Thursday, 16 September 2010 14:39

A Conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels

I often draw parallels between what happens in most family homes and what happens in our Catholic family. And one of the parallels is the fact that in any home, there is work that has to be done. And those family chores that I've identified certainly do not make an exhaustive list, but right now they are needs.

There is a need to be able to make more and larger grants to parishes to help in their efforts at faith formation whether it's through the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund or the St. Maria De Mattias Endowment.

We are blessed by God with a good number of vocations to the priesthood. We have 48 seminarians studying for our Diocese, and the happy chore associated with that is being able to pay their education costs.

The third chore for our diocesan family is to repair and update the Cathedral church and some of the other buildings on the campus.

Each chore is unique, but the first two – faith formation and the education of seminarians – those needs are ongoing. There will never come a time when we say, "Ok, we don't need to worry about faith formation anymore and no need to have seminarians to send off and to educate to be formed."

But the repair and update of our Cathedral campus is pressing. I'm looking out my window right now, and they've already started to do work on the roof because if we don't do something right now, the building will continue to further deteriorate. Regardless of how much money I am able to raise to benefit the Cathedral and the other buildings, we have to do this.

Like the roof, there are areas that need to be repaired. There are safety concerns that have to be addressed. The choir loft makes me nervous whenever I look at it. And some parts of the old Cathedral High School should not be used until they are fixed.

And there are some parts, like the choir loft or the upper floors of the old high school or the even the sanctuary, that people cannot get to if they are confined to a wheelchair or have difficulty making steps.

This is significant for all of us because the Cathedral is more than a parish church. It is the mother church of all the Catholics in the Diocese. Ideally we would all worship there every Sunday with the bishop at Mass. But when distances make that impossible, we establish other parish churches. And so in that sense other parish churches are born from the Cathedral.

Our Cathedral is more than just a church, and the other buildings are more than just spaces. They too symbolize who we are and what we do.

We are a people who acknowledge God and all that we have, can, can do and are comes from God. And so as a consequence of that, we gather in church to worship and give thanks to God and also to reflect what we do outside of church. We learn and teach Christ to others, and we serve others in one form or another: helping them to learn English and helping them with their immigration papers or helping them with emergency assistance – food and otherwise – helping to enrich their marriages…. We could go on and on.

This is what we do because of who we are, and these buildings are places where that service takes place. These buildings are symbols of who we are and what we do. They should reflect the vigor and the beauty of the Church in our Diocese. And they should be a place of righteous pride for us.

Obviously we can only do as much as we are able with the money that the people of the Diocese gratefully and generously and sacrificially share for that purpose. But while any amount for faith formation or religious education is going to be helpful, it is more than what we had before and will enable us to do more, and more is better. But with regard to the Cathedral and the other buildings on its campus, we have a pretty clear idea of how much we need in order to do all that is needed.

We will only do what we have the money to carry out, but hopefully people will see the importance of it, and they will respond to the invitation and make a sacrificial gift in support of all of these family chores, but especially to take care of our family home, our diocesan Cathedral, the mother church of our Diocese.

Thursday, 16 September 2010 14:35

September marks the beginning of many catechetical classes across the Diocese. And thanks to the St. Maria De Mattias Endowment, more than 20 parishes are able to offer a richer understanding of our Catholic faith.

For a second year the endowment is able to provide scholarships, allowing individuals who teach our faith to work toward a master's degree in theology from Newman University.

Fr. Joe Gile, assistant professor of theology at Newman University, says the 45 scholarship students are currently serving as catechists.

"The program will help them have a richer understanding of Catholicism," Fr. Gile said. "These are (directors of religious education) RCIA leaders and individuals who are currently working with youth, so they will be able to use this knowledge in their parishes right away."

With most of the coursework available online, students don’t have to be in Wichita to participate.

Karen Pontius, a scholarship recipient and confirmation teacher at Sacred Heart Parish in Arkansas City, says there often are not a lot of opportunities for adult faith formation outside of Wichita. "We could always drive to Wichita. We're fortunate to be only an hour away, but it's an hour away. It can be difficult to take advantage of that if you work or if you have a family."

