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2 ARCHBISHOP THE LEAVEN • february 5, 2010
On Jan. 22, I was
blessed to be in
Washington, D.C., participating
in the annual
March for Life. It was
one of the largest of the
marches in recent years.
The best estimate that I heard was
more than 300,000 participants. The
March for Life is the longest running
annual demonstration on the Washington
Mall. It is by far the largest such
event. Yet, the march is almost completely
ignored by the mainstream media.
If it is covered at all, usually more
time is given to the dozen pro-abortion
activists and their message, rather than
the hundreds of thousands of pro-life
advocates.
Unfortunately, many in the secular
media, contrary to their responsibility
as journalists, choose not to report
and to give attention to those events
and activities with which they disagree
ideologically. There were well over a
thousand Kansans, as well as hundreds
from Kansas City, Mo., who journeyed
to Washington for the march, most
making the arduous journey by bus.
If such a group was making a trip to
Washington for almost any other cause,
this would be a major news event.
In addition to the Washington
march, there were many other local
events throughout the country. In San
Francisco, tens of thousands gathered
for the West Coast March for Life. In
Topeka, a couple thousand gathered at
the Capitol to advocate for the protection
of human life. For a news media
that is desperately looking for legitimate
news stories to fill air time, the
media silence on the annual March for
Life and parallel local events is deafening!
Many of the participants in the
March for Life are young people. They
enlist to attend the march because they
are already pro-life. On most of the bus
caravans, there is a wealth of information
shared with the youth regarding
life issues. Once in Washington, there
are many opportunities for prayer and
education in which the young people
participate. Our young people come
back from the march more knowledgeable
about the abortion issue and with
a greater commitment to advocate for
life.
Many were stunned at the results of
the May 2009 Gallup Poll revealing 51
percent of Americans self-identifying as
pro-life, while only 42 percent calling
themselves pro-choice. In 1995, the
same poll showed 56 percent of Americans
identifying as pro-choice and only
33 percent calling themselves pro-life.
Obviously, polls have margins of error.
However, even allowing for the limitations
of poll accuracy, this represents
a major shift in the sentiments and
beliefs of Americans on abortion.
Just as so many media outlets were
shocked by the recent election results
in Massachusetts because they chose to
believe their own reports, downplaying
the opposition to both the content and
the method of the health care reform
proposals supported by the president
and developed by the leadership in
Congress, they are clueless about growing
pro-life support. It seems that some
in the media think, if they do not report
it, it does not exist.
In many ways, this is to the advantage
of the pro-life movement. It allows
us to go about our educational efforts
quietly and unnoticed, changing one
heart and one mind at a time.
Recently, Sheila Barry — a member
of the Archdiocese — sent me a report
of the hundreds of pro-life presentations
that she has given to thousands
of adults and young people in the
Archdiocese over a more than 20-year
period. It serves as a good illustration
of what just one person can do. While
not all of us are called to do public
speaking, we all can influence family
members, friends, neighbors and coworkers
to understand the sacredness
LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS
What part will you play in the great campaign for life?
Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)
President
Most Reverend Joseph F.
Naumann
Editor
Reverend Mark Goldasich, stl
frmark@theleaven.com
Managing Editor
Anita McSorley
anita@theleaven.com
Senior Reporter
Joe Bollig
joe@theleaven.com
Production Manager
Todd Habiger
todd@theleaven.com
Archbishop Naumann’s
weekly calendar
Feb. 5
Mass, concelebrate & preach, commemorating
the canonization of St. Jeanne Jugan,
Little Sisters of the Poor — Cathedral, KCMO
Feb. 6
Lunch and commissioning of catechists —
Savior Pastoral Center
Feb. 6-7
Pastoral visit — St. John the Evangelist,
Lawrence
Feb. 8-9
Jesus Caritas, bishops’ prayer group, Wichita
Feb. 9
Mass & dinner at residence for high school
presidents
Feb. 10
Workshop for priests on end-of-life issues by
Father Tad Pacholczyk — Savior Pastoral Center
Mass for 40th anniversary of Kansas City,
Kansas Serra Club — Queen of the Holy
Rosary, Overland Park
Feb. 11
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary board meeting
— St. Louis
of each and every human life, no matter
how young, small or in what stage of
development.
In his landmark encyclical letter,
“The Gospel of Life,” the late Pope
John Paul II wrote: “What is urgently
called for is a general mobilization of
consciences and a united ethical effort
to activate a great campaign in support
of life. All together, we must build a
new culture of life: new, because it will
be able to confront and solve today’s
unprecedented problems affecting
human life; new, because it will be
adopted with deeper and more dynamic
conviction by all Christians; new,
because it will be capable of bringing
about a serious and courageous cultural
dialogue among all parties. While
the urgent need for such a cultural
transformation is linked to the present
historical situation, it is also rooted in
the Church’s mission of evangelization.
