theleaven.com | vol. 34, no. 16 | november 23, 2012

No leaveN Next weekBecause of Thanksgiving, The Leaven will next publish on Dec. 7.

Day of recollectioNDonnelly College chaplain leads a day for local priests centered on Vatican II.

iNto the fireFather Pat Sullivan joins other volunteers in answering the call of the local fire department.

MiNistryChurch of the Nativity’s ministry to the el-derly fills a growing need in Leawood.

5 168

AdventSeven-year-old Devin Wassman — son of Todd and Andi Wassman, members of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor — lights the first candle on the traditional Advent wreath. The Advent season starts this year on Dec. 2.

Leaven photo by Joe Bollig

16 local news TheLeaVeN.Com | NoVemBer 23, 2012

HoME iMPRovEMEnTLet’s make a deal

want to teach your kids math and social skills at the same time?

Disconnect from technology at least once a week and

dust off that old deck of cards. But first, search the web for some fun family card games. even simple games can be mastered and enjoyed by all age levels. For more com-plex games, younger kids can team up with parents. your children will learn how to interact socially and how to be good sports. They’ll also exercise their fine motor skills

and see the fun side of math. adults who join in the game will exercise mental skills as well.

Family members of every age can benefit from a fun family card night.

—J.R.E.

By Jessica Langdonjessica@theleaven.com

FRANKFORT — As a pastor, Father Pat Sul-livan is committed to stoking the fire of faith

in his parishioners’ hearts.And as a volunteer, he’s

committed to serving his com-munity when real fires or other emergencies occur.

Father Sullivan is pastor of Annunciation Parish in Frank-fort, St. Columbkille Parish in Blaine, and St. Monica-St. Eliz-abeth Parish in Blue Rapids.

He wanted to help his com-munities soon after he assumed his parochial assignments, so he became a chaplain for the Frankfort Volunteer Fire De-partment. Like other members of the department, he responds to fire or emergency calls, sometimes accompanying am-bulance crews.

He offers the sacraments to Catholics, and comfort and spiritual assistance to all.

Lifelong interestAs long as he can remem-

ber, Father Sullivan couldn’t ignore the wail of sirens or the flashing of passing emergency lights.

He would immediately say a prayer, a practice he learned from his mother Rosemarie.

“If an ambulance went by, she’d say a Hail Mary for the emergency workers and who-ever might be affected,” said Father Sullivan. “It’s an emer-gency, even if it’s not life-or-death. Someone needs prayers and that’s the quickest way you can jump in and do something.”

Before he answered the call to the priesthood, he re-sponded to crime scenes as an evidence technician with the Kansas City, Mo. Police De-partment.

After ordination, just as he was learning the ropes as a chaplain with the Johnson County Fire District, he was named to his current position in Frankfort.

But it didn’t take long be-fore he sparked a friendship with Annunciation parishio-ners Paul and Melody Tommer. Paul has been chief of Frank-fort’s volunteer fire depart-

ment for nearly 30 years, and Melody serves as the director of the all-volunteer ambulance service.

‘An asset to us’Paul Tommer was quick to

accept Father Sullivan’s offer to serve as chaplain. Previous-ly, a Methodist minister from

Marysville occasionally aided the department by conduct-ing debriefings after traumatic events, but he had been trans-ferred.

So Father Sullivan stepped up.

He provides sacramental support to the ill and injured, pastoral support for the other spiritual needs of emergency workers, and critical incident

debriefing to crews — some-thing especially needed after traumatic events and deaths.

When he is not otherwise occupied, Father Sullivan hauls equipment and helps in whatever ways he can.

“He wanted to get more in-volved,” said Paul Tommer. “I started showing him the trucks.”

That’s all it took. Father Sul-livan quickly started learning

his way around the firehouse and its equipment.

Seeing the local priest wav-ing from behind the wheel of a fire truck has caused some double takes, Melody Tom-mer said. At the same time, his presence during some of people’s most desperate hours offers a lot of comfort. Many have accepted his blessing as they brace for a trip to the hospital, unsure of what lies ahead for them.

Father Sullivan received his own set of gear and a pager — and soaked in as much train-ing as he could.

“He’s really been an asset to us,” said Paul Tommer. “He’s a good role model.”

Real-life impactFather Sullivan participates

in all the regular volunteer training sessions, like this fall’s mock car crash scene in which the department prac-ticed a rescue using the Jaws of Life.

“We played it like it was the real scene,” said Father Sulli-van.

As first responders, the members of this department know all too well the differ-ence a split second can make on a country road.

There are few city streets compared to the many miles of rural roadways with much higher speed limits in the 200-plus square miles the fire de-partment covers.

So the 36 members of the fire department face the spe-cial anxiety of knowing that it might be a friend or neighbor at the accident scene where they are responding.

Father Sullivan hasn’t yet been called out when flames are devouring someone’s home — and hopes that nev-er happens — but he has seen plenty of calls for help when fields catch fire, especially during the hot, dry spring and summer that just passed.

“It usually is somebody’s field that has their crops in it — their livelihood,” he said.

Jesus in the worldFather Sullivan finds inspi-

ration in the volunteer fire-fighters, emergency medical technicians and law enforce-ment out working together to help people.

