THELEAVEN.COM | VOL. 35, NO. 11 | OCTOBER 18, 2013 An EYE-OPENER Poverty in the archdiocese hough the economy may be slowly improving, the state of poverty in America is not. In fact, poverty rates have steadily increased over the past de- cade across the archdiocese, and the future looks Tequally bleak. In 2010, the poverty rate within the archdi- ocese was 11.4 percent. That’s 149,739 people, each with a family, with a life, with a story. In light of this worsening situation and a newly elected pope who has spoken out widely and loudly about the need to recommit to the poor, The Leaven sought out individuals within the archdiocese who have dedicated their lives to those most in need. Amid widespread apathy and even cynicism about the possibil- ity of change, their compassion and hope is a refreshing reminder that change is possible. These are their stories. See pages 7, 8 and 9 2 local news THELEAVEN.COM | OCTOBER 18, 2013 OCTOBER 18, 2013 | THELEAVEN.COM second front Page 3 LIFE WIll BE VICTORIOUS our challenges today pale in comparison to st. Paul’s just returned encountered some stiff oppo- sition from pagan Gentiles. CALENDAR meeting — Lawrence last week from a Paul spent over two years in Ephesus and had a great im- ARCHBISHOP Confirmation — Sacred pilgrimage that Heart, Baileyville I pact on both the Jewish and NAUMANN gave me the oppor- Gentile communities. Oct. 23 Oct. 19 In fact, Paul was so suc- Adoration — Maur-Hill Mount tunity, in a manner Sisters, Servants of Mary cessful that he was adversely Academy, Atchison of speaking, to walk ARCHBISHOP affecting the business of the beatification local silversmiths who made Red Mass — Visitation Parish, LEAVEN PHOTO BY JESSICA LANGDON LEAVEN PHOTO BY JESSICA LANGDON LEAVEN PHOTO BY JESSICA LANGDON JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Oct. 20 in the footsteps of St. Kansas City, Mo. Three-year-old Johnny Punswick, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in What could be better than a bag full of cider donuts? Sharing Six-year-old Maggie Minnis, a member of Church of the As- their living by making and Mass of the Innocents — Paul. selling miniature images of Savior Pastoral Center Overland Park, isn’t old enough to drive a real tractor, but he knew them with good friends. Seven-year-old Lucy Punswick, left, cension in Overland Park, soars high on a giant trampoline versities St. Paul encountered the leading pagan goddess Oct. 24 just what to do with this one. The CEF Futures committee invited eight-year-old Ashlyn Turner and six-year-old Gabriella Turner Oct. 5 at CEF Day at the KC Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Archbishop’s Call to Share It was a privilege and a helps to place our present for the community, Artemis. Christ’s Peace House of families out for a day of fun on Oct. 5 while raising scholarship funds of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park take a break from playing in Gardner. clergy luncheon grace to visit many of the circumstance in perspective. The silversmiths stirred up a Prayer Mass to help people send their children to Catholic schools. games for a snack. places where he preached Upon arriving in any riot that was so intense Paul Administrative Team meeting and many of the communities community, St. Paul always left Ephesus and returned to Oct. 21 Mass, archdiocesan teacher to whom St. Paul addressed first went to the Jewish Greece (Acts 19:23 – 20:1). Confirmation — Sacred in-service — Overland Park his letters. We spent time in synagogue. Paul attempted In his Second Letter to the Heart, Tonganoxie Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea, to set forth for his fellow Corinthians, St. Paul address- Convention Center fall event scares up scholarship funds Corinth, and Athens. The Jews the scriptural support es the rivalries within the Oct. 25-26 Meeting with Mother Marga- By Jessica Langdon majority of the pilgrimage Seminary visit — Kenrick- for recognizing Jesus as the Christian community itself. reta Maria, superior general [email protected] was in Greece and the Greek Glennon, St. Louis long-awaited Messiah. Al- Some had questioned Paul’s of the Franciscan Sisters of islands, but we also made a though Paul usually enjoyed credentials and leadership. the Martyr St. George ARDNER — With rows of very brief visit to Ephesus, ARCHBISHOP some initial success, his visits With embarrassment, Paul pumpkins to pick from, ap- which is located in Turkey. to the synagogues in the end begins to “boast” of his quali- Annual Catholic school board KELEHER ple cider donuts to devour During the preparation never turned out