Friday, 18 March 2011 12:24

By Christopher M. Riggs
More than souls have been taken care of as part of Warming Souls, a project to provide shelter for the homeless of Wichita during the coldest periods of winter.
Toes and bellies have also been warmed at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception gymnasium. The Diocese of Wichita cooperated with Advocates to End Chronic Homelessness and Interfaith Ministries to temporarily house the men. The diocese provided shelter for about 100 men each night from Feb. 24 to March 18 in the gym. Interfaith Ministries provided the administrative support.
Bonnie Toombs, director of the diocesan Respect Life and Social Justice Office, said the project went very well. “The first week we had 100 men, or a little more, each night. Now that it has warmed up, we have been averaging around 70 per night. We had good, steady numbers.”

Friday, 18 March 2011 12:07

Several young men from St. Michael Parish, Girard, have joined an organization designed to help altar servers enkindle greater piety for the Mass and to better serve the church.
“Because of the Knights of the Altar, I see the boys hunger for knowledge of the Divine Liturgy, which encourages them to want to know, love, and serve God more,” said Father Lawrence Carney, St. Michael’s pastor. “The Knights of the Altar brings a certain dignity to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that is both proper and edifying.”
The program gives young men a chance to connect to God by serving at Mass, and it gives them an opportunity to meet new people involved in the church.
Brigadier Knight Johnny Moutz said Knights of the Altar helps its members grow in several ways. “Not only does the program help its current members get more involved with the church, but it also provides a motivation to go to church and to get closer to God,” he said.

Friday, 18 March 2011 12:05

National speaker joins local scholars on Saturday, March 19; free-will offering
Nationally-known Catholic apologist and media personality Patrick Coffin will join two Wichita scholars for a special Lenten Conference being hosted at St. Vincent de Paul parish tomorrow, Saturday, March 19, beginning at 10 a.m. The conference takes place in “The Ville” at St. Vincent de Paul with registration beginning at 9 a.m. There is no fee for the conference; a freewill offering will be taken.
Coffin is a former stage actor who has appeared on a wide range of television networks including Comedy Central, FOX and EWTN. As a writer, his work has appeared in Inside the Vatican, The National Catholic Register, The Toronto Star, St. Austin Review, New Oxford Review and others. He currently serves as host to the top-rated national radio show Catholic Answers LIVE.
The title of Coffin’s opening talk is “Understanding Your Faith: The Least You Need to Know.” A second talk is entitled: “Fanning Into Flame the Gift of God.” The conference will conclude with Coffin hosting a question and answering time with all speakers.
Also presenting for the Conference will be Chris Stewart and Tony Brandt of Wichita, who together have formed a Catholic apostolate called Casting Nets, offering a refreshing new look at evangelization and catechesis. Stewart and Brandt also teach religion at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita. Their talks will revolve around three major Lenten themes: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
St. Vincent de Paul Church is located at 123 N. Andover Road in Andover, one half mile north of Highway 400 and Andover Road. A soup lunch with refreshments and a dessert will be served.

Friday, 18 March 2011 08:53

‘Way of the Cross with Music’ Friday, April 1 at Resurrection Parish
WICHITA – The Church of the Resurrection, 4910 N. Woodlawn, will host a special Stations of the Cross service at 7 p.m. Friday, April 1.
“The Way of the Cross with Music for Prayer and Meditation” uses a variety of choral and instrumental music to help communicate meanings and emotions of the Stations that words alone cannot always adequately express.
Each station includes the customary meditations along with congregational song and prayer. At various stages along the way, interludes of choral or instrumental music or spiritual readings allow time to pause for personal prayer and reflection, and invite impressions of faith to sink in to heart, mind, and soul.
Music will be provided by Church of the Resurrection Choir with string quartet, harp, and organ.

Thursday, 03 March 2011 14:10

Sculptor developing ideas for two powerful scenes that will lift the faith of those visiting the mother church of the diocese

By Christopher M. Riggs

The meetings are over and Rip Caswell is ready to work.

