Relics to visit Goddard, Wichita, and Augusta March 31-April 2
Relics of St. Gianna Beretta Molla will visit the Wichita area Friday through Sunday, March 31-April 2.
St. Gianna, an Italian pediatrician, was canonized in 2004. She is known for putting the life of her fourth child ahead of her own during a difficult pregnancy.
A few days before the child was due, St. Gianna told her husband, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate, choose the child. “I insist on it,” she said. “Save the baby.”
She entered the hospital on Good Friday in 1962. The following day, Gianna Emanuela, was born by Caesarean section. A few hours later, St. Gianna began to experience severe pain due to septic peritonitis and died a week later, on April 28. Until her last breath, St. Gianna repeated, “Jesus, I love You! Jesus, I love You!”
Gianna Emanuela is today a physician in Italy.
Here is a schedule of the relics’ visit for public veneration:
Friday, March 31
• 4 to 5 p.m., St. Gianna Clinic, 2135 N. Ridge Road, suite 400, Wichita
• Church of the Holy Spirit, Goddard. Confessions from 6 to 6:20 p.m.; Mass at 6:30 p.m.; and Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Introduction and veneration of relics after the Stations.
Saturday, April 1
• Mass, talk, and veneration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Wichita. Talk by Robert White, president of the St. Gianna Society.
• Mass, presentation, and veneration begins at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish in Augusta
Sunday, April 2
Veneration after 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses at St. James Parish in Augusta.

The Year of Father Kapaun may have come to a close, Bishop Carl A. Kemme said in a homily last week during the commemorative closing Mass in St. John’s Chapel at Newman University in Wichita, but the work of promoting Fr. Kapaun’s cause continues unabated.
“We are not anywhere close to completing our mission, which is to promote the cause for beatification and canonization of this priest from the heartland, whose priesthood officially began here in this chapel 76 years ago.”
After hearing his name, Bishop Kemme said, Fr. Kapaun stood and uttered one word, “adsum,” which means “present.”
“As I said on the 65th anniversary of his death and repeated in some fashion on the day of our priestly ordinations,” Bishop Kemme added, “Emil could not have known what he was present for, nor can any of us, but he truly was present, or up for the incredible form of ministry and service he would be asked to give, a witness that would take only 11 short years to accomplish culminating in his own death, some would say martyrdom, for the faith.”
Much has changed since then, but much has stayed the same, Bishop Kemme said.
“What has remained constant is the need for witness to truth, justice, mercy and God’s love, which Father Kapaun provided for the men he served so heroically,” he said.
“The church continues to need and will always need priests who are selfless servants and who do not count the cost when it comes to their ministry. The church and the world needs today more than ever, I suspect, men of virtue, men who are servant heroes for their wives, their children, their families, their parishes, men like Father Kapaun, with true grit and true masculinity, not some false masculine bravado or machismo that fails to endure in the face of trials and tribulations.”
In a world confused about gender, choice, freedom, and responsibility, he said, Father Kapaun was a man who knew himself and did what needed to be done for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
“Let this diocese and the church and world be filled with men of such caliber,” Bishop Kemme said.
Referring to the day’s Gospel, he said Jesus tells us that the faithful cannot bear fruit “apart from the vine,” apart from Jesus.
“The sooner we acknowledge that truth, the better,” Bishop Kemme said.
“I am certain Father Kapaun knew this truth, especially in the direst circumstances in which he found himself in prison, so far from here after only 11 years of priestly life and ministry. The world in many ways is imprisoned, the prison of sadness, doubt, confusion, and despair. As we are called in our own respective vocations, like Father Kapaun to witness to the life giving truth and joy of the Gospel and the joy of the love of God.”
The Most Rev. John B. Brungardt, bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City, and a former priest of the Diocese of Wichita was among the celebrants at the Mass.

Andrés Maria Vall-Serra, a 1995 graduate of Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita, was ordained, Saturday, June 11, to the priesthood as a member of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis, Missouri.
He is the son of Gonzalo and Maria Vall-Serra, members of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Wichita.
Father Vall-Serra, 38, was one of five men of the Society of Jesus’ USA Central and Southern Province ordained at the Mass. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia, but moved with his family to Houston at the age of 4, and later relocated to Wichita. He served as a mechanic in the U.S. Navy for three years in the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean, later discerning his vocation while studying at Wichita State University and working part-time.
He entered the Jesuits in 2004 and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Saint Louis University, while serving at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and ministering to prisoners. He taught for two and a half years at Instituto Loyola, a Jesuit school in Managua, Nicaragua, and as a consultant on Ignatian spirituality at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Denver. He earned a master of divinity degree from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Fr. Vall-Serra has been assigned to serve in Punta Gorda, Belize.

Sr. Mary Ellen to present lecture April 4
Sister Mary Ellen Loch will present the next lecture in the Living Catholic Social Teaching series at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Sr. Mary Ellen is a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, Wichita.
Bonnie Toombs, director of the diocesan Office of Respect Life and Social Justice, said the faithful show their respect to the Creator by their stewardship of creation.
“We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation,” she said, quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s Charity in Truth.
“This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored. The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole,” Pope Benedict said.
Toombs said she invites the faithful to participate and learn how everyone can each have a positive effect on the wonderful gift of creation.

Called and Gifted Workshop in June
A Called and Gifted workshop, designed to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus and to discover God’s plan for one’s life, is scheduled for early June.
Each baptized person has been given a unique and personal call to work with Jesus. The workshop will give those attending a new perspective on their lives and will help them to be more fulfilled in their work and in their relationships.
The Office of Marriage and Family Life and the Office of Faith Formation is sponsoring a teaching team from the Catherine of Siena Institute in Colorado Springs to offer the introductory Called and Gifted workshop from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday June 9, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 10, at the Spiritual Life Center.
The cost is $75 for commuters, $115 for a single room overnight, and $105 for a double room overnight. To register or for more information, call 316-744-0167 or email slc@slcwichita.org.

Celebrate the Way of the Cross by Torchlight on Palm Sunday Weekend
The Spiritual Life Center will host the Way of the Cross by Torchlight at 8:30 p.m. April 8. The annual event draws many of the faithful for a solemn procession around the outdoor stations with torches and flashlights. Participants will gather indoors around 8:15.
Those attending should dress appropriately for the weather and bring a flashlight. The event is designed to usher in Holy Week 2017. No registration is necessary.

Join Bishop Kemme for a Palm Sunday weekend retreat
Bishop Carl A. Kemme will lead the annual Palm Sunday Retreat April 7-9 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Some openings remain. Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 7. The first conference with Bishop Kemme starts at 7:30 p.m. The retreat concludes Sunday after lunch.
In addition to conferences presented by the bishop throughout the weekend, there will be time for group and individual prayer, solitude, rest, Stations of the Cross, Mass, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The early bird rates for the retreat are $120 per person (double occupancy), or $145 per person (single occupancy), and includes a $50 non-refundable deposit. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 4, but early bird rates end March 27.
Registration is available online at www.SLCWichita.org. Registration by phone is available by calling the center at (316) 744-0167. As always, scholarships are available.

