Thursday, 17 February 2011 09:56

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. His 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, 03 February 2011 13:58

A money management DVD series featuring lessons taught by Dave Ramsey will be offered for 13 weeks beginning Monday, March 7, at St. Patrick Parish, 2007 N. Arkansas, Wichita.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be sponsor “Financial Peace University” classes, in English and Spanish. The classes begin at 7 p.m.
As a result of the sponsoship of the SVdP, the regular course fee of $99 will be discounted to $50 per household to those that qualify. The Spanish course is $50 regardless of income.
A free preview meeting will be held at St. Pat’s on Monday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m.
Financial Peace University is a biblically based, video-driven small group study that teaches families to beat debt and build wealth. The program is made up of 13 life-changing lessons taught in a fun and entertaining way. After each lesson, the group meets to help each other plan budgets, discuss successes and temptations, and support each other in their journey to beat debt and build wealth.
Dave Ramsey is a well-known money management expert, national radio personality and author of New York Times best-selling self-help books “The Total Money Makeover” and “More Than Enough.”
The Society is sponsoring the classes to help families overcome debt and to break free of the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle, which causes so much stress on families.

Thursday, 03 February 2011 13:25

Sausage Supper Feb. 6 at St. Michael, Parish in Mulvane
St. Michael Parish, 525 E. Main, Mulvane, will host its annual Sausage Supper from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6.
The ladies of the Altar Society are preparing sausage, potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, green beans, applesauce, dessert and drink. Take out will be available. Parish youth will also be hosting a cake booth and children’s games during the dinner to raise funds for their mission trip this summer.
Prices are $7 for adults and teens, $4 for children ages 6-12, and $2 for children age 5 and under.

Thursday, 20 January 2011 14:54

By Christopher M. Riggs
The recently completed $2.8 million building project at St. Joseph Parish, McPherson, is a testament to the people of the parish, according to their pastor, Father David Lies.
“They wanted to have a place where their relationship with God and with one another can continue to grow and where we can continue to try to grow in our stewardship spirit and in service of one another,” he said. “I’m proud about the resources they shared and the support they gave me as their pastor through this process. I feel really blessed to be here as the pastor at this time in the history of the parish.”
Father Lies said the parishioners were proud of the project and he was edified that even through these lean economic times the parish hasn’t seen much of a drop in pledge response.
St. Joseph’s officially broke ground on March 1, 2010, after about four years of planning. When he arrived in 2006, Father Lies continued working with the parish in planning the project, through a feasibility study, and through a capital campaign in which parishioners pledged $1.2 million towards the project. An additional grant from the McPherson Mingenback Foundation contributed $300,000. The parish borrowed the difference from the Diocese of Wichita.

Thursday, 20 January 2011 13:55

Sausage Supper Feb. 6 at St. Michael, Mulvane
St. Michael Parish, 525 E. Main, Mulvane, will host its annual Sausage Supper from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6.
The ladies of the Altar Society are preparing sausage, potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, green beans, applesauce, dessert and drink. Take out will be available. Parish youth will also be hosting a cake booth and children’s games during the dinner to raise funds for their mission trip this summer.
Prices are $7 for adults and teens, $4 for children ages 6-12, and $2 for children age 5 and under.
Proceeds will go to support the Altar Society’s parish projects.

Thursday, 06 January 2011 10:38

Remembering Church begins Jan. 20 at St. Vincent, Andover
ReMembering Church, a program for Catholics who have been away from the church and are considering returning to active participation, will be offered on Thursdays at 7 p.m. from Jan. 20 to March 17 at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Andover.
The church is located at 123 N. Andover Road.
The program is intended to help heal any hurts that have caused a person to leave active participation in the faith.

Thursday, 16 December 2010 13:31

Cathedral parishioners have shown an amazing outpouring of support for the TOGETHER special appeal with gifts and pledges totaling more than $1 million.

The parish exceeded a goal set by parish leaders to raise $700,000 in hopes that they could cover the cost of a parish office renovation and priests’ residence.

