Shyanne Theis Southwest portrays St. Elizabeth of Hungary at the Kansas Sacred Heart Cathedral School “Hall Catholic of Saints,” Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City Register Vol. XLVIII, No. 14 • Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 Oct. 31. A chance meeting of a lifetime Local couple honeymooning in Rome have a papal encounter Hospitality and Zacchaeus was the priest spiri- I tual director for a group of pilgrims to Rome in 2005. We went to the Wednes- day audience of Pope Benedict XVI, seek- ing to see him. We had arrived the previous day after the long trip from Kansas. Excite- ment was building as Most Rev. we walked from our John B. Brungardt hotel to St. Peter’s Square. One of our Bishop of the Catholic group, Sylvia, was Diocese of Dodge City in a wheelchair, re- covering from surgery. It was my turn to push her wheelchair. As we started going through the Newlyweds Deanna and Michael Johnston of Dodge City had a chance encounter with Pope Francis while hon- security checkpoints, the staff let Sylvia and me eymooning recently in Rome. See their story on Page 6. through gate after gate, eventually to the section reserved for persons with disabilities. Amazingly, See these and more photos in color at dcdiocese.org/register. we were only 50 feet from the pope’s chair! We all applauded as Pope Benedict arrived, and he gave his talk in several languages. At the end of his teaching, he invited us on the stage to greet him! I assisted Sylvia to the Holy Father, and he received her with joy (see the photo on Page 10). Little did we know that in seeking Pope Benedict, he would receive us personally. Our gospel from St. Luke last Sunday described a much more profound seeking and receiving. Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was” (Luke 19). Zacchaeus had heard many stories of this prophet and miracle worker, and wanted to meet him. He had a strong attraction to the teachings of Jesus, as reported by others. Now was the chance to actually see him in person. “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.’ And he came down quickly and received him with joy.” What amazement! What happi- Photos courtesy of Don and Deb Erb ness! Zacchaeus wasn’t just going to see Jesus, he was going to have Him over to his house, to have Youth brighten sky a meal with Him, to speak personally with Jesus! Notice how Jesus invited Zacchaeus to invite Him with message of faith into his life. Jesus invites me, to invite Him into my life. here’s something poetic about seeing a larger than Jesus invites us, to invite Him into our lives. Tlife rosary released into the air, its colorful balloon Jesus invites you, to invite Him into your life. beads set against a deep blue sky. The first step is from Jesus. His grace pours That’s exactly what the youth from the Parish School of down on us to invite us, to call us, as He loves us. Religion at Holy Trinity Parish in Timken did Oct. 20 to Jesus does not force Himself on us. The next step celebrate the Month of the Rosary. is for our response. We pray it is like Zacchaeus, The releasing of the rosary took place after the youth to seek and receive Jesus with joy. Jesus is our invited members of the community to pray the rosary Savior, our Brother, our Friend. Let us respond to after Mass. It was the second year for the event. His grace and invite Him deeper into our lives. Continued on Page 10 Page 2 November 10, 2013 The Southwest Kansas Register ‘Another Way’ rank Sheed was a rumpled, gentle, world, you see. What our eyes have seen, human will, for example, our power of Fold man who spoke very little when I what our ears have heard, what we have decision, our freedom-making power. You met him at a Clergy Conference in 1974. smelled and touched and tasted: these can may have chosen firmly to be sober, you He was already a legend in his attracting be reproduced by the imagination, pictures may have chosen firmly to be chaste, you + Most Rev. and publishing of Catholic writers all as they came originally from the senses, or may have made up your mind once and for Ronald M. through the 20th century. And he was a pictures in any variety of new combinations. all. But let the imagination conjure up the Gilmore cozy legend. Imagination is the original Linus blanket, picture of a glass of beer, or the picture of a You could learn a lot just by being around giving comfort and color and warmth to pretty girl, and the will finds its firm decision Bishop him. In the years since, I have tried to do that our inner life. wavering and bending and breaking. Emeritus by being around what