The purpose of the Gospel, in fact, is ‘to
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Feb. 12-13
Knights of the Holy Sepulchre weekend
meeting — Naples, Fla.
Feb. 14
Mass & dedication of new church — Holy
Angels, Basehor
Mass for 40th anniversary of Marriage
Encounter — Cathedral, KCMO
Archbishop Keleher’s
weekly calendar
Feb. 7
Mass & confirmation — U.S. Disciplinary Barracks,
Fort Leavenworth
Mass, federal prison
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Feb. 10
Mass — Maur Hill/Mount Academy, Atchison
Mass for 40th anniversary of Kansas City,
Kansas Serra Club — Queen of the Holy
Rosary, Overland Park
Feb. 12
Our Catholic Way radio taping
transform humanity from within and
make it new.’ Like yeast which leavens
the whole measure of dough (cf. Mt.
13:33), the Gospel is meant to permeate
all cultures and give them life from
within, so that they may express the
full truth about the human person and
about human life” (no. 95).
During the coming week, I ask you
to pray over how the Lord is asking you,
in the unique circumstances of your
life, to be part of this “great campaign
for life.” No one can deny the media is a
powerful force shaping our culture. Yet,
more powerful than any technology or
mass communication tool is the truth
proclaimed not only in word, but the
manner in which we live our lives.
There are two maxims that give me
great strength and encouragement
as I strive to do my part in this great
struggle for the soul of our nation and
culture: 1) The truth is irrepressible;
and 2) Life will be victorious!
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By Jill Ragar Esfeld
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — “We have
the highest enrollment in the seminary
college in almost 40 years!”
This was the good tidings Abbot
Gregory Polan announced to Catholics
attending the 17th annual Support
Our Seminarians Benefit on Jan.
29 at the Marriott Allis Plaza Hotel in
Kansas City, Mo.
In honor of this year’s designation
as “The Year of the Priest” by Pope
Benedict, the evening was dedicated
to St. John Vianney, also known as
the Curé of Ars.
A French theme permeated the
event, complete with an Eiffel Tower
in lights overlooking the silent auction
“marketplace.”
Guests enjoyed dinner and French
desserts while “artist in residence”
Mike Debus, from St. James Academy
in Lenexa, came onstage and painted
a beautiful Madonna to open the live
auction.
“My inspiration for the painting
came from Michelangelo’s ‘Pietá,’”
Debus told the crowd.
Inspiration was also provided
by musician Mikey Needleman and
vocalist Cayleigh Bustillo, who performed
as the Madonna was being
created.
KMBC-TV anchor Larry Moore
was master of ceremonies, as he has
been every year since he and his wife
spearheaded the first SOS Benefit.
After dinner, Archbishop Joseph
Naumann thanked the audience say-
Mike Debus (above), the artist in residence
at St. James Academy in Lenexa, painted a
Madonna (right) to open the SOS auction.
The piece was inspired by Michelangelo’s
“Pietá.”
ing, “It’s important for our young
men to have your support and to
know you’re here tonight.”
He said that often parishioners approached
him, saying, “Please don’t
take our priest away,” and said it
heartens him to know our archdiocesan
priests have such a strong connection
to their parishioners.
Bishop Robert Finn from the Diocese
of Kansas City – St. Joseph echoed
the archbishop’s thanks and acknowledged
the seminarians’ families who
were able to attend the benefit.
THE LEAVEN • February 5, 2010
“I always tell our parents, ‘If you
send your sons to us, we will take
SECOND FRONT PAGE
Leaven photo by Jill Ragar Esfeld
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann visits with seminarian Brian Jilka at the annual Support Our Seminarians dinner and auction on Jan. 29 at the downtown Marriott. Jilka, from St. Joseph Parish
in Flush, is in his third year at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo.
Another SOS Success
good care of them,’” he said. “We do
everything we can to make sure they
receive top-notch formation and will
be able to be given all the graces they
need.”
The highlight of the evening was
the introduction of the seminarians
by Father Samuel Russel, presidentrector
of Conception Seminary College.
“We are very humbled — not just
by the numbers, but by the quality of
these young men,” he said. “I really
stand in awe of them because it’s not
something we’re doing at Conception.
It’s something the Lord is doing.”
Vocation director for the archdiocese,
Father Mitchel Zimmerman,
was then called onstage along with
Father Richard Rocha, vocation director
for the Diocese of Kansas City-
St. Joseph, where they were then
joined by the priest candidates from
Conception Abbey.
Before the Nigro Brothers took
over to call the live auction, Moore
thanked all those who helped make
SOS a success, in particular, Jodie
Stockwell and Tim and Katy Forrest,
who served as co-chairs of the
event.
Money raised through the auction
and ticket sales will go to help pay
seminary expenses for men studying
for the priesthood from the archdiocese
and from the Diocese of Kansas
City- St. Joseph. The proceeds will be
divided equally among the two dioceses
and Conception Seminary.
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