IHM sister to speak about the first triduum March 27 at the SLC
Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Mary Ann Kirkland will speak about “The First Easter Triduum” from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 27, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Sister Mary Ann will use the Gospel of Luke and the Shroud of Turin to walk participants through the events of Holy Thursday through Easter Morning. The program will help participants prepare for Holy Week.
The cost is $5. Register for the program by visiting the Spiritual Life Center’s webpage at www.slcwichita.org or by calling (316) 744-0167.

Love and Logic Parenting begins April 3 at the SLC
The Becoming a Love & Logic Parent series is once again being offered at the Spiritual Life Center. This popular six-week evening series begins on Monday, April 3.
Love and Logic is a commonsense approach that teaches educators and parents the skills that cultivate confidence and good decision-making in children. The parenting method offers children choices, empathy, respect, and allows adults to avoid anger, threats, and lectures.
Love and Logic is easy to learn and can be put to use right away. The course takes place on Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will occur for six weeks, on April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1 and 8.
The registration fee is $35 per person or $60 per couple (if sharing a workbook). To sign up, call the Spiritual Life Center at 316-744-0167 or visit www.SLCWichita.org to register and pay online.

Spiritual Life Center begins a new program about apologetics
A series about apologetics, the reasoned defense of the faith, will be presented beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Each session features a one-hour presentation, followed by 15 to 30 minutes for questions and answers and discussion of the month’s topic or any topic pertaining to apologetics.
The cost is $10 per person. Advance registration appreciated but walk-ins are welcome. Visit the Spiritual Life Center’s webpage at www.slcwichita.org to register or call (316) 744-0167.

BCCHS journalists on to state competition
Raeley Goebel and Katie Gross won individual championships to lead the Bishop Carroll Catholic High School Journalism Department at the Kansas Scholastic Press Association regional contest Feb. 23 at Wichita State.
Bishop Carroll had 26 top-six finishers in the 6-5A contest which drew 2,500 entries. All of the student journalists – including triple category winner Drew Davis – advance to state competition May 4 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Goebel, a junior on the school newspaper, the Flyer, said she enjoys the competition.
“A lot of people think it’s weird that I voluntarily compete in writing contests given in a test-like setting, but I really do like it,” she said.
“It gives me an outlet to excel in something I enjoy and could see myself doing as a future career. It doesn’t feel like taking a test or doing an assignment. Writing makes you feel that your voice is important and can have real impact on others.”
Gross’ assignment was to capture students communicating in some way. She is the Flyer photo editor.
“The upbeat attitude of the cheer squad is what makes this picture work. The bond between teammates and their love for cheering brings a positive environment easy and fun to photograph,” she said.
Second-place finishers were Anna Schmidt, Grace Buessing, Drew Davis and Alli Gregg.
Third-place finishers were Makayla Ehmke, Nathan Lies, Briley Kerschen, Drew Davis, Veronica Lipinski, Jacy Holbrook, Jadin Kaltenbach, and Mary Ebberwein.
Honorable mention went to Raeley Goebel, Drew Davis, Jacy Holbrook, Suzanne Howey, Makayla Ehmke, Alli Gregg, Mary Ebberwein, Monica Martin, and Katie Gross-Shayne Hauserman.
Tracey Fox advises the school yearbook. Kollen Long advises the newspaper and teaches beginning journalism and photojournalism.

KMC journalists to compete at state
Three Kapaun Mt. Carmel students placed in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association January contest. Sophia Glasgow placed first in infographics and second in portrait photography. Leah Brock placed third in yearbook spread design and the team of Brogan Wuestewald, Hannah Harpel, Ivy Schoenhofer, and Elina Do placed third in multimedia news. All entries can be found at kspaonline.org.
Nineteen students qualified for the KSPA state competition after placing at the regional journalism competition Feb. 23. The state competition is May 6 in Lawrence.
Placing first were Amber Hanney and Kaegan Cowan. Second place: Emily Ostmeyer, Luke Meyerhoff, Leah Brock, and Elina Do. Third-place: Cora O’Brien, Abbey Fox, Jillian Schmitz, Sara deNoyelles and Natalie Pfeifer.
Receiving honorable mentions were Kinta Kail, Jacob Morss, Emily Ostmeyer, Mystic Ross, Kaegan Cowan, Sara deNoyelles, Eddie Flores, Sophia Glasgow, John Biehler, Cora O’Brien, Kaylee Stout, and Nikki Bulger.

CLAY retreat March 25 at All Saints Parish
The next Christ’s Light in All Youth retreat will be held Saturday, March 25, at All Saints parish in Wichita.
CLAY is a spiritual retreat specifically for freshmen and sophomores in high school, although adults who work with youth in this age group are also welcome. CLAY uses sharing, videos, hands-on activities, and creative forms of prayer to impact the spiritual lives of its candidates.
The retreat starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. The cost is $30 and includes two meals and all supplies.
For an application or further information contact the Office of Faith Formation at (316) 269-3940 or visit www.CatholicDioceseOfWichita.org/faith-events-and-retreats/clay to download the CLAY application. The deadline for applications is March 16.

Bishop Kemme’s calendar
Here is Bishop Carl A. Kemme’s calendar for the next month.
March 17: Conception Seminary visit; Conception Board of Regents
March 18-19: Parish pastoral visit to Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Wichita
March 20-22: Recently Ordained Priests Retreat at Spiritual Life Center
March 21: Serra Metro dinner and guest speaker at Spiritual Life Center
March 22: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish in Arkansas City
March 23: Regional priests meeting at Spiritual Life Center
March 25-26: Parish pastoral visit to St. Joan of Arc in Harper
March 28: Regional priests meeting at Spiritual Life Center; Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart in Eureka; St. John in Hamilton; and St. Teresa in Madison
March 30: Retired and regional priests meeting at Priest Retirement Center; Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Wichita
April 1: Mass with visit of the relics of St. Gianna at St. James in Augusta
April 2: Confirmation Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. John parish in Clonmel
April 4: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter in Schulte
April 5: Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Board of Trustees meeting in St. Louis
April 6: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph in Conway Springs
April 7-9: Palm Sunday retreat at Spiritual Life Center
April 10: Acolyte Installation Mass at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral
April 11: Chrism Mass at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral
April 13: Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral
April 14: Good Friday service at noon at the Cathedral
April 15: Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. at the Cathedral

Chick-fil-A hosting fundraiser March 27 to fight hunger
Chick-fil-A is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the Backpacks for Kids Program sponsored by the Society of St. Vincent De Paul.
Twenty percent of all designated sales will go to benefit the backpack program.
The fundraiser will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 27, at both Chick-fil-A locations in Wichita, at 21st and Maize and at Central and Rock.
Both locations will also have a prize wheel activity for those who wish to participate.

Evangelization training workshop scheduled March 30
The diocesan Office of Faith Formation is hosting basic evangelization training facilitated by St. Paul Street Evangelization Thursday, March 30, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita.
The training will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The cost is $20 per person or $40 per parish and includes a catered lunch.
To register visit TinyURL.com/spse-kansas. The deadline is March 23.

