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2 LOCAL NEWS THE LEAVEN • JUNE 15, 2012THE LEAVEN • JUNE 15, 2012SECOND FRONT PAGE3Rose Ann (Hoag) and Ralph Steinbacher,membersof SacredHeart Parish,S h a w n e e ,will celebratetheir 50thwedding anniversaryonANNIVERSARIES June 30. Thecouple was married June 30, 1962, at St. JosephChurch, Yates Center. They have ninechildren, 35 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.T and Bob Stockman, members of St.Patrick parishesin Scrantonand OsageCity, will celebratetheir65th weddinganniversaryon June 17with a reception, hosted by their children,at the Scranton Community Park Building.The reception will begin immediately afterthe 10 a.m. Mass. The couple was marriedon June 13, 1947. Their children and theirspouses are: Barbara and Larry Schulte;Beverly Harris (deceased); Bruce and PatStockman; Brian and Michele Stockman; andBrenda and Kevin Selman. They also have 12grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.Cards may be sent to the couple at 21508Shoreline Drive, Lyndon, KS 66451.Kenneth and Imogene Schmidt,members of St.Joseph Parish,Olpe, will celebratetheir 60thwedding anniversarywith on openhouse on June 24at the Knights ofColumbus Hall inOlpe. The couplewas married onMay 24, 1952, at St. Mary Church, Maydale.Their children are: Scott Schmidt; JoleneArndt; Steve Schmidt; Stan Schmidt; andJulie Schmidt. They also have 10 grandchildrenand six great-grandchildren.Queeny (Mayne) and K. Paul Poulose,members ofSacred Heart-St. Casimir,Leavenworth,will celebratetheir 50thwedding anniversaryonJune 17 with an 11 a.m. Mass at Sacred HeartChurch, followed by a dinner and receptionat the Overland Park Marriott. They weremarried on June 11, 1962, at St. Mary Churchin Koratty, Kerala state, India. The celebrationwill be hosted by their children and theirspouses: Anil and Clare Poulose, St. Paul,Minn.; Abraham and Mari Poulose, Shawnee;and Benjamin and Michelle Poulose, Nashville,Tenn. They also have 12 grandchildren.Walt and Winnie Tracz, members ofSt. Joseph Parish,Shawnee, celebratedtheir 60thwedding anniversaryon June 9 attheir home. Thecouple was marriedon June 14,1952, at the Cathedralof the ImmaculateConception,Kansas City, Mo. Their children and theirspouses are: Mick and Gayla Tracz; andStanley Dean Tracz. They also have eightgrandchildren and six great-grandchildren.Donald and Mary (Herken) Gwartney,membersof St.Lawrence Parish,Easton,will celebratetheir 70thwedding anni v e r s a r ywith family and friends on June 17 with aMass of thanksgiving at 9 a.m., followedby a brunch and reception at St. LawrenceChurch and parish hall. The couple wasmarried on June 30, 1942, at St. Lawrence.The couple’s children and their spousesare: David and Juanita Gwartney; Ben andKathy Tarbe; Doug and Jacque Gwartney;and Dennis Gwartney. The couple has 13grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.Tony and Judy (Huigens) Kostusik,members ofChurch of the Nativity,Leawood,will celebratetheir 50th weddinganniversaryon June 23 witha Mass at Nativity,followed bya dinner reception.The couplewas married on June 23, 1962, at St. GabrielChurch, Kansas City, Mo. Their childrenand their spouses are: Jean and ToddBrower, Overland Park; and Jim and TeresaKostusik, Stillwell. They also have fourgrandchildren.Joan (Gursky) and Harry Hennigh,members ofSacred HeartParish, Atchison,will celebratetheir60th weddinganniversar ywith a privatefamily celebration on June 30 at MamaMia’s Restaurant in Leavenworth. The couplewas married on June 28, 1952, in Racine,Wis. Their children and their spousesare: Patty and Dennis Gardner; Mike andKaren Hennigh; Dan and Robin Hennigh;and Kathy and Terry Chalfant. A son, MarkHennigh, is deceased. The couple has 12grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.John and Rosemary (Kinsella)Schmiedeler,members ofGood ShepherdParish,Shawnee, celebratedtheir60th weddinganniversaryon May 31. The couple was married on May31, 1952, at St. Peter Canisius Church, Chicago.Their children and their spouse are:Mary Jo Schmiedeler (deceased); Patriciaand