well. fications to preach and teach of trustees Mass and dinner and rides and games galore, leading up to the pilgrim- — Savior Pastoral Center Oct. 20 For instance, in Thessalo- the Gospel: Git can be hard to pin down the best part age and during the days of Federal prison Mass nica, some members of the “But what anyone dares of spending an October Saturday at the the pilgrimage itself, I had Oct. 22 synagogue were converted to boast of (I am speaking pumpkin patch. the opportunity to immerse Adoration — Bishop Ward “Catholic Way” taping as well as a great number of in foolishness) I also dare. Six-year-old Maggie Minnis, whose myself in the life, ministry High School, Kansas City, Greeks. However, this roused Are they Hebrews? So am I. family belongs to Church of the Ascen- and theology of St. Paul as Kan. Oct. 23-24 the jealousy of some of the Are they Israelites? So am Labor Review Board execu- sion in Overland Park, votes for the zip articulated in the Acts of the synagogue leaders, whom I. Are they descendants of St. Lawrence advisory board tive meeting — San Diego line. Apostles and in Paul’s own we are told “recruited some Abraham? So am I. Are they “I like the beanbag slide,” offered letters. Coincidentally, today is worthless men loitering in ministers of Christ? (I am nine-year-old Joey Punswick, a mem- the feast of St. Luke, who was daily pressure upon me of my to re-evangelize parts of the the public square, formed a talking like an insane per- ber of Holy Spirit Parish in Overland the author of the Acts of the anxiety for all the churches” world that historically were mob, and set the city in tur- son.) I am still more, with Park. Apostles and who was a trav- (2 Cor 11: 21-28). profoundly Catholic, but moil” (Acts 17: 5). far greater labors, far more His friend, nine-year-old Austin eling companion of St. Paul. When you listen to that where today the practice of Paul had to leave Thes- imprisonments, far worse Turner, agreed. St. Luke was a physician litany of adversities, the chal- the faith has been radically salonica in the middle of beatings, and numerous The boys were two of eight Webe- and also believed to be an lenges we face today pale in diminished. the night. He went to the brushes with death. Five los from Pack 3265 at Holy Spirit who artist. In fact, the typical way comparison. As we strive to However, what remains neighboring town of Berea, times at the hands of the pitched in on Oct. 5 at the KC Pumpkin in which St. Paul is portrayed embark on the new evangeli- consistent about evangeli- where Paul again went to the Jews I received forty lashes Patch and Corn Maze, a day designed in Christian art, according to zation, St. Paul is an excellent zation in every age is that it synagogue. Paul found his minus one. Three times I to help families send their children to tradition, traces itself back to model and patron. The new requires individuals, like St. fellow Jews in Berea more was beaten with rods, once Catholic schools. portraits of St. Paul sketched evangelization is not about Paul, who are willing to make open to the Gospel. The Acts I was stoned, three times I The Catholic Education Foundation by Luke. I was amazed at the inventing a new Gospel or heroic sacrifices to bring the reports that many members was shipwrecked, I passed a Futures committee — a group of young distances St. Paul traveled new message. What is new truth and the beauty of the of the synagogue “became night and a day on the deep; professionals in their 20s to 40s who and the difficult terrain and about the new evangelization Gospel of Jesus Christ to believers, as did not a few of on frequent journeys, in are dedicated to CEF’s mission — invit- rough seas that he overcame is it utilizes some of the mod- others. In part, what made St. the influential Greek women dangers from rivers, dangers ed families out to the pumpkin patch in in bringing the Gospel to so ern tools for communication. Paul’s preaching so power- and men.” from robbers, dangers from Gardner for the day to help raise funds much of the world. With all In part, the new evangeliza- fully compelling were the ex- Unfortunately, when the my own race, dangers from for scholarships. that he endured, it must have tion is aimed at presenting traordinary personal sacrific- Jewish leaders of Thessalon- Gentiles, dangers in the city, Unlike the kids, the adults who LEAVEN PHOTO BY JESSICA LANGDON been a great benefit to have the truth and beauty of the es he was willing to make so ica learned of Paul’s success dangers in the wilderness, turned out for the CEF day had no Two-year-old Patrick Fitzgerald, a member of St.