Technology provides interactive learning and makes the program accessible to participating catechists in cities across our Diocese including Augusta, Arkansas City, Coffeyville, Garden Plain, Goddard, Hutchinson, Pittsburg, Valley Center Wichita and Winfield.

Tracy Mayfield is in her second year of the Newman graduate program and her fifth year of teaching PSR in her parish, Holy Name in Coffeyville. Mayfield says the program is furthering her understanding of how theology works.

"There are some people who want to do bible study, and I’m a lot better able to handle that now than when I first started," Mayfield said.

The St. De Mattias scholarships not only train educators across the Diocese, but those educators deepen their love for God in a way that helps them to teach others to know God.

"As a scholarship recipient, I feel a deep responsibility to return the gifts God's given me: the ability to do this, the chance, and the time," Pontius said. "It's my responsibility to give that back in whatever way I can. I’m ready to do whatever I’m called upon to do."

The TOGETHER special appeal aims to increase the St. De Mattias Endowment by $1 million, allowing the fund to help more parishes develop Catholic formation programs and educate catechists as they teach others to know and love God.

Go to TOGETHERvision.org to learn more about the appeal and how the St. Maria De Mattias Endowment helps faith formation across our Diocese.

Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: Curtis D. Hecker
Currently enrolled: St. John Vianney, St. Paul, Minn.
Parish: Sacred Heart, Arkansas City
Parents: Curtis and Paula Hecker

By Heather Welch

You worked on a Totus Tuus parish team this summer. What did that entail? How did you spend your time?

Totus Tuus this summer involved everything from fighting a ninja or getting pied in the face for a skit, to epic dodge-ball battles involving at least 150 kids plus Father Ben Sawyer at St. Thomas Aquinas, or a 50 person Jell-O fight with the junior and senior high kids, Deacon Marco De Loera and Father Brian Nelson at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

From preparing the kids to participate more fully in daily Mass or teaching them how to develop a deeper prayer life, to beginning and ending everyday with my team in prayer, it was an experience that maintained a constant focus on the Lord. The majority of my time was spent either teaching or playing games with the kids, or doing crazy things with my team, like a no-hands watermelon eating contest (which I won).

What does the Totus Tuus program teach our youth? How has it inspired you?

The most important thing that Totus Tuus teaches our youth is that the faith is alive and that there are young people out there who are in love with the Lord and are striving to grow in their relationship with Him.

One of the biggest ways that Totus Tuus has inspired me was by giving me the chance to meet and learn from seminarians (many of whom are now priests) and to discover that they are normal guys. It would be hard to over-emphasize the impact that this had on my vocation. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to teach Totus Tuus and hopefully I was able to impact the next generation in the same way.

What is your favorite subject in seminary?

Despite my initial reservations about studying philosophy it has since become my favorite subject for two reasons; first, because I love the logical pattern of thinking and reasoning, but moreover because philosophy is the handmaid of theology and I have come to see how important a firm grasp of philosophy is in understanding, explaining and defending the Theology of our Faith.

Thursday, 02 September 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: Thomas Skinner
School attended last year: Benedictine College
Currently enrolled: 3rd College at Conception
Parish: Blessed Sacrament, Wichita
Parents: Steve and Mary Frances Skinner

By Heather Welch

What are your first impressions of seminary?

My first few days here have been simply amazing! It is a place full of peace and joy because it is centered on Christ. Having a bunch of guys around is actually a lot of fun—you never have any shortage of sports and games. I can honestly say that being here is like a very good dream.

What classes are you taking this first semester?

I’m taking Ancient Philosophy, Christian Living, Western Civilizations, How to Look at Art, Fundamentals of Music, and also Voice Lessons just for fun.

When did you know God was leading you to discern a vocation to the priesthood?

I thought that God might be calling me to the priesthood during my freshman year of college, when I finally began to take my faith seriously. The Mass was at the center of my day.

One day, I went to Mass as usual; when the priest lifted up the bread after it had become the body of Christ, I felt a strange (and a little scary) desire to have that same gift. I ran from it at first, but God kept pulling me toward seminary, and after developing a strong habit of prayer I was certain that I needed to call the vocations director, Fr. Simone.

Tell us about your family picture. It looks like it was a fun trip!