he wrote, and I thus This is an important and valuable power, What we often miss, however, is that the of Dodge learned a lot about the Imagination. There to be sure. But since the Original Sin, it imagination also has an unpleasing effect City is nothing to be done with thinking or with has been unruly and out of control much on our intellect, our power of seeing, our praying, Sheed thought, until imagination of the time. This picture-making power power of understanding. It can disrupt our has been put firmly in its place. can, and does, outshout almost every other thinking and our praying, and in secret ways Imagination is the power we have of power we have. that usually escape us. But these will wait making mental pictures of the material Everyone knows how it can storm the for another time. Burkes celebrate Francis and Robert 40th wedding Wierman celebrate anniversary teve and Linda (Aistrup) 65 years wed SBurke, of Jetmore, were married on Nov. 24, 1973 at rancis and Roberta Wierman, mem- St. Anthony Church in Han- Fbers of St Michael Parish, LaCrosse, ston. They have four children will celebrate their 65th wedding anniver- and six grandchildren. Steve sary on Nov. 23. and Linda are members of St. The couple were married on Nov. 23, Lawrence Catholic Church of 1948 at Sacred Heart Church in Ness Jetmore. Steve and Linda have City. lived in the Jetmore area all of Congratulations to Francis and Robert! their 40 years of marriage, and have farmed and been involved Jetmore, and Bridget Burke of Atlanta, in many community activities. GA. Their children are hosting a casual Their children are Justin (Sara) celebration of their 40 years of marriage at Burke of Anthony, Jennifer St. Lawrence Church in Jetmore on Nov. (Mike) McDaniel of Wichita, 30, 2013 from 3-5 p.m. They respectfully Deadline is Nov. 11 for Heartland Farm Brandon (Heather) Burke of request no gifts. bread- and jam-making workshop Advent Day of Reflection eartland Farm, located a few miles will provide you with Heartland Farm will present an Advent of the Christmas season by sharing time Hwest of Great Bend, will present driving directions to Day of Reflection from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with others.” “Bread & Jam Making” with Sister Heartland Farm Saturday, Dec. 7. Participants are invited The cost is $25, with lunch included. Imelda Schmidt, OP, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., if needed. to stay the entire weekend at the center, or Overnight stay is extra. Register by Dec. Saturday, Nov. 16. The program for the day. The Sisters hope participants 4. Call 620-923-4585, or email hfarm@ Deadline to register is Monday, Nov. 11. is very hands- will be reminded of the “deeper meaning gbta.net. Call 620-923-4585, or email hfarm@gbta. on, combining net. The workshop is $75 each, which in- two skills that were at one time a neces- cludes lunch.Participants also get to take sity, but that have been lost to many Catholic Social Service asking for help home their own loaves of bread and jars people. Sister Imelda was one of the three Catholic Social Service of the Dio- to make a donation, visit: http://www. of jam. Overnight accommodations are original Sisters when Heartland Farm cese of Dodge City has set up a website youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/ an additional $25 per person. Organizers opened 25 years ago. to help raise money for a member of the a-funeral-benefit-for-julian-and-his- Teen Moms Program who is struggling mom/101613. You can also send your to pay for the funeral expences for her donation made out to Catholic Social 20-month-old son who died Jan. 31. To Service to: Help for Shayla, CSS, 906 watch a short video about her story, and Central, Dodge City, KS 67801. Protecting God’s Hotline for victims Children of sexual abuse If you or someone you know may The Diocese of Dodge City requires all have been a victim of sexual abuse by employees and volunteers who work with clergy or any employee of the Dio- children to participate in a Protecting cese of Dodge City, you are asked to God’s Children awareness session. contact Mr. Dave Snapp, Fitness Re- Through the Diocesan Awareness view Administrator: (620) 225-5051 Sunday, November 24, 2013 Sessions and other educational efforts of work; (620) 225-2412 home; or email the diocese, all people of the diocese can [email protected]. You always learn how to discuss different aspects of have the right to directly contact the abuse -- including sexual abuse -- with Department for Children and Fami- children and how to teach them to protect lies, 1-800-922-5330.