Father Jarrod Lies, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wichita, will be one of three speakers at a stewardship symposium Friday, April 21, in Kansas City, Kansas.
“Twenty-five Years of Catholic Stewardship, A Symposium on Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response” will be presented at the Savior Pastoral Retreat and Conference Center in Kansas City.
Also speaking will be the Most Rev. James P. Keleher, archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Kansas City; and Dr. Dan R. Ebener, a teacher of strategic planning, team-building, and leadership skills for the Master of Organizational Leadership program at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
Father Ken Van Haverbeke, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship, said the concept of stewardship belongs to the entire church.
“Stewardship is not exclusive to the Diocese of Wichita,” he said. “We hope those attending will share ideas about living the stewardship way of life.”
The event begins at 10 a.m. after a 9 a.m. Mass. Abp. Keleher and Fr. Lies speak in the morning. The event ends at 2 p.m. after a panel discussion with Dr. Evener. Lunch will be served around noon.
Clergy, parish staff, and parishioners are invited to the event. Registrants will receive a copy of “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” to review before the event. A copy is available at archstl.org/node/43409893.
The cost for the day is $49 per person. Those who bring four guests may bring a fifth free of charge. Register online at stewardshiparchkck.org/register.
Overnight lodging is available at the center, but is limited. For lodging their call 913-647-0370 or email savior@archkck.org.
The event is sponsored by the stewardship and development offices of dioceses in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Relics of St. Gianna Beretta Molla will visit the Wichita area Friday through Sunday, March 31-April 2.
St. Gianna, an Italian pediatrician, was canonized in 2004. She is known for putting the life of her fourth child ahead of her own during a difficult pregnancy.
A few days before the child was due, St. Gianna told her husband, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate, choose the child. “I insist on it,” she said. “Save the baby.”
She entered the hospital on Good Friday in 1962. The following day, Gianna Emanuela, was born by Caesarean section. A few hours later, St. Gianna began to experience severe pain due to septic peritonitis and died a week later, on April 28. Until her last breath, St. Gianna repeated, “Jesus, I love You! Jesus, I love You!”
Gianna Emanuela, is today a physician in Italy.
Here is a schedule of the relics’ visit for public veneration:
Friday, March 31
• 4 to 5 p.m., St. Gianna Clinic, 2135 N. Ridge Road, suite 400, Wichita
• Church of the Holy Spirit, Goddard. Confessions from 6 to 6:20 p.m.; Mass at 6:30 p.m.; and Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Introduction and veneration of relics after the Stations.
Saturday, April 1
• Mass, talk, and veneration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Wichita. Talk by Robert White, president of the St. Gianna Society.
• Mass, presentation, and veneration begins at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish in Augusta
Sunday, April 2
Veneration after 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses at St. James Parish in Augusta.
The relics’ visit is sponsored by St. James Parish, the diocesan offices of Faith Formation, Respect Life and Social Justice and Marriage and Family Life.

The 4th Annual Life Run will take place Saturday, May 6, at Sedgwick County Park in Wichita. The event is held to raise awareness of the gift of life and to celebrate all life.
A timed 5K, a 1.5 mile run/walk, a tot dash, and a Senior Stroll are being offered this year.
All net proceeds will benefit three ministries:
• Birthline, a crisis pregnancy center, an alternative to abortion, that seeks to provide material assistance and non-judgmental emotional support required for every woman or girl to carry her child to term in good health, dignity, and peace of mind.
• Dear Neighbor Ministries, a sponsored ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph. The sisters, staff, and volunteers work to transform lives of the poor, abused, and neglected people of the Hilltop community.
• Birthmother Ministry, which affirms and supports the sacrificial love of birthmothers in their gift of life through adoption by offering hope and healing in Christ. The ministry offers fellowship, counseling and a safe private place to share a birthmother story. It meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.

Want to participate in the run?
Register for the 4th Annual Life Run at www.liferunwichita.org, or by contacting Darla Voegeli at 316-269-3935 or at voegelid@CatholicDioceseOfWichita.org.

By Jake Samour
Christopher West announced, “Yes, I have beautiful feet,” to about 350 who attended a presentation open to the public Friday night, March 3, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wichita.
He explained by saying, “Remember how scripture says, ‘How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news?’ Well, I’ve come with good news about our creation as male and female, good news about the meaning of sex and gender, good news about our sexual desires, good news about the healing and redemption of sexuality in Christ.”
West said the church has good news to proclaim and that the faithful should be ready to shout it from the roof tops by the way they live their lives.
West also spoke to about 240 men at a Men’s Conference Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Speaking on the theme, “This is my Body: Into the Wilds of the Masculine Soul,” West explained the good news of the gospel through the lens of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. He presented a positive vision of what it means to be human, and particularly what it means to be a man today.
West, co-founded the Cor Project in 2010 as a membership and outreach organization with a global mission to help men and women around the world learn, live, and share the Theology of the Body.
Samour is director of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life.

St. Joe Ost students place at robotics challenge
Students from St. Joseph Catholic School in Ost competed in the March 11 Mindstorms Robotics Challenge at Wichita State University.
The 4th through 8th graders built and programmed robots to traverse different courses, gave an oral presentation, and made a table display.
The St. Joe expert level team placed first for its oral presentation and overall team points. The intermediate level team placed fourth in overall team points. Thirty-eight teams competed.
The 2017 Shocker Mindstorms Challenge is a joint effort of the Colleges of Engineering and Education, and local industry.

Way of the Cross by Torchlight on Palm Sunday Weekend
The Spiritual Life Center will host the Way of the Cross by Torchlight at 8:30 p.m. April 8. The annual event draws many of the faithful for a solemn procession around the outdoor stations with torches and flashlights. Participants will gather indoors around 8:15.
Those attending should dress appropriately for the weather and bring a flashlight. The event is designed to usher in Holy Week 2017. No registration is necessary.

Fr. Tom Hoisington to present April Docentium program
Fr. Thomas Hoisington will present the monthly Docentium on Catholicism and Culture Thursday, April 20, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita. The program includes dinner and a presentation.
Fr. Hoisington’s talk, “The Six Deaths of the Faith,” is modeled with G.K. Chesterton’s five historical examples of the church dying and rising in mind. Father Hoisington will consider the church’s life and suffering in our own day, and explore indications that offer hope for new life in the Mystical Body of Christ.
Docentium takes place each third Thursday of the month at the Spiritual Life Center. It is an evening of food, friendship, and learning. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30, and every month a new lecture is presented on a topic related to religion and culture.
The cost is $15 per person. More information can be found on the SLC website.
Visit the Spiritual Life Center’s webpage at www.slcwichita.org to register or call (316) 744-0167. Advance registration appreciated.

Seminar on the Catholic perspective on fitness and nutrition Wednesday, April 12
The diocesan Office of Marriage and Family life next week is hosting the fourth of six monthly seminars on fitness and nutrition and how these components can be woven into the fabric of someone’s walk with God.
All adults are invited to the Spiritual Life Center on Wednesday April 12, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. for presentations by Dr. Christina Joy Mackie, a naturopathic physician, and Steve Ochsner, a personal trainer for adults over 50. Their presentations will be on flexibility and healthy carbohydrates and how our spiritual health and physical well-being are intimately connected and each can strengthen the other.
The cost is $10. Call the Spiritual Life Center to register at 316-744-0167 or email slc@slcwichita.org.

