Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:02

Bishop Jackels appoints Fr. Simone as vice chancellor
Bishop Michael O. Jackels has announced that Father Michael Simone is appointed, in addition to his duties as Diocesan Vocation Director, to serve as Vice-Chancellor, effective immediately.

Vietnamese Pastoral Council invites all to celebrate Vietnamese New Year
The faithful of the Diocese of Wichita are invited to join in the celebration of the New Year Mass in welcoming the Year of the Dragon.
Bishop Michael Jackels will celebrate the Mass with the attending priests at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Church of Magdalen, 12626 East 21st St. N., Wichita.
Children will receive Lucky money immediately following Mass. There will be a cultural program consisting of great food, a Lion Dance, cultural songs, dances, and door prizes.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!
Trân trọng thông bá: Nhân dịp đầu năm, để cảm tạ Thiên Chúa cùng cầu xin Ngài chúc lành tới mọi người chúng ta trong Năm Mới, Hội Đồng Mục Vụ Công Giáo Việt Nam Địa Phận Wichita sẽ tổ chức Thánh Lễ Đầu Năm, năm Nhâm Thìn 2012 vào lúc 3 giờ chiều Chúa Nhật ngày 22, tháng 1, năm 2012 tại nhà thờ Magdalen.
Địa chỉ số 12626 East đường 21 North Thành Phố Wichita
Thánh Lễ Đầu Xuân sẽ do Đức Giám Mục Micae Jackels Chủ Tế, và cùng các Linh Mục, Việt-Mỹ đồng tế. Ngay sau Thánh Lễ sẽ phát tiền “lì xì” cho các em.
Sau đó, chúng tôi có tổ chức một bữa tiệc, văn nghệ, múa Lân và xổ số lấy hên mừng Năm Mới.
Trân trọng kính mời toàn thể quý ông bà và anh chị em đến tham dự Thánh Lễ Đầu Năm và thưởng thức một chương trình văn nghệ đầy sắc thái mừng Xuân 2012.
Trân trọng kính mời, Linh Mục Benjamin Nguyễn Minh Nhật, Chủ Tịch Hội Đồng Mục Vụ Công Giáo Việt Nam Địa Phận Wichita

Annual Romance Night Feb. 4
This year’s Romance Night, “Say It With Music,” will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at St. Mary Parish, 106 E. 8th, in Newton.
The 12th annual celebration, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Family Life and Natural Family Planning, includes a candlelight dinner, wine, door prizes, and entertainment.
Father Paul Oborny will give the opening remarks. He will be followed by the Catholic musical group from Nashville, Marian Grace.
Band member Jimmy Mitchell said they are excited to be able to travel to the diocese.
He said Marian Grace is part of Mysterium, which is both a company and a community that brings together artists who understand the need for cultural renewal through the marriage of beauty and truth.
“To be truly authentic, you must be truly Catholic,” Mitchell said. “To be secular and Catholic used to be one in the same. Now there is a division. We are working to bring the two back together through our music in the hopes of rebuilding a truly Catholic culture.”
For more about the group go to http://mysteriumonline.com/music/
The cost of the evening is $35 per couple. Seating is limited, RSVP by Jan. 27. Register online at www.nfpwichita.org or call (316) 685-5240.

New ministry seeking knitters to share time, talent and shawls
After the Gift, a new diocesan ministry, is seeking knitters to offer their time and talent by knitting prayer shawls that are given to the women at a special prayer service during the retreat.
The retreats are designed for women who have given the gift of life through adoption. The weekend offers hope and healing through prayer, reflection, and sharing.
The next weekend is scheduled for Feb. 3-5 at the Spiritual Life Center. Those who are interested showing support for these courageous women are asked to contact: Cindy Cook at (316) 648-2927 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Eighth Day Symposium Jan. 28
By Erin Doom
The Second Annual Eighth Day Symposium, “What’s Wrong with the World? An Inkling of a Response,” is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral.
Those interested in attending may call (316) 573-8413, email erin@eighthdayinstitute, or go to www.eighthdayinstitute.com to register. Complementary snacks and lunch will be provided. The suggested donation is $15.
Eighth Day Institute, which sponsors the symposium, will also soon unveil the inaugural issue of its new journal Synaxis.
Since its inception, the institute has led and hosted retreats, lecture-and-film series, and annual feasts for Christmas, St. Valentine, and St. Patrick.
The institute also established the Hall of Men, where Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox men gather for food and drink, prayer, and a lecture on a hero who challenges them to “throw off the sin that so easily entangles” and to “run the race marked out before them.”
Eighth Day Institute was founded in 2008 in Wichita as an educational non-profit. Although there is no formal affiliation or financial relationship with Eighth Day Books, support for one another is mutual and enthusiastic.
Eighth Day Institute is also sponsoring the Second Annual Patristics Symposium, “The Body of the Living Christ: The Patristic Doctrine of the Church.”
Details about that event will be announced in the next few weeks. And plans are well under way for the First Annual Eighth Day Forum in November.
Doom is the founder and director of Eighth Day Institute

Youth and adult volunteers needed for Lord’s Diner Recycling
WICHITA – Volunteers are needed to help the Lord’s Diner become more eco-friendly.
Those interested may help by signing up to donate up to one hour, one day a month, to transport clean and bagged recyclables. Volunteers will recycle cans, plastics, bottles, paper and cardboard materials by moving them from the Lord’s Diner at 520 N. Broadway to the nearby Via Christi St. Francis’s recycling dumpsters at 929 N. St Francis St.
For information or to sign up call: (316) 308-8790 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nayeli and Ixy Esparza, coordinators of the Lord’s Diner recycling project, are parishioners of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and students at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School.

Dear Neighbor Ministry offers free tax return preparation and e-filing
WICHITA – Congregation of St. Joseph’s Dear Neighbor Ministries is taking appointments for people in need of assistance with their tax return. The free service will begin its eighth year as a VITA Tax Preparation Site on Jan. 30.
Fourteen IRS certified volunteers will be available to those with low to moderate income. Generally this means, people with income under $50,000. The free service, will allow people to file their return electronically with direct deposit to their bank account.
Agnes DeVasure coordinates the tax program and serves as the liaison with the IRS.
At this year’s kick-off meeting, she told the volunteers, “Our goals are to help people file their federal and state returns without charge and to help them avoid the high-interest schemes of instant returns.”
DeVasure explained that in most cases people would have their refund within a few days.
“Our volunteers have been trained and certified to help people get all the tax benefits they are entitled to get.”
To make an appointment call Dear Neighbor Ministries at (316) 684-5120.