Michael McKenna; Susie and MichaelBarnthouse; Dorothy Schmiedeler; TeresaSchmiedeler and Paul Welling; Judy and PhilDonnellan; and Kathy Schmiedeler and SamHowe. They also have 11 grandchildren.Gary and Mary Eleanor (Blaufuss)Baugh, membersof Holy TrinityParish, Lenexa,will celebratetheir 50th weddinganniversaryon June 23. Thecouple was marriedon June 23,1962, at St. MaryChurch, Hartford,by Father Alfred Pimple. Their childrenand their spouses are: Michael Baugh, Topeka;Greg and Jennifer Baugh, Lenexa;Marie and Mike Deasy, Plano, Texas; Christiand Bruce Weldon, Olathe; and Kevin andBarb Baugh, Pottsboro, Texas. They alsohave 12 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.They will celebrate with aMass on June 23, followed by a backyardparty at their home for family and friends.ANNIVERSARY POLICYThe Leaven only prints 50, 60, 65and 70th anniversary notices. Announcementsare due by 5 p.m. eightdays (Thursday) before the desiredpublication date. Announcements mustbe typed. They are for parishioners ofCatholic parishes in the Archdioceseof Kansas City in Kansas, or for thosewho have resided in the archdiocesefor a significant period of time. Pleaseinclude the following Information:• The couple’s names; their parish;the date they were married; church andcity where they were married; whatthey are doing to celebrate; date ofthe celebration; names of children (ifdesired); number of grandchildren andgreat-grandchildren; photo. Photos thatare emailed need to be at least 200 dpi.Mailed photos should be on photo paperand printed at a photo lab. Photosthat are printed from home printers donot reproduce well.Send notices to: The Leaven, 12615Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109,attn: anniversaries; or send an emailto: Todd@theleaven.com. If you wouldlike your photo returned to you, pleaseinclude a self-addressed stampedenvelope.Archbishop Naumann’sweekly calendarJune 15Catholic Housing of WyandotteCounty benefit dinner — LivestrongSporting ParkJune 16Evening of prayer and reflection foryoung adults — Cathedral of St. PeterJune 17Mass for Junior Knights and Ladies ofSt. Peter ClaverJune 18Mass and reception at residence —Catholic CharitiesJune 19Administrative Team meetingLeavenworth Catholic schoolscorporate meetingJune 20Hayden corporate meetingDonnelly board socialJune 21Catholic Education Foundation meetingResurrection School board meetingJune 25-27Catholic Leadership Institute forBishops — Charlotte, N.C.June 27Kansas City, Kan., Serra golf dinner —St. Patrick, Kansas City, Kan.June 28Johnson County Serra Mass andbarbecueJune 29Life Teen Mass — Benedictine CollegeRally for Religious Freedom — TopekaArchbishop Keleher’sweekly calendarJune 1Christian Foundation for Children &Aging MassJune 2“Catholic Way” recordingJune 3Federal prison MassJune 5-6Labor Review Board — New YorkJune 21Family Mass — Mayo County, IrelandJune 22Wedding — Mayo County, IrelandJune 24Mass — Bally Shannon, IrelandRenovations link history and futureImmaculate Conceptionin Leavenworth reopensafter year of workBy Jessica LangdonLeaven staffLEAVENWORTH — Sue Suwalskycan point to the exact moment she saw adream turning into a reality.It was when she saw sunshine streamingfrom a skylight into the ImmaculateConception Church sanctuary in Leavenworth.Suwalsky, a longtime member of ImmaculateConception-St. Joseph Parish,loved the way the light fell onto the newcrucifix.“That was almost a breathtaking momentfor me,” said Suwalsky, part of thecommittee that saw a list of major renovations— including enhanced lightingand a new 14-foot crucifix — to completion.For almost a year, all Masses tookplace at the combined parish’s nearbySt. Joseph site, while crews installednew pews, replaced the floor, expandedthe lighting, improved the sanctuary,and completed other projects.A Mass and open house officially welcomedparishioners back into ImmaculateConception Church for services andgave them a chance to see the changes.Rich historyThe renovation of the church highlightsa rich history in Leavenworth —and in the Archdiocese of Kansas City inKansas