A conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels
I was recently visiting Holy Name Parish in Coffeyville. And at each Mass, there were children of all ages who brought forward these buckets that they had in their classrooms at school, in their Parish School of Religion classes, and in the children’s collection during Mass that weekend.

A little sign on the buckets invited children to give change for our Cathedral. And the sign listed the TOGETHER vision goals: to strengthen the communion across our Diocese, deepen our practice of stewardship and to help fund some true needs in our Church.

Now probably very few, if any, of these kids have ever seen our Cathedral, but they understood that this is a place of significance for them. And while it may not seem like much to some, the $409.68 that those children collected was a lot. It was a lot like the Widow’s Mite. It may not seem like much objectively, but it is much.

When a child releases a quarter or a fistful of pennies into a bucket for the old church up in Wichita, that’s a true gift, and it’s a beautiful thing to behold. It is inspiring.

And it is inspiring that the Cathedral Parish has raised more than $1 million in gifts and pledges to the TOGETHER vision.

The Cathedral parishioners have shown an outpouring of support in this effort. The makeup of the Cathedral Parish is different than it was in the past. There are about a thousand families, very faith-filled people, some of whom have means, but many of whom do not. So for that thousand families to contribute more than $1 million is very significant.

It fills me with great pride.

It helps me to see that the priests and the parish leadership have been working very hard, and with great effect and fruitfulness, at showing the importance of this whole project – not just the Cathedral campus renovation but also this sense of communion in the Church and our practice of stewardship and the importance of educating future priests, and of fostering and promoting faith formation programs.

There is effect to their efforts, and it can be seen in this level of participation and in the amount gifted and pledged.

You look at the people in the Cathedral Parish, and you look at the children of Holy Name Parish in Coffeyville, and I could bring up any number of other examples, because they are just that – examples. They are examples to the rest of us to take a part in this work because we recognize ourselves as a part of this larger diocesan Church family.

These efforts stand to benefit us all: whether it’s our Cathedral, strengthening and even etching into the very stones our oneness/our family spirit; whether it’s the education of seminarians, ensuring our future because we’ll have priests; or whether it’s faith formation programs because we will continue to create the potential for people to act with the values and the light from the Gospel of Jesus and the teachings of his Catholic Church.

All of us stand to benefit from the success of the TOGETHER vision.

"A Conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels"

I have noticed on occasion that when I talk about our second goal of the TOGETHER vision – to deepen our practice of stewardship, each of us bearing our share of responsibility for the mission of the Church – that sometimes people smile in response to the reflection offered.

A smile because part of the message is acknowledging the gifts that each person brings to the mission of the Church and valuing those gifts as important or significant for carrying out that mission. It’s something that would naturally make someone smile.

In the 3^rd letter of St. John, he alerts the Christians in one community that there are some members of the Church who will be passing through on their way to preach the name of Jesus. And St. John encourages these Christians to help the missionaries in whatever way they are able because by helping these missionaries, the Christians will be participating in the good work the missionaries carry out.

Each of us has to look and see what we are able to bring to the task at hand.

What can I bring to the repair and update of our Cathedral and the other buildings on its campus? What can I bring to the education of seminarians? What can I bring to the provision of more and larger grants to religious education efforts in parishes?

What amount can I bring? What talents can I bring? What can I bring to it?

Part of that is that we have to recognize we do have gifts. We have to recognize that what we have is all gift.

This is where calling it a gift is perhaps not the best terminology because if you give me a gift, I can do what I like with it. I can take it for my own possession. I can re-gift it. I can toss it away. I can take it back to the store and exchange it.

But what God gives us are not so much gifts in that sense.

They are gifts in the sense that they are given to us but not so that we can do with them whatever we want. They are given to us to be managers and stewards. Whether we’re talking about our own life and health, our responsibility for our neighbor, our money, or our time… whatever it may be, we’re managers. We’re not owners.

God is the owner. He remains the owner. We manage. And we manage according to the holy desire of the owner, this being God.

When we recognize it as such a gift, we would also esteem it. Here is something that is given to me by God. Well I suppose I’m going to esteem that as something more precious and more valuable than if it’s something given to me by some human individual.

So we must see it as something given and count it as something precious because of who gives it, and use it according to the plan of the giver – in this sense: God.

Everyone has something to bring. There’s not a single person who can say, “I’m too old, too short, too rich, too poor; I’m too educated or not.” There is nobody who can say I am too something that would exclude them from having a part to play in the mission of the Church.