This summer, I got to go to Colorado with my family for vacation. This picture was taken when we had just gotten done white-water rafting. It was a blast (but very cold)!

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

Monday, 23 August 2010 13:50

A conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels

This time of year is traditionally identified with back to school. And for those of us who are out of school and aren't going back to school and don't want to go back to school, it reminds us – that if in no other part of our lives – learning is ongoing in the practice of our Catholic faith.

Some people consider the sacrament of confirmation the completion of their religious education. But there is only one thing that completes religious education, and that's when Jesus calls you home.

All of us are called to give some time and energy to further education, especially in the areas of knowing who Jesus was, what He did, what He taught and what He expects of his followers in the Catholic Church.

This understanding ties in well with the goals of the TOGETHER vision. Two of the beneficiaries of the TOGETHER appeal are the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund and the St. Maria De Mattias Endowment. Both help further this whole venture of faith formation and ongoing faith formation.

It doesn't matter whether we have school-age children.

Friday, 20 August 2010 00:00

The roughly 200 students at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School headed back to school this week, but they are also experienced a homecoming.

"It's more like we're a family than a school," said Mary Samms, the principal who has been in the St. Margaret Mary family since 1989.

St. Margaret Mary is tucked in a south Wichita neighborhood that has seen gradual change since it was built in 1954. A few of the parish’s founding members still live in the ranch-style homes surrounding the church and school. But the parish family has evolved as the south side of Wichita has transformed.

"As the demographics have changed, so has the income of the parish because the new parishioners don't make as much money, therefore their tithes are less," said Samms.

St. Margaret Mary is like many parishes in the Diocese of Wichita that were once centers of affluent or middle-class communities. As families move, the parish income changes but the need for Catholic education remains.

The St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund directs additional funding to St. Margaret Mary and about 20 other parishes in 11 counties across our Diocese. Nearly 2,000 students are afforded opportunities because their parishes receive direct donations and annual disbursements through the St. Drexel fund.

"I don't know where we would be without Drexel right now," Samms said.

The St. Drexel fund provides financial support to parishes with a large number of families that are at or below the poverty level. Qualified parishes spend at least half of their Sunday income on Catholic education, and at least 30 percent of the students in these parishes come from low-income households.

"As Catholics in the Diocese of Wichita, we have so many opportunities to support Catholic education," said Mike Wescott, director of development. "Not only can we offer prayers of thanksgiving for our 38 Catholic schools, but we can give of our time by volunteering in the schools that need our help most, and we can give of our treasure through the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund."

The parishes benefitting from the St. Katharine Drexel Fund could begin to see bigger disbursements. Bishop Michael O. Jackels has named the St. Drexel fund a beneficiary of the TOGETHER vision for the future of our Diocese.

Through TOGETHER, the Diocese aims to raise $10 million toward the St. Drexel endowment. Though $10 million is not enough to fill every need, it could more than double the distribution to parishes each year.

With that kind of increase in funding, Samms says teachers could receive raises that they richly deserve – raises that might bring them closer to what they could earn in another school.

"Given our Christian duty to pass on the Catholic faith, all of us must join hands to see that our parish schools not only survive but even thrive," says Bishop Jackels.

Find out how you can make a difference. Go to drexelcatholicschoolfund.com to learn more about the fund or go to TOGETHERvision.org to make a gift to the TOGETHER vision in support of the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund.

Thursday, 05 August 2010 00:00

The Diocese of Wichita reached a milestone last week in the TOGETHER vision effort.

"Through your generosity, we have thus far received gifts and pledges right at $10 million," Bishop Michael O. Jackels said. "That is a true blessing, and I am in awe and in gratitude to all of you for your response to this message."

The gifts will benefit the renovation of our Cathedral and the buildings on its campus, the education of our seminarians, and our Catholic formation programs.

"This is a great sign of our appreciation of our sense of family or family unity – a unity that extends to each of us chipping in to take care of the family chores."

But Bishop Jackels says we still have a long way to go to meet the needs of our diocesan family. Through the TOGETHER vision, the Diocese hopes to raise $16 million for a renovation of the Cathedral campus; $10 million for the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund; $1 million for the St. Maria De Mattias Endowment; and $10 million for the Seminarian Education Endowment.