Administrative Professionals Retreat April 19 at the SLC
Father Ken Van Haverbeke and Fr. Shawn McKnight will present this year’s Administrative Professionals’ Day of Renewal Wednesday, April 19, at the Spiritual Life Center.
The Administrative Professionals’ Retreat is for all workers in the vineyard, whether as a secretary, administrative assistant, receptionist, or any administrative support professional .
With his experience with seminarians, priests, and bishops, Father Shawn McKnight will explore the questions of “Who are these shepherd priests we work with? How are they trained?” and “What is the best way to work with the many varied gifts they have?”
In the afternoon, Father Van Haverbeke will lead a presentation and discussion on Ann Garrido’s book, “Redeeming Administration: 12 Spiritual Habits for Catholic Leaders in Parishes, Schools, Religious Communities and other Institutions.”
The day will include time for socializing, lunch, Mass, and relaxation. The retreat will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. The cost is $20. Reservations may be made at www.slcwichita.org or by calling (316) 744-0167.

New format for Mother’s retreat this year at SLC
The Spiritual Life Center will host its annual retreat for mothers from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13. In an effort to address the needs of busy modern moms, the format has been changed to include more pampering and relaxation for attendees.
The retreat topic will focus on helping moms find balance in their ever-busy lives of taking care of everyone around them. It is titled “High Heels to Tennis Shoes: A Mother’s Day Retreat for the Soul.” The retreat is for working moms, stay-at-home moms, grandmoms, and every stage in between.
“We really want this year’s retreat to leave participants energized and ready to tackle the world again. It’s rare that moms take time for themselves, and that’s exactly what we’ve designed this day to help them with,” said Kelly McCague, operations manager at the center.
The day will include two conferences, daily Mass, and a banquet luncheon. The afternoon concludes with social time, hand-dipped chocolates, mimosas, and free manicures.
The cost for the Saturday program is $30 per person. Register by visiting the Spiritual Life Center’s webpage at www.slcwichita.org or by calling (316) 744-0167.

Third annual Catholic Culture Conference April 28-29 at SLC
The 2017 Catholic Culture Conference, “The Purpose of the Polis: Catholic perspectives on Church and State,” will be held April 28-29 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Monsignor Stuart Swetland, a former Rhodes Scholar who converted to Catholicism while studying at Oxford, is the keynote speaker. He has taught at Mt. St. Mary’s University and the University of Illinois, and is currently president of Donnelly College where he is also Professor of Leadership and Christian Ethics.
Joining Msgr. Swetland will be Dr. Kenneth Howell, a former Presbyterian minister who has taught in higher education for almost 30 years and currently serves as president and director of Academic Research for the Eucharist Project, an international movement promoting knowledge and love of the Eucharist worldwide.
The Catholic Culture Conference is an opportunity for faithful Christians to come together for formation and fellowship. The program intends to promote Catholic values in personal and family life, as well as in society at large. The conference will consist of multiple sessions, each geared towards some particular component of Catholic life in our modern age. A combination of large group lectures and smaller breakout sessions will give each participant the opportunity to learn more about how Catholicism relates to–and is intended to positively change-our culture.
Space is limited. Sign up early by calling the Spiritual Life Center at 316-744-0167 or online at SLCwichita.org.
Registration includes a wine and appetizer social Friday evening, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Early bird rates, by April 11, are commuter $55, single occupancy $85, and double occupancy $75.

Bishop Kemme’s calendar
Here is Bishop Carl A. Kemme’s calendar for the next month.
April 7-9: Palm Sunday Retreat at Spiritual Life Center
April 9: Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral at 10 a.m.
April 10: Acolyte Installation Mass at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral
April 11: Chrism Mass at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral
April 13: Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral
April 14: Good Friday Service at noon at the Cathedral
April 15: Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. at the Cathedral
April 18: Attending NCEA award for Bob Voboril in St. Louis
April 19: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Wichita
April 20: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. for Hutchinson parishes at Holy Cross in Hutchinson
April 21: Stewardship Symposium in Kansas City, Kansas; Parish pastoral visit St. Anthony/St. Rose in Wellington
April 22: Pittsburg State University Campus Ministry Mass, banquet and ball
April 23: Confirmation Mass at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart in Frontenac
April 24-25: Jesus Caritas in Kansas City
April 25: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena in Wichita
April 26: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary in Derby
April 29: Joy of the Gospel Convocation delegation meeting
April 29-30: Parish pastoral visit to Sacred Heart in Halstead
April 30: Diocesan Confirmation for St. Anne and St. Margaret Mary at the Cathedral at 3 p.m.
May 3: Confirmation Mass at 6:30 p.m. for St. Joseph, McPherson and St. Bridget, Lindsborg at McPherson
May 5-6: Knights of Columbus State Convention in Topeka

Downtown Wichita Way of the Cross on Good Friday
The Way of the Cross will be prayed through downtown Wichita on Good Friday, April 14.
It will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 149 S. Millwood, and end at about 11:30 a.m. on the front steps of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
The event is sponsored by the Catholic lay movement Communion and Liberation.

College Knights hosting ball April 21
The Knights of Columbus College councils from Newman University and Wichita State University are hosting their Third Annual Charity Ball fundraiser Friday, April 21, in the Knights of Columbus Council 4118 building, 3202 W. 13th in Wichita.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 with the dance to follow. The dress attire will be formal. A silent auction will also be held.
The cost is $30 per person or $50 per couple. Cash or checks made out to Wichita State Knights of Columbus will be collected at the door.
All college age students from 18 to 30 are invited. Make reservations by contacting Brian at the Wichita State Catholic Student Center at 316-651-6789, or online at Tinyurl.com/KnightsDance.
Proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Guadalupe Clinic’s David Gear honored with health care award
David Gear, executive director of the Guadalupe Clinic, a diocesan health ministry, received the R.A. ‘Jiggs’ Nelson Quality of Life Award March 29 at the Kansas Health Care Ethics Conference in the Eugene M. Hughes Metroplex in Wichita.
Dave Carter, clinic board chairman, said: “David’s dedication to Guadalupe Clinic and its mission to provide for our client’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being are in close alignment with the award criteria as established by the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation.”
The Quality of Life Award is presented to one or more members of the Wichita health care community who have contributed to the quality of life of individuals who are served in body, mind, and spirit. Those efforts may include but are not limited to improved availability and access to quality care, compassion for others, patient advocacy, work competence, and personal dedication.
The clinic provides access to health care for the uninsured and medically underserved, regardless of race or creed. A $5 donation is requested however no person is turned away due to inability to pay.