It’s rather that each of us looks at what we have been given and what God’s plan is for that and to use it to be a good steward of it for God’s glory and for the benefit of others or for the benefit of the mission of the Church.

Amen.

Thursday, 18 November 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: Jeremy S. Huser
Currently enrolled: Mount St. Mary Seminary
Parish: Sacred Heart Parish, Fredonia
Parents: Mark and Jeryl Huser

Editor’s note: This week we ask Jeryl Huser questions about her son Jeremy’s choice to study for the priesthood.

1. What has life been like for Jeremy and your family living as a farm family?

Very stressful! We grew up with a large family in a small house. There were long hours on the farm especially during the summer. We would usually have a late supper because we waited on the guys coming in from the farm. We always tried eating as a family at the table to talk about our day. Everyone helped out on the farm with the crops and livestock.
When the kids were little, they would ride in the tractor or combine with us, and when they got old enough, we taught them how to operate the machinery. The kids weren’t involved with a lot of school activities because farming life took a lot of our time. But we always made sure they attended Sunday school and we were always at Mass sitting together.

Even now, Jeremy often asks how things are on the farm. He asks how the crops are looking and if there are any changes. Even though he’s so busy right now, he tries to fit in time to run a tractor for a couple of hours when he’s home.

Friday, 05 November 2010 08:52

Michael Wescott, director of the Office of Development and Planned Giving, talks to a room full of priests of the diocese at a clergy conference on Oct. 18. (Advance photo)

By Christopher M. Riggs

Bishop Michael O. Jackels told diocesan priests on Oct. 18 that he has encountered great generosity as he travels throughout the Diocese of Wichita visiting parishes to talk about the TOGETHER vision.

The clergy of the diocese have pledged nearly $1 million to the vision, he told the room full of priests attending a clergy conference at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita. “There has also been a great show of support among the religious and lay people of the Diocese,” Bishop Jackels said.

More than $13 million has been pledged to the TOGETHER special appeal so far.

The bishop praised the generosity and inspiration of the students of St. Patrick School in Chanute, who organized fundraisers, so that they would be able to present a gift to Bishop Jackels when he visited the parish. At a Mass on Saturday, Oct. 2, the children sang two songs for their bishop and gave him a photo of themselves along with $1,107.46 in cash.

“You just sang so beautifully that our God is an awesome God and that Jesus is beautiful,” Bishop Jackels told the students. “And both are true, but I could sing – and I won’t – but I could sing how awesome and how beautiful are you. And not just because of a gift...but because of the motivation, the inspiration behind that gift and the fact of what it represents. I am truly impressed. This is another way God says to me, ‘don’t worry, I’ll do it.’”

Bishop Jackels also spoke to the priests gathered at the clergy conference about a woman in a nursing home in Haysville who regularly sends him $5 or $10. The attitude, he said, is that “this needs to be done; we’ll help out when we’re able. The people and priests are very ‘kingdom’ minded.”

Michael Wescott, director of the Office of Development and Planned Giving, reiterated Bishop Jackels’ comment about the generous and enthusiastic response from the parishes.
“Our diocesan family continues to show their support for our bishop and the future of our Church with generous, sacrificial and proportional gifts. And the bishop has shared with me his gratitude for the great hospitality he has been extended while visiting parishes,” Wescott said.

Bishop Jackels parish visitation schedule continues through December of 2011. This weekend he will preside at all Masses at Mother of God Parish in Oswego. On Nov. 13 and 14 the bishop will visit St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Wichita.

For a complete listing of the bishop’s parish visits or for more information about the TOGETHER vision, go to TOGETHERvision.org.

Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: Cody Saunders
Currently enrolled: Conception Seminary College
Parish: Blessed Sacrament
Parents: Dave and Annette Saunders

By Heather Welch

Editor’s note: Cody Saunders shares how his lawn care business became an opportunity for grace.

I started my own lawn mowing business, and named it Cody Cares Lawn Management. To start it off, I developed a 19-page business plan, organized the start up with quite limited equity and supplies, advertised with flyers, and gathered any customer I could get. After three months of difficulty and an exhausting start up, I bought a truck with my saved money. After two years of successful operation, I sold my business so I could teach Totus Tuus to the youth of our diocese.

One aspect I liked about my work was the freedom to make the process as efficient and systemized as possible. I liked being able to delegate operations and work with my employees.