as a whole.The work also shows that the peopleof this parish believe in their future, saidpastor Father David McEvoy, O. Carm.All of this couldn’t have happened withoutthe help of a lot of people.Between both churches, he said,there are beautiful facilities and a lot ofhistory.Immaculate Conception sits on landthat played a major role in the history ofthe archdiocese.Construction began on the Cathedralof the Immaculate Conception in 1864and it was dedicated in 1868.Pioneering Bishop John BaptistMiege spent many months collectingfunds in South America to pay for theconstruction of the “massive, beautiful,Romanesque” church — his cathedral— that once stood here, said Father David.Though the see was moved to KansasCity, Kan., in 1947, the church remainedopen as a parish in Leavenworth untilDec. 30, 1961, when a massive fire destroyedit.Plans for the present-day church thatreplaced the old cathedral began soonafter the fire.The modern church — reflectingthe architecture of the era — opened in1964 during the Second Vatican Council.In 2007, a committee began lookingat its needs and coming up with plansLeaven photos by Elaina CochranFather David McEvoy, O. Carm., pastor of Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish in Leavenworth,shows parishioner Jerry Frietchen some of the highlights of the renovated Immaculate ConceptionChurch.Leaven photos by Elaina CochranPhotos detailing the rich history of Immaculate Conception Parish, which was once the cathedral ofthe Diocese of Leavenworth, are displayed for all to enjoy.for the building’s first renovation.In 2010, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumannapproved a feasibility study, and acapital campaign began that fall.The parish made plans to take care ofsome necessary improvements and dosome beautification at the same time.Two stained glass windows that survived thefire that destroyed the old cathedral in 1961have a special place in the renovated church.‘More prayerful aspect’Substantial work took place betweenPentecost 2011 — when things weremoved out of the church — and Pentecost2012 when it was ready to reopen.From the new wood pews, whichare padded, to the copper and bronzetouches designed to match the organpipes, care was taken with every detail.Father David believes the sanctuary,for example, with its limestone andwood, is an apt reflection of the Kansaslandscape.Other changes were very intentionalas well.“When you come into the churchyour focus goes immediately to the crucifix,”said Father David.“I think it’s got a more prayerful aspect,”he added.Not only is the sanctuary now allon one level, but accessibility was improvedthroughout the building with anelevator leading to Miege Hall.The acoustics have been improved aswell, and the baptismal area has beenexpanded. Even the adoration chapelhas seen some changes.Linking past, presentand futureArchbishop Naumann celebrated thereopening Mass on May 27, and concelebrantswere Father David and FatherJohn Maier. Deacons Tim McEvoy andTerrance Mulcare also took part in theMass.In the archbishop’s homily, said FatherDavid, “he focused on the site,”which is an important part of the archdiocese’sown heritage.“We’re not to forget the history ofwhat’s gone before us,” he said.It was fitting, therefore, that thebuilding features an entire wall displayingphotos of the old cathedral.But the renovated church also showcasesthe few items from the originalcathedral that survived the fire — acouple of stained-glass windows, thebaptismal font and the bells.Publication No. (ISSN0194-9799)PresidentMost Reverend Joseph F.NaumannEditorReverend Mark Goldasich, stlfrmark@theleaven.comManaging EditorAnita McSorleyanita@theleaven.comSenior ReporterJoe Bolligjoe@theleaven.comProduction ManagerTodd Habigertodd@theleaven.comReporterJessica Langdonjessica@theleaven.comAdvertising RepresentativeJennifer Siebesjennifer@theleaven.comPublished weekly September through May, excepting the Friday the week afterThanksgiving, and the Friday after Christmas; biweekly June through August. 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