Catholic physicians invited to join Wichita CMA Guild
Catholic physicians are being invited to join the Wichita Guild of the Catholic Medical Association.
Dr. Jude Cook, Kansas state director for the CMA, said the Wichita guild has 10 physicians and is working to expand its membership.
“It’s a good opportunity for physicians who want to grow in their faith and practice of medicine,” he said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to get that education and have resources available to help strengthen them.”
Dr. Cook, a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Wichita, said physicians sometimes face difficult decisions such as end-of-life issues and contraception use. The guild helps members because they are able to support each other, he said.
The goal of the Wichita guild is to meet monthly for Mass, for camaraderie, and educational programs in addition for opportunities for spiritual growth.
Dr. Jody Elson, the president of the Wichita guild, said the CMA has provided her phenomenal opportunities to grow in her faith and share her experience of being a Catholic physician with her peers and mentors.
“The last few years the CMA has seen a significant increase in membership,” she said. “There are also new opportunities for medical students and residents including a medical ethics ‘bootcamp’ held each summer at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in collaboration with the National Catholic Bioethics Center.”
Dr. Elson, a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wichita, praised the association’s national education conferences and recommended them for their spiritual, educational, and social benefits.
“The CMA is also working on developing a new program called ‘The Holy Alliance’ that focuses on building relationships between physicians and clergy to help us collaborate in building the culture of life and supporting each other,” she said.
Those interested in the local guild may email Dr. Jody Elson at jodyelson33@gmail.com.

‘Called and Gifted’ workshop June 9-10
The diocesan offices of Marriage and Family Life and Faith Formation are sponsoring a teaching team from the Catherine of Siena Institute in Colorado Springs for an introductory “Called and Gifted” workshop, designed to help attendees discern their unique mission in life.
Spiritual gifts are excellent clues for discerning a new direction for those dissatisfied with their jobs, those who are burned out, or are recently unemployed.
The workshop will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 9, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 10.
The cost is $75 for commuters, $115 for a single room and $105 for a double. The fee includes snacks and lunch on Saturday and a copy of the “Catholic Spiritual Gifts Inventory” book.
To register call the Spiritual Life Center at 744-0167 or email slc@slcwichita.org.

Five hundred thirty-five youth and adults from throughout the Diocese of Wichita attended the annual Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference March 10-11 at the DoubleTree Wichita Airport hotel.
“DCYC 2017 was a wonderful, spiritually uplifting conference,” said David Walker, program coordinator of diocesan Office of Faith Formation.
“Our house band, Wichita Adore Ministries, kicked things off Saturday with some great pump-up music and then Fr. Aaron Spexarth kicked it up another notch with his rousing homily during opening Mass,” he said.
“The energy remained high as Doug Tooke’s keynote was about our theme for the year, ‘If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.’”
After the keynote, Father Spexarth lead adoration of the Blessed Sacrament while 11 priests heard confessions. That was followed by breakout sessions, a banquet dinner, and a dance.
Sunday started with more music followed by Tooke’s second keynote. The weekend concluded with Mass celebrated by Bishop Carl A. Kemme which ended with the installation of the new DCYD board, whose duties include planning next year’s conference.
Tooke heads Monarch Catholic Ministries of Helena, Montana, and is the executive director of Reach Youth Ministry.
Here are the awards presented over the weekend:
Outstanding Catholic Youth
Region II: Marlie Wagner; St. Mary/OLG, Newton; Ryan Littlejohn; St. Mary/OLG, Newton
Region III: Micaela Seiwert; St. Joseph, Ost ; Jonny Becker; St. Anthony, Garden Plain
Region IV: Grace Allen; St. James, Augusta; Austin Mernagh; St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita
Region V: Tori Stolz; St. Mary, Derby; David Oberly; St. John, Clonmel
Youth Ministry Group Of The Year
Sacred Heart, Colwich
Scrapbook
Third: St. Anthony, Garden Plain
Second: Sacred Heart, Colwich
First: St. Joseph, Ost
Banner
Third: St. Anthony/St. Rose, Wellington
Second: Church of the Resurrection, Wichita
First: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Wichita
Light Of Christ
Region I
Kyndra Spielbusch; St. Francis, St. Paul; Keaton Holmes; St. Patrick, Chanute
Region II
Jess Prudence; St. Rose, Council Grove; Joseph Mick; St. Mary/OLG, Newton
Region III
Grace Buessing; Sacred Heart, Colwich ; Taylor Nemechek; St. Mark, St. Mark
Region IV
Mary Ebberwein; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Wichita; Nathan Lies; St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita
Region V
Grayce Berntsen; St. John, Clonmel; Sebastian Orth; St. Peter, Schulte
</>Youth Ministry Leader of The Year
Jeryl and Mark Huser, Sacred Heart, Fredonia
Mission Award
Holy Family, Marion County
Good Shepherd Award
Fr. Aaron Spexarth, St. Joseph, Ost,
St. Rose, Mt. Vernon and St. Louis Waterloo
Regional Service Project Award
Winner: Region 2

Bishop Carl A. Kemme will lead a trip to South America Jan. 29-Feb. 8, 2018.
The trip, “a walk in the footsteps of Pope Francis,” will include stops in Lima and Machu Picchu, Peru; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“We were so thrilled when Bishop Kemme agreed to lead this trip as a benefit for Guadalupe Clinic,” said Jodi Guillemette, director of Development for Guadalupe Clinic.
“It will be a wonderful spiritual experience. We will see the shrines of South America, walk in the footsteps of Pope Francis, and have the opportunity to have Mass every day with the bishop. We are blessed to have such a kind, giving soul as Bishop Kemme leading our diocese.”
The trip includes airfare from anywhere in the country, daily Mass, four- or five-star hotels, all ground transportation, tour guides, entry into all sites, and all breakfasts and dinners.
The cost is $3,850 per person, of which $250 is a tax-deductible donation to the Guadalupe Clinic. For a reservation or more information, call (508) 340-9370 or email Anthony@proximotravel.com.

The 4th Annual Life Run will take place Saturday, May 6, at Sedgwick County Park in Wichita. The event is held to raise awareness of the gift of life and to celebrate all life.
A timed 5K, a 1.5 mile run/walk, a tot dash, and a Senior Stroll are being offered this year.
All net proceeds will benefit three ministries:
• Birthline, a crisis pregnancy center, an alternative to abortion, that seeks to provide material assistance and non-judgmental emotional support required for every women or girl to carry her child to term in good health, dignity, and peace of mind.
• Dear Neighbor Ministries, a sponsored ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph. The sisters, staff, and volunteers work to transform lives of the poor, abused, and neglected people of the Hilltop community.
• Birthmother Ministry, which affirms and supports the sacrificial love of birthmothers in their gift of life through adoption by offering hope and healing in Christ. The ministry offers fellowship, counseling and a safe private place to share a birthmother story. It meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.

Want to participate in the run?
Register for the 4th Annual Life Run at www.liferunwichita.org, or by contacting Darla Voegeli at 316-269-3935 or at voegelid@CatholicDioceseOfWichita.org.

The number of Catholics in the Diocese of Wichita will increase by 414 on Holy Saturday evening.
That’s when Bishop Carl A. Kemme and his priests will receive 202 catechumens, those who have not been baptized, and 212 candidates, those who have been baptized in another ecclesial community.
Here is a list to those scheduled to participate in services across the diocese.