Not all of the work was easy and smooth. In fact, most took patience and meticulous work. Something I had to accept generously was my responsibility to act appropriately when something went wrong on the job. Occasionally, I had to put up money to fix broken machines. That said, as in any struggle in life, I grew from such difficulties and learned how to better handle many struggles like them.

Definite goodness has come from these experiences of struggles and joys. One of the greatest benefits is the long-term aid they have provided in my spiritual life, my relationship with God. I have learned, on a higher level, the lines between pride and confidence, fear and humility, impatience and acceptance.
By God’s grace, I have come to know better who I am, in the experiences this business venture has provided. Even to this day, these past experiences continually influence my relationship with God more and more.

Not only have they remained with me, but also they have developed and intensified to higher grounds. Nevertheless, like all of us, I most definitely still learn how to deal more appropriately with the difficulties of life and how kindly to find truth in the confusion.

It is only God’s grace, His presence at my side, that is enough to guide me to confidence, humility, and acceptance to this day. All is because of Him. May He be praised for the innumerable blessings He has bestowed.

Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:00

"A Conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels"

I often refer to the TOGETHER vision as a vision for the future growth of our Diocese.

Obviously, the existence of the Church itself is not dependent upon this TOGETHER vision nor is our Diocese dependent on me or any one of us. But the growth of the Church and the growth of its mission is dependent upon each of our response to the invitation.

The first goal of the TOGETHER vision – to strengthen the sense of oneness across our Diocese – catechizes people about who we are as Catholics. TOGETHER reminds us that there is no solitary Christian. As soon as we profess faith and are baptized, we become members of the Body of Christ, the family of God, the community of believers.

The old adage says there are strength in numbers. When children play Red Rover, they’re strongest when they have more arms linked together. The team is made stronger by collaboration and cooperation just as our Church is made stronger with a greater understanding of our unity.

And this understanding is related to our second goal – to deepen our practice of stewardship where each of us shares responsibility for the mission of the Church. Again, an old adage says “many hands make light work.” If everyone pitches in, it’s not a burden of a ministry. The work of the Church is made easy by collaboration and cooperation. And we don’t have to think of stewardship as being a big undertaking.

Thursday, 14 October 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: The Rev. Mr. Daniel Duling
Currently enrolled: Mount St. Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md.
Parish: St. Peter the Apostle, Schulte
Parents: Nick and Paula Duling

By Heather Welch

Your family is very tightly-knit. Why is this so?

Our family has always done everything together since I was very young. We still go on family vacations together every summer and eat dinner together as an entire family at least once a week sometimes twice. I think my mom and dad established in us at a very young age the importance of family and the closeness of family. My family has always shown support for each other through thick and thin, no matter what the circumstances.

Tuesday, 12 October 2010 15:55

The students of St. Patrick Catholic School in Chanute don’t get a lot of opportunities to see Bishop Michael Jackels.

When they learned he would be visiting Chanute to share the TOGETHER vision with their parish, the students and staff at the school planned a special gift for Bishop Jackels.

Principal Fey Barles says the kids learned all about the TOGETHER vision in school, and they wanted to be a part of it. So, with help from parents and teachers, the students prepared a special musical program for Mass and organized fundraisers, so that they would be able to present a gift for the TOGETHER special appeal.

Barles says older students sold baked goods, snow cones and lemonade after Masses while younger students made “chore coupons” to sell loving acts of kindness to their families. Even the preschool students got involved by making bookmarks, which they auctioned off to family members.

On Saturday, Oct. 2 the 70 students of St. Patrick Catholic School presented Bishop Jackels with two songs, a photo of themselves and $1,107.46 for the TOGETHER vision.

“You just sang so beautifully that our God is an awesome God and that Jesus is beautiful,” Bishop Jackels said. “And both are true, but I could sing – and I won’t – but I could sing how awesome and how beautiful are you. And not just because of a gift . . . but because of the motivation, the inspiration behind that gift and the fact of what it represents. I am truly impressed. This is another way God says to me, ‘don’t worry, I’ll do it.’”

Go to TOGETHERvision.org to see a video of the students’ presentation or to see photos from the bishop’s visit to more than 20 parishes.