The bishop continues to meet with individuals and small groups in addition to parish visits scheduled through December 2011.

Go to TOGETHERvision.org to find out more about the TOGETHER vision or to make a pledge.

Goals of the TOGETHER vision
• Strengthen the oneness between parish and diocese.
• Deepen our practice of stewardship as a way of life, sharing responsibility for the mission of the Church.
• Invite everyone to help fund seminarian education, Catholic formation programs and a renovation of the Cathedral campus.

Thursday, 05 August 2010 00:00

Seminarian snapshot
Seminarian: Kyle Dugan
School attended last year: Newman University
Next year will begin: 2nd college
Parish: Church of the Holy Spirit, Goddard
Parents: Kelly and Glenn Dugan

By Heather Welch

What has inspired you to discern a vocation to the priesthood?

“I think that is what God is calling me to do, and if it is, then it is the best thing I can do and it’s what I will be most joyful doing more than anything else in the world. I must find out if this is God’s plan for me from the day I was born.”

Where did you work this summer?

“I worked at my Dad’s John Deere dealership with my older brother in the Lawn/Garden section, and helped out around the store. It was fun working for and with my family. It was relaxing, and I learned a lot working with customers. It helped me grow even closer to my family and helped us to stay grounded. We had daily reminders to say prayers for instance.”

What are your hobbies and interests?

“I taught myself to play acoustic guitar, and then I taught my younger brother and we now play together. I also like poker and find I’m pretty good at it.”

Who has been your example of faith?

“If it were not for Father Joe Tatro I probably wouldn’t be here. Meeting him was the biggest turning point for me. My parents taught me the faith and sent me to Catholic school. My older brother, Kurtis, set a good example for me. I’ve always had thoughts about becoming a priest in my mind, but I wasn’t really serious about it until I met Fr. Tatro.”

What are you looking forward to most about returning to seminary?

“I’m looking forward to all the friendships. There are 44 other guys going back to school. We will become close and we’ll hang out. It is so great to have that many other guys going through the same thing I am.”

Friday, 16 July 2010 00:00

A Conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels

One way of referring to the Church is to say that the Church is the family of God, and I think that if you look at what might be common in a lot of families, it translates well into the life of the Church that we are a family.

Part of my reason for going to every parish and preaching at every Mass is to communicate this truth. We are a family, and as family members, we have a certain responsibility to chip in for the sake of the vitality of our diocesan family.

It’s similar to a family in that in most families everybody’s got chores to do. And everybody has a certain ownership and accountability to the strength of the family, the prosperity of the family.

When I’m visiting parishes I identify the chores or responsibilities within the parish. But I’m also sharing the chores or needs on a diocesan level that will not be accomplished unless people all across the Diocese respond. In areas of faith formation, we can respond through the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School Fund and the St. Maria De Mattias Fund. In the area of our seminarians, we can help educate them through the Seminarian Education Endowment. And together we must respond to repair and update the buildings on the Cathedral campus, which, you can say, is our family home. It’s where we all hail from.

Friday, 09 July 2010 00:00

Three screens played the TOGETHER vision video at Masses the weekend before Bishop Jackels' visit to the parish on June 26-27.

By Chris Riggs

The parishioners of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception are reaching deep into their pockets for one aspect of the Diocese of Wichita's TOGETHER vision.

Over the past couple of months several groups of Cathedral parishioners have been meeting to educate themselves about Bishop Michael O. Jackels' TOGETHER goals: to strengthen the oneness between the parish and diocese, to deepen the practice of stewardship, and the invitation to assist in seminarian education Catholic formation programs, and the renovation of the Cathedral campus.

It's the last goal, though, that the parish has been focused on for the past several weeks.

Cathedral parishioners have taken ownership of Bishop Jackels' vision and have launched a special fundraising effort to show the rest of the diocese their commitment to the project and their appreciation for the diocesan-wide "family" effort.

Todd Bragg, associate vice president of the Steier Group of Omaha, Neb., said Cathedral parishioners are embracing challenge. "They are going the extra step to ensure that everyone in the parish has the opportunity to share stewardship and express their stewardship through participation in the TOGETHER vision."