St. Joseph, Andale
Catechumens – Shannon Brand, Miranda Briscoe, Nikki DeLuna, Garrett McCaskill, Aaron Tucker Underwood, Vanessa Underwood
Candidates – Kelly Hein, Kristie Winter

St. Vincent de Paul, Andover
Catechumens – Johnny Duong, Alexa Houlik, Bridgit Seba
Candidates – Mistee Boatright, Joe Fitzpatrick, Kelsey Hawley, Shad Hickman, Analeah Hernandez, Raul Hernandez, Jay Jacoby, J.P. Manrique, Ellie Seba

St. James, Augusta
Candidate – Mona Dianne Travnicek

St. Patrick, Chanute
Catechumen – Misty Love

St. John, Clonmel
Catechumens – Keyonna Wright, Keyton Wright

St. Mark the Evangelist, Colwich
Catechumens – Dakota Brickell, Dawson Brickell, Melanie Fulton, Adriana Munoz, Jorge Munoz, My Hoa Seiwert

Holy Name, Coffeyville
Catechumens – Stacey Campbell, Jaylin Nash
Candidates – Robert Blair, Carolyn Burrows, Rosenda Hanigan

St. Joseph, Conway Springs
Candidate – Ismael Santana

St. Mary, Derby/Rose Hill
Catechumens – Joe Bennett, Julie Bennett, Mia Bennett, Kim Kuhn, Katrina Mason, Pierre Mason, Corey Miller, Angeline Navarro, Michael Rich, Andrew Sengchanh, Melina Sengchanh
Candidates – Blake Carpenter, Carl Compton, Patty Cummings, Hans Grothaus, Alissa Haddock, Larry Hare, Ann Jeffries, Rob Johnson, Stanton Lowe, Kiersten McKenna, Dora Miller, Mauri Rains, Dick Schmacher

St. Anthony, Garden Plain
Catechumen – Kendrae Arnold

St. Michael, Girard
Catechumens – Lisa Goff, Jon Tippie, Dianne Tippie
Candidate – Jennifer Martin

Church of the Holy Spirit, Goddard
Candidates – Aaron Alexander, Jason Harlow

Sacred Heart, Halstead
Catechumens – Kaylee McNeill, Dayannarah Reyes, Lexxy Richards, Autumn Vogel, Jessica Vogel, Chad Wasson
Candidates – Nadia Mendoza, Jamie Pruter

St. Cecilia, Haysville
Catechumens – Tranquility Chavez-Zamora, Michelle Dick, Rachel Miller, Jason Miller, Dean Patterson, Sherida Rodriguez, Madison Yeager
Candidates – Nicole Carney, Justin Dick, Julian Flores, Tiffany Mount

St. Joseph, Humboldt
Candidates – Bill Barnhart, Holly Schomaker, Vicki Snavely

Holy Cross, Hutchinson
Catechumens – Fallon De La Cerda, Abigail Eddington, Claudia Eddington, Elaine Eddington, Michael Eddington, Sr., Michael Eddington, Jr., Samuel Eddington
Candidates – Delores Coon, Susan Hachenberger, Michele Mans, Dessierae White

St. Teresa, Hutchinson
Catechumens – Robert Graf, Emily Wullenschneider
Candidates – Darren Davison, Naomi Myers, Benjamin Whitsitt

Our Lady of Guadalupe, So. Hutchinson
Catechumens – Stacy Corwin, Kara Higgins, Katheryn Reboul, Michelle Smith
Candidates – Eric Biera, Jamie Biera, Claudia Glass, Gleysha Mendez-Rosario, Samuel Nelson, Jennifer Pitchford

St. Andrew, Independence
Catechumens – Caidi Beaubien, Doug Boaz, Alisha Brown, Bryan Clubine, Mike Passauer, Stefanie Williams
Candidates – Jacques Brown, Sarah Kelley, Stephen Lewman

St. Joseph, McPherson
Catechumen – Larry Embers
Candidates – Michael Allen, Sarah Becker, Joy Burge

St. Michael, Mulvane
Catechumen – Michelle Lewis
Candidates – Mark Hardison, Shannon Wright, Jill Thompson, Nicole Myers, Matthew Roderick, Bruce White

St. Ignatius, Neodesha
Catechumen – Christopher Hinshaw

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Newton
Catechumens – Bryan Serrano, Ashley Smith
Candidates – Kenia Rosas, Meghan Rupp

St. Mary, Newton
Catechumens – K.C. Clark, Jennifer Decker, Scott Sweasy
Candidates – Bryon Bridges, Stephanie Drake, Billye Hammond, Lisa Kemph, Van Peters, Chelsie Rabalais, Pam Scarberry
St. Patrick, Parsons
Catechumens – Madison Hein, Scott Rosentiel, Jennifer Vaughn
Candidates – Cole Proehl, Katie Hill, Christopher Shultz

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pittsburg
Catechumens – Michael Robert Burton, Emily Jane Jasnoski, Abigail Catherine Morgan, Megan Eileen Peabody, Zoe Elizabeth Price, Kyra Lyndsey Rink, Taylor Andrew Smith, Connor Gage Thompson, Rachel Ann VanBecelaere
Candidates – Lori Beth Badart, Patrick Jacob Doyle, Larry Snow Fleury, Kevin Christopher Kalm, Mindy McCorkle, April Lee Richling, Brenda Robinson, Katie Valentine Smithhisler, Seth Michael Stewart, Ashley Elizabeth Wadell

St. Peter, Schulte
Candidates – Susan Carlisle, Rich Matzek, Scott Nichols

St. Francis, St. Paul
Catechumen – Alexandria Horttor
Candidate – April Hulen

Holy Name, Winfield
Catechumen – Briea McGee

Wichita

All Saints
Catechumen – Ian Wheaton
Candidates – Floyd Fletcher, Truong Nguyen, Cassandra Wheaton

Blessed Sacrament
Catechumens – Brad McDowell, Kacie Schultz
Candidates – Jordan Bradbury, Linda Likes, Vanessa Lopez

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Catechumen – Ashley Spradling
Candidates – Judy Bechtel, Dillon Richmond, Charla Throckmorton, Obinna Odunze, Oluchi Odunze, and Ogeche Odunze.

Christ the King
Catechumens – Chris Nichols, Todd Stephenson

Church of the Magdalen
Catechumens – Tyler Clift, Ashley Dwyer
Candidates – Walter Chappelle, Ryan Dixon, Braedon Gilbert, Jeremy Haigler, Lindsey McKay, Stacey Penaloza, Victoria Penaloza, Monica Shelton, Daisy Shumake, Jasmine Vo

Church of the Resurrection
Catechumens – NuNu Dihn, Trinity Inthirath, Jett Inthirath, Matthew Vasquez
Candidates – Chaney Freeman, Danielle Gerlach, Angela Oropeza

Holy Savior
Catechumens – Amare Bradley, Arianna Cole, Chioma Iwunoh, Chiewete Iwunoh, Brendon James McClish, Jalen Eugene McClish, Efemena Otarighobe, Chidera Otarighobe, Ricky Durrell Ransom
Candidates – Lorena Lachell McClish, Claudia Neil, Angela Francine Ransom