“Not only did the Cathedral Parish exceed their fundraising goal, but they were able to educate the parish family about the stewardship way of life,” said Mike Wescott, director of Development for the Diocese of Wichita. “This parish will be a stronger parish and a closer family as a result of their efforts.”

Through a parish-wide campaign that began last summer, parish priests and leadership have worked to teach parishioners about the TOGETHER special appeal and each parishioner’s responsibility to the Church.

“I am really proud of the parishioners of the Cathedral,” said Fr. John Sherlock, rector of the Cathedral.

“They really stepped up to the plate. When invited, they took to heart the needs of ‘the grand old Lady.’ She has stood tall during so many changes and crises. She always opened her arms to embrace all who came to her to celebrate liturgy and adore God, regardless of language, culture, social status or condition,” he said.

“Now those very same sons and daughters want to help to give continuity to her mission. It may be difficult and arduous for them, but the Cathedral deserves their unwavering loyalty and support. They have gathered around her and are standing by her in her need.”

Thursday, 16 December 2010 12:26

Diocesan office works with WAVH, parish to make sure that friends can meet each year
There was sadness surrounding the announcement that the Wichita Association for the Visually Handicapped was disbanding. That was compounded by the fact that its annual Christmas Dinner was in danger of going away, too.
The special holiday dinner was organized and has been hosted for decades by St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Schulte. WAVH and Tom Racunas, director of the diocesan Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, didn’t want to see it come to an end – neither did the Altar Society nor the parish.
So, after a few days of setting the phone lines ablaze with activity, an agreement was made with St. Peter Parish to continue hosting the event for the blind and visually impaired of the area.
Regina Henderson, president of WAVH and a member of All Saints Parish, Wichita, said the Wichita Association for the Visually Handicapped has enjoyed many wonderful years of fellowship and holiday cheer with the people of St. Peters parish.

Thursday, 16 December 2010 10:57

Magdalen Choir to present concert Sunday
The Church of the Magdalen Chancel Choir with organist Shirley Wiebe and chamber orchestra, will present an Advent concert at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19. The church is located at 12626 E. 21st Street N. in Wichita. The performance will be conducted by Mark Laycock.
The group will sing two masterworks for voices and chamber orchestra. Cantata 142, commonly attributed to J.S. Bach, was actually composed by Johann Kuhnau, Bach’s predecessor at St. Thomas’ Church in Leipzig.  The lively vocal writing and spirited counterpoint have made this work a holiday favorite for generations.  
A more recent classic, John Rutter’s Magnificat, offers an exciting and beautiful setting of the Latin text. One of the most popular contemporary composers of choral music, Rutter is beloved for his exquisite melodic invention and playful rhythmic display.

Thursday, 16 December 2010 00:00

Parish donates over $75,000 to The Lord’s Diner after fundraiser
Four years ago a small group of parishioners from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Andover, decided to try to raise money for The Lord’s Diner. Their hope was to be able to turn over a check for at least $10,000.
A murder mystery was chosen for entertainment, food was served, and silent and live auctions were held. That year, to the committee’s surprise, over $30,000 was raised. The event has grown annually and has become a larger part of The Diner’s income budget.
This year’s fundraiser, again hosted by St. Vincent’s in The Ville, was held on Oct. 9. The play, entitled Clueless, The Musical, was a murder mystery, musical comedy loosely based on the board game Clue. It was written by three members of the Murder Mystery Committee, Diana Knolla, Nancy Winters, and Andi Gragert and starred Wichita’s local talents of Sierra Scott, Bucky Walters, Ted Woodward, Roger Arnold, Todd Guettersloh and St. Vincent’s own Father Mike Baldwin.
This year’s benefit raised over $75,000 for The Lord’s Diner. This money will feed 25,000 needy people. On Nov. 28, Wendy Glick, director of the Lord’s Diner, accepted the check from Father Baldwin saying that this is an amazing accomplishment considering the economic times. Father Baldwin thanked the Murder Mystery Committee, his generous congregation and friends of the St. Vincent’s who made it possible.