Thursday, 05 April 2012 12:13

Pieta installed at Calvary Cemetery
A replica of Michelangelo’s Pieta has been installed at Calvary Cemetery, 610 S. Vassar, in Wichita.
The statue is located on the southeast side of the cemetery, in an expansion completed in 2009.
Jim Sheldon, director of the diocesan Cemeteries office, said he saw the statue at the national Catholic Cemetery Conference last year and thought a copy would be perfect for Calvary Cemetery. Sheldon said several generous families made the purchase possible.
The Pieta replica, produced in Italy, is molded from a cast of Michelangelo’s original Pieta, and is covered with a bronze veneer. The Michelangelo’s Pieta is located in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after his crucifixion.
Sheldon added that the instillation the week before holy week is particularly significant. “We would hope people would visit the cemetery this week to see the statue, and that the statue would lead them to prayer and meditation,” he said.

Catholic Charities’ Cruise Night a big splash
WICHITA – Catholic Charities Cruise Night made a big splash this year, raising nearly $150,000 in support of Catholic Charities shelter programs: Harbor House and St. Anthony Family Shelter.
The event, held at the Beech Activity Center, was attended by 650 individuals, and all were welcomed by the 2012 Cruise Night Captain, Freddy Simon of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers.
This year’s Cruise Night Captain, Freddy Simon of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, welcomed the 650 persons who attended the event at the Beech Activity Center.
“Ports-of-call” for the Evening Cruise of the Great Lakes, featured a vast array of delectable foods prepared by a sampling of Wichita’s finest chefs.
The venue offered a spacious layout for guests to browse the many silent and live auction items as well as sample the fine cuisine. This year’s live auction items included a nine-day Rome trip with Bishop Michael O. Jackels, an 18-week old Shichon puppy with a year of veterinary services, and a trip and tickets to any pro sports game in 50 markets.
Next year’s event will set sail on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Center of Hope benefit dinner and auction April 15 at NU
Wichita’s Center of Hope will host its “Spring Fling” Benefit Dinner and Auction Sunday, April 15, at Newman University. The event will begin at 5 p.m.
This event, which is the Center of Hope’s only major fund raising effort, is packed with many original auction items. Some of the live auction items are a “behind the scenes” zoo tour and animal interaction package, a beach condo vacation in Florida, a lawn and garden “spruce up” package, and a “Healthier You!” fitness package. There will also be a silent auction during the social hour and a raffle drawing after the live auction.
For tickets contact George Dinkel at the Center of Hope at (316) 267-3999.
The Center of Hope is a homeless prevention program that provides emergency assistance to those in our community who find themselves in imminent danger of becoming homeless.
This past year the center provided assistance to and helped prevent 2,924 families from suffering the trauma of eviction from their homes. Our follow-up research has revealed that over 80 percent of those families still had not been evicted six months after receiving assistance. The research also indicates that about 55 percent of those families we serve do not return to us for any further assistance after they receive the initial help.

Knights preparing diocesan-wide April recruitment drive
Knights of Columbus councils in the Diocese of Wichita are hosting recruitment open houses across the diocese after Masses on April 21-22.
The campaign will also be conducted in the other three dioceses in Kansas. (See ad on page 13.)
Knights are Catholic men, 18 years and older, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their church. Knights support their church and parishes, while enhancing their own faith and family life.

Pro-life Books for Life sale April 14, 21, 28
Sarah’s Hope will host its 15th Giant Book Sale, April 14, 21 and 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Suggested donations for sale items are $1 for hardbacks, 50 cents for paperbacks and 25 cents for children’s books.
The sale will be held at 3601 N. St. Francis (from 37th St. North and Broadway, go east three blocks, turn south to 35th, south side of red school building)
For more information, contact Tony at (316) 209-5029 or visit our website at www.sarahshope.com.
Donations of books, videos, CDs, DVDs and games may be dropped off anytime in the cabinet on south side of building. Call (316) 209-5029 to set up a time to drop off larger amounts. Volunteers are also needed for this event.

Ministry hosting seminar about how to support those with mental illness April 10 in Pittsburg
The diocesan Ministry with Persons with Disabilities will host a seminar entitled “Welcomed and Valued: Supporting People with Mental Illness in Parish Life” from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, in Pittsburg.
The session will be held in the Commons of St. Mary’s Colgan High School. Tom Racunas, director of the Ministry and Betty Pentola, a representative from National Alliance on Mental Illness, will speak.
Members of Respect Life and Social Justice Committees, parish nurses, members of special needs ministries, or anyone interested are encouraged to attend.
Reservations are requested. To do so, contact Tom Racunas or Angela Hampton at (316) 269-3900 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Third annual Walk Against Gang Violence Saturday, April 14
A Walk Against Gang Violence will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 14, at McAdams Park, 1329 E. 13th St. N.
The walking distance is two miles or less. Educational booths and displays will be set up before and after the walk. The booths will provide education on drug and alcohol abuse, summer activities for kids, and other information. Public officials and local clergy will speak about the dangers of gang violence.
This event is sponsored by Citizens of Wichita, non-profits and service agencies, local government, private business, and area colleges. For more information, contact Randy Wells (316) 263-1389 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Holy Family Camp June 11-15
The diocesan Ministry with Persons with Disabilities is planning its 22nd annual Holy Family Camp, June 11 -15, at Camp Hiawatha in Wichita. The theme will be “Think of God – Like the Saints.”
Applications for campers, who must be at least 14 years of age, and volunteers, known as “camp buddies,” can we found at www.catholicdioceseofwichita.org. Click on Offices and Ministries, and then on Persons with Disabilities.
For more information, contact Angela Graf at (316) 269-3900 ext. 157 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Holy Family Camp began in 1990 under the direction of Eileen and Myron Hermes and Dickie Fitzgerald to provide respite to families of children with developmental disabilities. Many of the original campers have attended all 21 camps.
The camp is a week-long spiritual experience. Campers and their camp buddies, who assist the campers in the activities of daily living, enjoy Mass, prayer, lessons, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, crafts, sports, games and special events.

Knights to host Good Friday blood drive
The Knights of Columbus Council 4118 will host its annual Good Friday blood drive from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 6, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 3202 W. 13th.

Feinstein Challenge at Catholic Charities through April 30
Donations to the Food Pantry at Catholic Charities will be multiplied through April 30 thanks to a matching challenge from Alan Feinstein.
He is a philanthropist who assists agencies fighting hunger,. Gifts of money or non-perishable food items to Catholic Charities will be eligible for matching dollars.
For more information, please call (316) 264-8344 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Newman ‘Get the Scoop’ Open House April 10
WICHITA – Newman University will host a “Get the Scoop on Newman” Open House from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10, in the Dugan–Gorges Conference Center, at 3100 McCormick.
The event will feature financial aid workshops at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The “Get the Scoop” open house is free to attend and will include ice cream, treats, and prizes such as an Amazon Kindle e-reader. Everyone from high school students, community college students, and adult and graduate students are encouraged to attend.
For more information contact Woods at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (316) 942-4291, ext. 2146.

‘Miracle of Father Kapaun’ to air Sunday on KPTS, channel 8
KPTS, channel 8, in Wichita will air the documentary “The Miracle of Father Kapaun,” from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 8.
The program is about Fr. Emil Kapaun, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, who died a hero in a North Korean prisoner of war camp, and events that are being cited for his cause for canonization.
The airing of the video is sponsored by Catholic Family Federal Credit Union.