Newman University
Candidate - Laura Cox

Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Catechumens – Andre Hernandez, Victor Jaramillo, Adrian Eduardo Landeros, Iveer Jesus Lara-Montoya, Brian Gutierrez Naranjo, Iker Rodriguez, Quiara Vianney Rodriguez, Labron Taylor, Oscar Torres, Salvador Zaragoza-Blanco
Candidates – Stephanie Casteneda, Gerardo Vega Fierro, Miguel Hernandez, Eduardo Regalado Magno, Louie Mendez, Erick Y. Villareal, Fabian Zaragoza

St. Anne
Catechumens – Jose Arturo Arce, Naeroby Camacho, Gene Chadwick, Amber Clutter, Fausto Dozal, Yaciel Grimadlo, Diana Leyva, Karina Leyva, Nicole Leyva, Fabian Granillo-Loya, Monica Navarro, Sonia Rodriguez
Candidates – Douglas Black, Bobby Wilson

St. Anthony
Candidates – Hai Kha, Chau Lam, Thanh Ngo, Dung Nguyen, Ha Nguyen, Le Nguyen, Nga Nguyen, Trung Quach

St. Catherine of Siena
Catechumens – Xanthus Brownless, Ethan Gonzalez, Kaden Jaso, Austin Grimm, Makailyn Mosiman, Nicholas Pittman, Stephanie Pittman, Taylor Hicks
Candidates – Silas Brownlee, Parker Hull, Esabella Molina, Peyton Schuler, Malea Zwetow, Robert Bedore, Aaron Stepanek, Matthew Unruh, Theodore Eberle, Janice Eberle, Melanie Chapman, Tammi Ohl, Courtney Stewart Van Dyke, Erin Tracy, Angela Malley, Ali McKeown, Alex Schneider, Margaret Stringer, Roy T Davis, Ryan Hall, Derek Judd

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Catechumens – Matt Haner, Tamara Klausmeyer, Ben McAnally, Satrina McAnally, T.J. Morris, Shalyn Taylor
Candidates – Liz Gorges, Kevin Ingamells, April Narvaes, David Nelson, Kirk Russell, Marty Smoll, Terri Snyder

St. Francis of Assisi
Catechumens – Tara Baird, Brandon Dooley, Justin McAnicnh
Candidates – Aubrey Balman, Blaize Balman, Azlyn Balman, Helen Hoffman, Jessica Kotrba, Afton Lopez, Marissa Lopez, Connor Lopez, Makaila Lopez, Keira Lopez, Preston Phichith, Isaac Santiago, Michael Tran, Trenton Zimbelman, Caden Zimbelman

St. Margaret Mary
Catechumens – Jennifer Betancourt, Alicia Chavez, Angelina Chavez, Selena Salcido, Aloindra Tavares, Eduardo Tavares, Adrianna Mullins Tavares, Phillip Lambdim, Ming Tran, Cayle Wisinger

St. Patrick
Catechumens – Irvin Arteaga, Carlos Garcia, Boon Thanmithak

St. Jude
Catechumens – Jami Bailey, Trenton Lloyd, David Smith
Candidates – Paul Bryan, Jeanne Federico, Lester McGuire, Tammy Miller

St. Paul Parish at Wichita State University
Catechumens – Brandy Choat, Paula Duque, Alana Franklin, Mark Glaser, Haley Griffin, Tyler Navarro, Samantha Salyer, Michael Schlesinger, Sedalia Stevens, Emily Tracy, Paul Wojenski, Amir Zabihi
Candidates – Ramses Chairez, Janet Glaser, Jaren Glaser, Eric Gordon, Adrianna Hodges, Ashlyn Joy, Claire Kirkeland, Kent Miracle, Kimberly Ochoa, Nathan Ochoa, Sierra Ochoa, Nathasha O’Donnell, Haley Potter, Logan Pohl, Alexa Smith, Zach Strella, Brandon Bandorn, Suzannah Wright

St. Thomas Aquinas
Catechumens – Bret Kirkland, Michael Lynch, Skylar Ramos
Candidates – Ashley Dominguez, Sue Fleming, Cheryl Hadley, Elizabeth Hein, Douglas Kizziar, Shari Kizziar, Christopher Marohl, Lyndsey Mbawuike, Jaza Montgomery

Tears began to well in the eyes of many of those attending the funeral of Father Donal O’Hare when they began singing “O Loving God,” to the tune of Danny Boy, at the end of the Mass Friday, March 17, the Feast of St. Patrick.
The ballad is about death and love of Ireland.
Father O’Hare, who died March 12 at the age of 93, was a son of Ireland and one of the many priests who traveled to Kansas in the 1950s to serve the church. He was a priest of the Diocese of Wichita for 62 years.
The Most Rev. James Conley, bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and a close friend of Father O’Hare, was the homilist for the Mass, which was also celebrated by Bishop Carl A. Kemme and many diocesan priests.
After thanking the O’Hare family members who traveled from Ireland to be a part of the funeral in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita, Bishop Conley talked about the sacrifice made by the many priests who left Ireland for the United States.
Father O’Hare was Bishop Conley’s first mentor after Father Conley was ordained in 1985 and was assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Wichita.
Bishop Conley said the two of them started at St. Patrick’s at about the same time. “When I showed up nearly 32 years ago this June, Father O’Hare was the same age I am now. I don’t know what that means, but I think it’s pretty cool!”
He said the readings of the Mass talked about the goodness, the kindness, and the mercy of Almighty God. “Father O’Hare lived those words in his 62 years of priestly ministry,” he said.
Bishop Conley said his mentor had a way with words and had a custom of underlining words with a ruler. He also had a keen sense of the supernatural like Cardinal Newman, who taught about the transitory nature of this world: “[I]n spite of this universal world which we see, there is another world, quite as far-spreading, quite as close to us, and more wonderful…All around us are numberless objects, coming and going, watching, working or waiting, which we see not: this is that other world, which the eyes reach not unto, but faith only.”
Father O’Hare formed the newly ordained Father Conley not so much by what he said but through his actions and deeds, Bishop Conley said. “They instructed me on how to be a good priest.”
In one of their first meetings Father O’Hare discussed the division of labor with his new associate.
“If you will do the matching and hatching,” he told Father Conley, “I’ll do all the dispatching.”
Father Conley initially thought he got the happy end of the deal but learned that at funerals everyone thanks the presiding priest and at weddings “there is a lot of drama.”
After talking about the role Father O’Hare had in bringing Bishop Conley’s mother and father into the church, the bishop once again thanked all the Irish clergy who left their beloved homeland to serve in the United States.
“I am so blessed to have known these priests and we are indebted to them,” he said.
Father O’Hare was born on Sept. 29, 1923, in Ireland. He studied at All Hallows Seminary in Dublin and was ordained there on June 20, 1954.
He served as a chaplain in Parsons after arriving in the Diocese of Wichita in November of 1954. Five years later, in 1959, he was named an associate at Saint Patrick Parish in Wichita. He also taught at St. Mary’s Cathedral High School while in Wichita.
Father O’Hare was named pastor of St. Ambrose in Erie and of St. Joseph in South Mound in 1965. He was moved to Holy Name in Coffeyville in 1969 where he was pastor until his return as pastor of St. Patrick, Wichita, in 1984. He was named pastor of St. Anthony/St. Rose in Wellington in 1995 and retired the next year.
Father O’Hare is buried at Ascension Cemetery in Wichita, next to his brother priests, including several who, like him, “crossed the pond” to serve the diocese.

