Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:35

Bishop Michael O. Jackels will be remembered for many accomplishments during his tenure as the ordinary of the Diocese of Wichita: traversing the diocese “from Baxter Springs to Lyons and from Fort Scott to Zenda” in his Nebraska Cornhusker red vehicle, his leadership in the TOGETHER Vision, his promotion of vocations, and his sense of humor are just a few.
Those who worked with him shared their thoughts about Abp.-elect Jackels – as the time of his service to the Diocese of Wichita wanes.
Sister Loretta Beckius, director of the Office of Worship, said the role of a bishop is one of service, not of honor, a definition Bishop Jackels lived.
“I saw this particularly in simple actions, in ordinary circumstances, in a ‘second-nature’ manner – little things that speak volumes more than the eye can see. Rising to go around refilling coffee and water; clearing plates for those seated at table; collecting trash after a gathering … such simple, seemingly insignificant, gestures, but which embody the words of Christ: ‘The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest.’”
Bryan Coulter, diocesan director of Finance & Administrative Services, said the diocese has been blessed to have benefited from his spiritual direction. Bishop Jackels was a “phenomenal leader and a good friend to all,” he added.
Cindy Zimmerman, administrative assistant for the Catholic School Office, said she felt blessed to have worked in the same vineyard with Bishop Jackels.
“In the first homily I heard Bishop Jackels give, he directed our attention to the image of the pelican which is in the arch above the altar in the cathedral. Bishop told the story of the legend of the mother pelican piercing her own breast to feed her young chicks with her blood during a famine, and how early Christians used the story as a metaphor for Jesus Christ,” Zimmerman said.
“Today, that pelican image is still part of the cathedral sanctuary. It was brought forward during the cathedral renovation. It will be a reminder to me not only of Christ’s love for us, but for the sacrifice all our religious have given to help us grow in love for God and one another.”

Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:30

By Father Ken Van Haverbeke
Sometimes his questions were teasing, and sometimes for a reason. When he began his ministry in the Diocese of Wichita, Bishop Jackels asked a lot of questions. A lot! And one was, “What is this stewardship thing?”
Worried a new bishop might not understand or fully appreciate the Stewardship Way of Life as lived in the Diocese of Wichita, we hurried to give answers. We realized he was not teasing, but desired to understand better how we would articulate what we were living.
We failed him! As many people he asked, were the numerous definitions received. Wisely seeing we were living discipleship, but unable to express it, Bishop Jackels convened a small group to come up with a concise and memorable definition of stewardship.
He realized if we could not state what we were doing, we might not be able to pass it to the next generation.
We came up with the now famous definition: “Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God’s gifts and shares these gifts in love of God and neighbor. “

Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:28

Wants all couples to receive best education they can get about Natural Family Planning
By Molly Martin
For Becky Knapp, the new program coordinator of Natural Family Planning in the Office of Marriage and Family Life, working for the Diocese of Wichita is a great privilege and honor.
“It’s a huge privilege,” said Knapp in an interview on May 1. “It is a great blessing, but it is also a great responsibility.”
Knapp succeeds Judith Leonard, who retired in December, and interim program coordinator, Martina Holmes.
Knapp has grown up in the Diocese of Wichita having attended Magdalen Catholic School and Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. Knapp then attended St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City where she received her bachelor’s of science in nursing and met her husband, Rob Knapp. Becky and Rob are members of The Church of the Magdalen, and have five children.
Knapp is trained as a registered nurse and began her career by working on a medical surgery floor in Lawrence, Kan., while Rob finished school. From there, Knapp continued work on a cardiology floor at what is now Via Christi on St. Francis. Knapp said she worked there for a while but just felt drawn to helping people understand about human sexuality, how we are made in the image and likeness of God and how important our faith is.

Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:25

Rip Caswell, the artist who produced the statues of Mary and Joseph and the Crucifixion scene in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita, has been commissioned to create an original work of art, ‘Ascending Christ,’ for Ascension Cemetery in Wichita before the end of this year. The bronze sculpture will stand 11 1/2 feet tall and weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
“This third monument completes the circle,” Caswell said from his studio in Troutdale, Ore. “We began with Mary standing with Joseph, looking across the cathedral and time to her Son on the cross, we then portrayed Christ’s decision and sacrifice with the Crucifixion – now we’ll demonstrate the victorious Christ ascending triumphantly into heaven.”
Monsignor Robert Hemberger, the diocesan arts committee chair agreed with Caswell. “There will be a certain continuity between the Crucifixion in the cathedral and the sculpture of the Ascending Christ at the cemetery. Though they are two separate pieces, in using the same sculptor, we know a connection exists.”