Caswell, an artist from Troutdale, Ore., has been commissioned to sculpt two works for the anticipated renovation of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita, that is part of the TOGETHER vision.

“The concept is to sculpt Mary and Joseph – Joseph as a protector, a supporter, a father figure, husband. He’ll be behind Mary and she’ll be slightly pregnant. She’ll be looking across the cathedral to the other alcove on the other side of the cathedral at the Crucifixion.”

It’s like looking across time, he said. “Mary is pregnant, knowing and accepting that Jesus will eventually die for us all. It’s going to be very powerful to see that interplay between the two sculptures, but also with the viewer.”

The cross will seem to come up right out of the floor in the crucifixion scene on the east transept, Caswell said during a visit to Wichita late last month.

“You’ll be able to touch the feet of Christ and walk around him. It’s really going to be very powerful. He’ll be looking down. His face will not be that of a victim – in John it talks about how he was in control at every moment and willingly did this. There will be a sense of serenity and calm in his face.”

Thursday, 03 March 2011 13:33

By Christopher M. Riggs
Father Jarrod Lies’ homily a couple of years ago at St. Anthony Church, Wichita, made a huge impression on Odilio Alvarez. So huge that he and his family are now missionaries in the Philippines.
“Father Lies was talking about the promptings of the Holy Spirit and how we should be open to what God is trying to tell us,” he said, adding that when he got home he reflected on it and asked his wife what it would be like to be missionaries, or if it would even be possible.
“I didn’t think it was possible, we had a family and they were our responsibility,” Alvarez said. “But a few days passed and it was still on Stacie’s mind, too.”
So much so that one night she called her husband who was working third shift at Spirit Aerosystems. “I work third shift, so the phone call was very late, around midnight, and I thought something was wrong.”

Everything was fine at home, but Stacie was excited. “Guess what, I just found something!” she told her husband. “It’s called Family Missions Company and they train people, families to be missionaries – and they’ re catholic!”
Odilio asked her where she found out about the ministry and when she replied that she found it on the internet, he said he was immediately skeptical. “I told her that you can’t trust the internet. It might even not be real.”
When they contacted the ministry in November of 2009 a representative told the family that they were having a “Come And See” event in April and invited them to participate at their Abbeville, La., location. The Alvarezes attended and fell in love with the way the whole day was dedicated to prayer.
“They also had workday projects and we were learning how to live in community,” he said. “We wanted to make sure that it was really Catholic. They are family-oriented and it was a great experience.”
The family began a three-month training program in September and left on Monday.
Most of their work in the Philippines will involve evangelization at Holy Rosary Catholic High School in Sagay and at a nearby parish.
The family started out on the right foot when they arrived to the Philippines. They were welcomed by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, the archbishop of Manila.
How long will they stay? “I’m not sure how long,” Alvarez said. “It depends on the Holy Spirit.”

Where will the Alvarezes be?
They Alvarezes will work in Sagay on the island-province of Camiguin. It is a pear-shaped volcanic island off the northern tip of Mindanao, the large island in the southern part of the Philippines. Camiguin has seven volcanoes and a total population of 74,232 persons – not counting the Alvarezes.

Want to help?
For more information about the ministry go to www.fmcmissions.com. The Alvarezes are supported by donations. Those who wish to help may do so through the website specifying “Alvarez Family.”

