ’s love to all. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all na�ons.” ardinal Newman wrote a li�le work called (Ma�hew 28:19) MEDITATIONS ON THE LITANY OF LORETO. To Catechize in the Catholic Faith with Diligence – On this feast of Our Lady of Loreto, in this Form all as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. Season of Advent, it will not be amiss to “Guide me by your truth and teach me, for you are God C page through that gem of a book. my Savior” (Psalm 25:5) The Litany is a form of prayer much loved in our To Build Community with Love – Church. Known as the Litany of Loreto (because of the Unite all in a hope-filled rela�onship with God and one another. remnant of the holy house in the Italian Cathedral “That they may all be one.” (John 17:21) there), or, more simply, as the Litany of the Blessed To Pray with Devo�on – Virgin Mary, this prayer lists the many �tles given Mary Worship the Father, through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit since the �me of her death. One of those �tles is as a community and individually. MATER AMABILIS, Lovable Mother. Newman writes: “Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks” ‘There was a divine music in all (Mary) said and did … (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) in her mien, her air, her deportment, that charmed To Serve with Compassion – every true heart that came near her. Accompany all in the Lord, especially the poor. “Her innocence, her humility and modesty, her “Serve one another through love.” (Gala�ans 5:13) simplicity, sincerity, and truthfulness, her unselfishness, her unaffected interest in everyone who came to her, her purity … it was these quali�es which make her so On the cover lovable. This is one of the beau�ful stained glass windows at Immaculate “Were we to see her now, neither our first thought Heart of Mary at Windthorst, a Catholic church structure long since nor our second thought would be, what she could do closed as a parish, but u�lized for Christmas and Easter concerts, for us with her Son (though she can do so much), but Windthorst anniversaries and other ac�vi�es. our first thought would be, ‘Oh, how beau�ful,’ and our In 1989, the structure was added to the Na�onal Register of Historic second thought would be, ‘Oh, what ugly hateful Places. It has since been well maintained by the Windthorst Heritage creatures are we.’” Associa�on. There is nothing selfish in that prayer. Not ‘what she The windows were created in the Munich studios of the St. Louis could do for us, with her Son.’ Our a�en�on is directed company, Emil Frei and Associates. They were installed in 1916. outside ourselves, beyond ourselves … to them, to her, to Him, and to the sheer beauty of her in His Father’s plan. That’s the magic of Advent, the ‘divine music’ in Published Semi-Monthly by the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City. all she said and did, this Mother like no other. And the All material in this newspaper is copyrighted 2020. divine music in all He said and did, this Son like no Publisher ... Bishop John B. Brungardt other, that’s the magic of the Incarna�on. Editor ... Dave Myers May these closing Advent Days, and these coming Adver�sing Manager ... Tammy Lampe Christmas Days, be filled with his Peace … a Peace like no other. Business Manager ... Daniel Stremel, CPA The Southwest Kansas Catholic • P.O. Box 137, Dodge City, KS 67801 “Her innocence, her humility and Phone: (620) 227-1519 • Facsimile: (620) 227-1545 modesty, her simplicity, sincerity, and email: [email protected] • website: dcdiocese.org/swkscatholic Service of Editors truthfulness, her unselfishness, her Msgr. A.J. Felling Byron Hull Margaret Klenke Tim Wenzl unaffected interest in everyone who came 1966-1971 1971-1974 1974-1990 1990-2000 to her, her purity … it was these quali�es Page 4 Dec. 20, 2020 which makeSouthwest her soKansas lovable.” Catholic News Magazine Christmas in Ellinwood Students from St. Joseph School in Ellinwood presented a Christmas Concert Dec. 9 at St. Joseph Church. The concert is available on Youtube. For informa�on on obtaining a DVD of the concert, contact the school at 620-564-2721. Click here to view the concert on Youtube Page 5 Dec. 20, 2020 Southwest Kansas Catholic News Magazine Around the Diocese Christmas concert at Windthorst to air on PBS The Dodge City Community College music department presented “Midwinter Carols” at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at Windthorst Dec. 7. The holiday concert will be aired on Smoky Hills Public Television on Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 9 p.m. Located on the open plains of Kansas, Immaculate Heart of Mary was added to the Na�onal Register of Historic Places in 1989. It has since been well maintained by the Windthorst Heritage Associa�on. Local Masses broadcast on Facebook Many local parishes your obliga�on to a�end con�nue to live-stream Mass if you are sick or their Mass on Facebook suscep�ble, or are in and/or their local webpage. contact with those who are. The Masses are recorded, Those who a�end Mass and can be viewed at any should wear a mask to �me. Check your local protect others, avoid parish Facebook page, or touching doors and non- call your parish for family members, and should informa�on.