Thursday, 16 May 2013 10:00

By Lori K. Farha
In the United States, about 40 percent of adopted children are in transracial adoptions where they are of a different race, culture or ethnicity than their adoptive parents.
Cana Counseling adoption services at Catholic Charities is exceeding the national trend. Of the four adoptions that Catholic Charities facilitated in the calendar year of 2012, all the babies had the possibility of transracial heritage.
Because of this number, the adoption staff has become more sensitive to the needs of families experiencing transracial/transcultural adoptions and more proactive in seeking adoptive parents who are open to providing a home for a child when that child’s racial background is different from theirs.
As transracial/transcultural adoptions have become more common, many more resources have been developed to help adoptive parents and other dedicated family members. With an increase in “open” adoptions, adoptive families often are able to regularly interact with the birth family of their adoptive child, allowing them more opportunities for exposure to those of different backgrounds.
If your family is considering the loving option of adoption, and would like more information, Cana Counseling adoption services at Catholic Charities can assist. To learn more about the adoption journey you may contact me, Lori Farha, to schedule an informational appointment about our infant adoption program.
For more information, please visit CatholicCharitiesWichita.org.
Farha, a licensed masters social worker, is the pregnancy and adoption specialist at Catholic Charities.

Thursday, 02 May 2013 10:02

Prepare for Mass by reading that Sunday’s readings; learn more about what a Mass is
By Christopher M. Riggs
Our minds can wander at Mass. A crying child, inappropriate clothing, nearby whispering, or a cell phone’s rap music can easily distract us.
Keeping our minds focused on the Mass is a life-long struggle, but one that can be made easier through a little training.
Father John Lanzrath suggests planning early in the week for the Sunday Mass.
“On Monday or Tuesday, begin reading the Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday,” he said. “Pray with these Scripture readings. Listen to the Lord speak to you and what is happening in your life through Sacred Scripture.”
To prepare for the weekend Masses, Fr. Lanzrath recommends listening to Fr. Robert Barron’s weekly meditation on the readings at www.wordonfire.org.

Thursday, 02 May 2013 09:03

By Davi Stuhlsatz
Julia Biltz Rogers’ strong Catholic roots has enabled her to face life-threatening cystic-fibrosis and a double-lung transplant with faith and hope.
Rogers, 28, was hospitalized in the same hospital as her 23-year-old brother, Rafe Biltz, when he died from CF complications in January.
“He was such a good man,” she said. “I'm sad he can't be here physically with me now – healing, recovering, breathing, but I know he is happy, running, breathing, and so much more in Heaven right now.”
CF affects about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S., according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It clogs the lungs, leads to life-threatening lung infections, obstructs the pancreas, and prevents the absorption of food.
The St. Michael, Mulvane parishioner said her illness tested her relationship with God, but ultimately it brought her closer to him.

Thursday, 02 May 2013 09:00

During May, as our country celebrates the contributions of its senior citizens, Tama Dutton invites all Catholics to recognize this treasure also found in all of our parishes. “Senior adult Catholics are too valuable to be forgotten,” says Tama Dutton, “because they bring a wealth of spiritual resources, deep faith, skills, experience, and especially after retirement, time in which to offer them.”
To recognize and meet the mental, spiritual, educational, and social needs of Catholic seniors, Dutton has been named coordinator of Senior Adult Ministries, a new ministry that is part of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life.
Dutton said as she begins her position, she plans a renewed effort to buoy up the current Harvest House ministries throughout the diocese, while inviting other parishes to initiate one.

Thursday, 02 May 2013 08:58

As part of National Volunteer Week April 21-27, Catholic Charities invited the faithful to consider volunteering at one of its ministries.
The diocesan agency has a variety of volunteer opportunities utilizing a wide range of skills: childcare at St. Anthony Family Shelter, chaperoning events with Adult Day Services, assisting at Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, or counseling victims of domestic violence. Here is a brief description of the ministries.

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
Randy, a recent retiree, was looking for a way to spend some good time with his teenage grandkids, so he got in touch with Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. Over the summer, he and his grandkids would help one day a week unload food and restock the shelves at the pantry. They loved helping out so much that when school started, they didn’t even mind getting up on Saturday mornings to help serve the hungry in the community.