Tuesday, 12 October 2010 15:46

St. Joseph Pastoral Center is named for Joseph, the husband of Mary and patron of workers. The name also honors the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph who taught at Cathedral High School. Several Sisters with ties to the school still live in Wichita including: (seated, from left) Sisters Ann Diskin, Margaret Nugent, Denise Sevart, Agnes Joseph Wachter, Cecilia Bush, Paula Marie Metz, Rebecca Martinez, Rose Helen Burger, Connie Robles; and (standing, from left) Sisters Rita Marie Thissen, Joan Marie Burger, Arlys McDonald, Barbara Baer, Louise Hune, Charlene Huffington, Elizabeth Ann Engels, Maria Guerrero.

After nearly 100 years, the former home of St. Mary’s Cathedral High School has a new name.

The building at the corner of Topeka and Central Avenues in downtown Wichita hasn’t been used as a school since the mid-sixties, but for years it has been known as the old Cathedral school building.

“We kept referring to the past,” said Bishop Michael O. Jackels. “And we certainly are people who live in the present and look to the future, not forgetting our past.”

The new name, St. Joseph Pastoral Center, was chosen to reflect the ministries available there while honoring the building’s history and paying tribute to the Holy Family.

“The idea came quite quickly and naturally to name it after St. Joseph, the husband of Mary,” Bishop Jackels said, “because it’s St. Mary’s Cathedral and usually we think in terms of Mary and Joseph.” But the bishop says St. Joseph has other ties to the history of this school and the ministries that take place there today.

The Cathedral school was blessed in 1920, and the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph who taught there made a great impact on the Diocese as they helped to form young people in the Catholic faith by their teaching, by their example and by their prayers.

“It’s a wonderful tribute to the Congregation,” says Sister Helene Lentz, CSJ. “I think it’s wonderful the new name pays tribute to so many of our sisters who gave their lives teaching in this school and loved every minute of it.”

Although it’s no longer a school, faith formation has continued in this location through parish religious education classes, the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry and through the services of Catholic Charities.

“St. Joseph is patron for a lot of things,” says Bishop Jackels. “But he is also patron of workers, and so it seemed a natural thing to ask his intercession and protection over the work that takes place there that is a companion to worship that takes place in St. Mary’s Cathedral.”

Fr. John Sherlock, Rector of the Cathedral, says the St. Joseph Pastoral Center cares for families in need like its namesake. “St. Joseph would come across as the head of the family, taking the people in need under his wings, just as he took Mary and the infant Jesus under his wings,” he said.

The Diocese-wide TOGETHER special appeal aims to raise $16 million for a renovation of the Cathedral campus, which includes the St. Joseph Pastoral Center along with the church, parish offices, social hall and a newly constructed gathering space.

Go to TOGETHERvision.org to find out more about the TOGETHER special appeal and to see details of the Cathedral campus renovation.

Wednesday, 29 September 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: David Voss
Currently enrolled: Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis
Parish: St. Patrick, Wichita
Parents: Edward and Claire Voss

Seminarian David Voss holds a prescription bottle while checking in campers at the summer Totus Tuus camp.

By Heather Welch

How did the concept of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita Vocations blog come about? The blog came about through one of my favorite aspects of seminary life - obedience. Fr. Simone wanted someone to do this, and he asked/volunteered two of us to do it, and the other seminarian was glad to let me take the lead in this project.

What kinds of things do you write about in your blog? I write about anything that’s interesting in my life as a seminarian. The last post was on how Fr. Kapaun has influenced my life. I’ve also written about kids shaving my head at Camp Totus Tuus, parades at the seminary, camping trips, world cup games, and about prayer at the seminary. I also intersperse different anecdotes from my own vocation story in order to give a picture of what one person’s story involving God’s call to a radical life.

What is one thing you have learned in your studies thus far that has stayed with you? One thing that I’ve learned is that grace builds on nature. The supernatural builds on the natural and consequently,supernatural charity - friendship with God - is based on and surpasses the very experiences of love in our own families.

How do you believe technology like your blog can be used to catechize and evangelize? Our church has continually called for a prudent use and presence of Catholicism in whatever media is present in culture. Throughout history, the church has always made an effort to make excellent use of the current art, architecture, publications, and other media. Why should today be any different? I hope the vocations blog can be a source of inspiration to help people to come to know Christ. Whether the person is thinking about entering seminary, curious about the Catholic Church, or just interested in what their future priests actually do in seminary, I hope and pray that this media leads people to Sacred Heart of Christ.

Being called to the seminary? Contact Fr. Mike Simone at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

David Voss blogs at Following God's Call.