Abp. Coakley to be homilist at Sunday’s Mass
By Gemma Rajewski
Some of the biggest names among Catholic lay apologists – including Scott Hahn – are scheduled to speak at the 18th Annual Midwest Catholic Family Conference Aug. 4-6 at Century II in Wichita.
“We have a tremendous speaker lineup. This year we have Raymond Arroyo, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Monica Miller, and more,” said Kevin Regan, the conference director. “We are very excited that Scott Hahn has accepted to speak at the conference. He will be speaking both on Friday evening and on Saturday.”
He added that Bishop Carl A. Kemme assisted in the effort to recruit Hahn.
In addition, a former priest of the Diocese of Wichita will come home for the conference. Regan said the Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, will be the homilist for the Sunday Mass.
“Our conference is about supporting every Catholic – families, singles, grandparents, neighbors, etcetera,” Regan said. “We are a true family conference with programs for all ages. We have children’s programs for pre-K through 6th, middle school programs, and high school programs – and the young adult program which will start Friday night.”
Attendance fees are designed to be affordable for families and individuals, he said. One-day rates are available if making the whole weekend is not possible.
“Although the diocese and Bishop Kemme support us by providing a fantastic spiritual director and other liturgical resources; and the seminarians and priests are very supportive and dedicate their time to hearing the confessions of hundreds of people throughout the weekend, we are a non-profit organization,” Regan said.
In addition to the speakers fees, the conference pays for their travel, the cost of Century II, and must market the event.
“We had a financially tough year in 2016, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t looking forward to 2017,” he said, adding that the conference relies on the support and openness of attendees to continue running.
“The diocesan offices financially sponsor some speakers, but the majority of the conference is run from donations,” Regan said.
The event is always looking for new sponsors, in addition to those who have been blessed to have supported the conference for many years. Regan invites anyone interested in a sponsorship or in joining the leadership planning team, to contact him at 316-371-2767.
“We are truly blessed to have this event in our backyards, and have so much potential to grow,” he said. “Over 300 volunteers pull together each year to make this possible and it is an amazing gift.”
Rajewski is advertising coordinator for the Catholic Advance.

Want details about this year’s MCFC?
Registration is now open and brochures have been mailed to those previously registered. To register and more information visit www.CatholicFamilyConference.org.

Greek iconographer at SLC in July for week-long workshop
Master iconographer Theodore Papadopoulos from Larissa, Greece, will lead a six-day intensive iconography course Monday through Saturday, July 10-15 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita. The course will be taught from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Participants will discover “new secrets” in the traditional artistic expression of theology and spirituality. For beginners and professionals, the workshop offers an opportunity to learn and refine their techniques in the sacred art. Each participant will paint an icon to keep.
The course focuses on the art of egg tempera painting and will provide students a complete training in the sacred art of Byzantine iconography. Emphasis is placed on the student acquiring hands-on experience to put into practice the techniques Byzantine icon painting requires.
The cost of the workshop is $780 for a commuter or $850 for those who wish to stay at the center.
The fee includes instruction, course materials, daily lunch, and lodging. For payment details and additional information, visit the program calendar at SLCwichita.org.

Next Date Night set for May 4 at the SLC
True happiness in marriage lies not in changing the way God made our loved ones, but in appreciating and learning to love the difference
The next Date Night,“My Spouse’s Temperament: The Perfect Fit For Me?,” Thursday May 4 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita will help attendees discover new ways of understanding and respecting the person they married.
Within a fun-relaxing atmosphere that a date night creates and using real-life anecdotes, Jake and Ramie Samour will:
• Show the four kinds of spouses – which kind did you marry?
• How temperament affects the way you and your spouse communicate, resolve conflict and show affection
• How knowing what your spouse’s temperament needs most will help you understand and communicate with them better

Catholic Assembly for Business to meet Wednesday, May 10, at the SLC
The next Catholic Assembly for Business will be held Wednesday morning, May 10, at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
Dr. Owen Phelps, director of the Yeshua Catholic International Leadership Institute of Durand, Illinois, will speak at the breakfast.
He will reflect on his experience and provide practical examples to “Lead Like Jesus - as Servant, Steward, and Shepherd - At Work, At Home, and in Your Community.”
The CAB is an association of local Catholic business men and women focused on growing spiritually while finding new ways to incorporate their faith into their daily lives at work and at home.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. The cost for non-members is a $10 donation upon check-in. To register visit CatholicDioceseOfWichita.org/slc.

Called and Gifted Workshop in June
A Called and Gifted workshop, designed to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus and to discover God’s plan for one’s life, is scheduled for early June.
Each baptized person has been given a unique and personal call to work with Jesus. The workshop will give those attending a new perspective on their lives and will help them to be more fulfilled in their work and in their relationships.
The Office of Marriage and Family Life and the Office of Faith Formation is sponsoring a teaching team from the Catherine of Siena Institute in Colorado Springs to offer the introductory Called and Gifted workshop from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday June 9, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 10, at the Spiritual Life Center.
The cost is $75 for commuters, $115 for a single room overnight, and $105 for a double room overnight.
To register or for more information, call 316-744-0167 or email slc@slcwichita.org.

New book study begins at the SLC in May
The Spiritual Life Center will host its third monthly book study in May.
May’s book is “Kristin Lavransdatter” by Sigrid Undset. The story isis set in 14th century Norway and follows the life of the daughter of a nobleman seeking to make her way in a world filled with tradition, mystery, beauty, and danger.
The reading group, which is part of an SLC education series called “Good Books,” begins on Tuesday, May 2, with sessions meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The curriculum is based on the ideas of John Senior, founding father and leading professor of the famed Integrated Humanities Program, which throve at the University of Kansas in the 1970s and ’80s and helped form and inspire the young minds of many notable students such as Archbishop Paul Coakley, Bishop James Conley, and several of the founding monks of the Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma. Senior noted that the great books movement of the 20th century “went flat” like “good champagne in plastic bottles.”
There is no fee for attendance. The only cost will be for the optional purchase of textbooks and freewill donations.
There will be copies of selected books for sale at Monk’s Corner, the SLC bookstore and will be available for purchase at meetings.
Other dates are 7 to 8:30 p.m. on May 2, June 6, July 6, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, and Oct. 3. The reading schedule for “Kristin Lavransdatter” is posted online at www.SLCWichita.org.

‘Fighting for your Marriage’ series begins in June
All married couples should be in a relationship where both partners want the best for each other, have fun together, and can trust and depend on each other.
“Fighting for your Marriage,” offered by the Office of Marriage and Family Life, will help couples accomplish that goal. They’ll learn skills to improve and protect their relationship and help them achieve their goals and dreams for their most intimate relationship.
The program has four sessions from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday evenings, June 5, 12, 19, and 26, at the Spiritual Life Center. Babysitting will be provided but couples must call the Spiritual Life Center and let them know how many children they will be bringing.
To register or for more information, call 316-744-0167 or email slc@slcwichita.org.