Thursday, 03 March 2011 13:28

By Heather Welch
The late Pope John Paul II, who will soon be beatified, was the inspiration behind Tony Frasco’s book of Rosary meditations.
The book, Reflection of the Son, combines scriptural passages with meditations on each mystery of the Rosary, including reflections on the Luminous Mysteries, which was introduced in 2002 by Pope John Paul II when he proclaimed the Year of the Rosary.
Frasco, a Magdalen Catholic School middle school religion teacher, said Reflection of the Son was one of the first books on the market to include the Luminous mysteries. He believes it is still completely unique and like no other tool available.
“I envision people using the book with their families and friends at home, church or in schools,” he said. “I hope any church group or organization could benefit from the book because it is geared towards anyone who wants to have an aid in praying the Rosary.”
Frasco said the book can help all Catholics come to love the Rosary and Our Lady more deeply and by doing so they can come to know Jesus Christ. Reflection of the Son suggests a variety of ways to increase devotion to Mary through meditations on the life of Christ.
Frasco said when he reads the book he is reminded that he is the co-author, that the true author is God. He said the project has helped him grow in his spiritual life and has further taught him the virtue of patience as well.
“I knew all along that this was Mary’s project, so I learned very quickly that the timing of when the book would come out, if ever, was up to God.”
The religion teacher also regularly uses the book in his teaching. Once a month each of his middle school classes prays one of the mysteries in the book, and Frasco includes music quietly playing in the background. He also uses pictures of paintings via an LCD projector and screen to further engage his classes in the Rosary.
“The book seems to engage all the senses so that the Rosary comes to life and is not just a series of repetitious prayers said which can be a temptation.”

Want a copy of Reflection of the Son?
The book is available at Eighth Day Books, Wichita, the Church of the Magdalen parish office, at the Spiritual Life Center, by calling (800) 796-4166, or by visiting www.spiritleadership.org, or email the publisher at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thursday, 03 March 2011 13:08

Blessed Sacrament Parish hosting Lenten series from March 15 to 22
Blessed Sacrament Parish is hosting a Lenten series of talks beginning March 15 and ending April 12. The five talks will be delivered from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Bishop’s Hall, located in the basement of the church.
Father John Lanzrath will deliver the first talk on Tuesday, March 15, as he presents a reflection on the Sacrament of Charity. Father Maximilian Biltz will talk on Tuesday, March 22, about the Apostolic Expectation Verbum Domini, a meditation on the conclusions and recommendations of a synod on scripture held in 2009.
Father Joseph Gile will deliver the topic on Tuesday, March 29. He will talk about Liturgiam Authenticam, the 2001 instruction from the Holy See mandating changes to the way English is used at Mass. Father Daniel Vacca will deliver a talk Thursday, April 7, on Ut Unum Sint, the first encyclical on ecumenism, written in 1995 by Pope John Paul II.
The last talk, on Tuesday, April 12, will be given by Sister Mary Ann Kirkland about the encyclical Spe Salvi, which talks about the theological virtue of hope in a time when the world seems to be heading toward darkness and despair. Sister Mary Ann is a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, Wichita.
The event is sponsored by the Blessed Sacrament Respect Life Committee. Babysitting will be provided and snacks will be available.

Thursday, 17 February 2011 11:49

By Christopher M. Riggs
WICHITA – A foot of snow just outside Bonnie Toombs’ office window was beautifying the landscape around the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as she talked last week about Warming Souls, a project to provide shelter for the homeless during the coldest periods of winter.
Toombs, director of the diocesan Respect Life and Social Justice Office, said this year will be the second year the diocese will have worked with Advocates to End Chronic Homelessness and Interfaith Ministries to temporarily house the men. The diocese will provide shelter for about 120 men from Feb. 24 to March 18 in the Cathedral gymnasium. Interfaith Ministries provides the administrative support.

Thursday, 17 February 2011 11:47

PITTSBURG – The competition at this year’s Dance Crew Fever may not have been fierce but it sure was fun.
Janice Dellasega, youth coordinator at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, said the television cameras and celebrity judges might have been absent at the event, but enthusiasm certainly wasn’t.
Five dance crews competed at St. Mary’s Colgan Fieldhouse Saturday, Jan. 29, in a fundraiser for the youth of the parish.
“It was fun to look at everybody in the crowd just laughing,” she said. “There was competition, but it was all in good spirit and fun. It was different than a ballgame where everybody’s tense. The whole parish – young and old – was there, it was just so joyful. Even though it was a fundraiser, that was not the most important part of it, it was the community.”