LeaVeN PhoTo By DouG heSSe

Father Pat Sullivan, pastor of Annunciation Parish in Frankfort, St. Columbkille Parish in Blaine and St. Monica-St. Eliza-beth Parish in Blue Rapids, learned the equipment at the Frankfort volunteer Fire Department. He serves as chaplain and takes on other duties during emergency calls. He tends to the spiritual needs of first responders and the people who need help, offering to anoint those who are Catholic and are ill or injured.

wheN secoNDs couNtn PrIeST ProVIDeS Prayer, PraCTICaL heLP IN emerGeNCIeS

>> See “FatHer” on page 11

local news 11NoVemBer 23, 2012 | TheLeaVeN.Com

“It just gives me great encourage-ment. I know these people well — not from being on the fire department with them, but because they’re members of this small community,” he said.

Father Sullivan — like everyone in the department — works his volunteer du-ties around his regular responsibilities.

“We don’t expect him to miss Mass,” Paul Tommer said with a laugh.

But he has been impressed by the pastor’s willingness to stay and help at long events, even knowing he has a full day ahead of him.

As a priest, responding to these scenes reminds Father Sullivan of the necessity to have Jesus in one’s life.

And just as a priest is expected to act as Jesus walking in the world to-day, he sees Jesus in everyone working around him.

Melody Tommer has relished watch-ing the parish priest take on this new role.

“It’s nice because you can sit there and talk and he gives you a different perspective,” she said, “and he helps you make sense of what you’re dealing with.

“I just think it’s an asset. It’s very comforting to us that he’s there — kind of like our church is going with us.”

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father sullivan helps any way

he can

Martin and Patricia (Yulich) Kasick, m e m b e r s of the ca-t h e d r a l of St. Pe-ter, Kan-sas city, Kan., will c e l e b ra te their 50th w e d d i n g

anniversary on nov. 24. the couple was married on nov. 24, 1962, at holy name church, Kansas city, Kan. their children and their spouses are: martin J. Kasick, olathe; robin and Kimberly hicks, olathe; and Scott and carri Kasick, olathe. they also have five grandchildren. they plan to celebrate with family and friends.

Sharon (ebert) and larry Wickstrum, m e m b e r s of St. Jo-seph Par-ish, Flush, celebrated their 50th w e d d i n g anniversary on nov. 14. the couple

was married on nov. 14, 1962, at St. Jo-seph by Father J.e. biehler. their children and their spouses are: todd and trista Wickstrum, dallas; and troy Wickstrum, manhattan. two other children, timothy and tamara, are deceased. they also have two grandchildren. they celebrated in late summer with a family vacation in colora-do. cards may be sent to: 11870 hwy. 13, Westmoreland, KS 66549.

LEAVENWORTH — Sister Georgeanne Desch (formerly Sister George Anne), SCL, 92, died Nov. 12

at the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth motherhouse here.

F l o r e n c e Desch was born on Nov. 2, 1920, in To-peka, one of six children of George and Anna Marie

Stadler Desch. She graduated from Sacred Heart School, Topeka, and Topeka Catholic High School.

Growing up, she enjoyed watch-ing ballgames, listening to band con-certs, and singing. She had a reputa-tion for being a very accomplished dancer. She danced at weddings and anywhere else dance tunes were be-ing played.

On Sept. 4, 1939, Florence entered the community of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, joining her older sister, Sister Ruth Anne, who

had entered three years earlier, and three older cousins. She was given the name Sister George Anne and professed vows on March 5, 1941. She later changed to Sister Georgeanne, a more feminine version of the name that honored her parents.

She received a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in ele-mentary school administration from Saint Mary College, Leavenworth.

In an interview, Sister Georgeanne said that she felt life was enriched by giving herself to those who need-ed love, kindness, and concern. This attitude of loving service marked her 41-year career in elementary ed-ucation. For nine years she taught, and for 32 years she was principal in schools in Kansas, Missouri, Mon-tana, and Nebraska.

She was the local coordinator of the motherhouse from 1982-1989. In 1990, following a sabbatical pro-gram, Sister Georgeanne was em-ployed at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Mont., in senior services as the coordinator of the foster-grand-parent program. She retired to the motherhouse on April 29, 2007.

Sister Georgeanne Desch, SCL

BASEHOR — Sursum Corda, the archdiocese’s polyphonic vocal ensem-ble, will sing Advent vespers with a sacred choral music concert on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at Holy Angels Church here, located at 15408 Leavenworth Rd.

This hourlong program includes evening prayer of the church, sung to the beautiful melodies of Gregorian chant and enriched by the musical tap-estry of Renaissance polyphony. The cost is a freewill offering.

Vocal ensemble will sing Advent vespers Dec. 9

The ministry was slow to take hold, but now the youth enjoy spending time with the Sisters.

“When we started going, there were only two or three people who came,” said Sister Paula. “They are not Cath-olic and didn’t know what we were talking about. They didn’t know how to pray. We started to dance and sing. Now, we have 12, 16, 20 who come to meet us.”

Three times a week, the members serve meals to the men of Shalom House. After dinner, they play dom-inoes and visit. The men help Sister Paula and Sister Agatha with their English. This past summer, the men helped the Sisters cultivate a vegetable garden.

Ralph Johnson, a member of the Na-tivity of Mary Parish in Independence, Mo., got to know the Sisters when he lived at Shalom House last spring.

“They clean this place from top to bottom,” Johnson said. “They are tire-less. They soften a lot of hearts.”

On Tuesdays, the members travel with other volunteers to deliver food and clothing to the homeless on the street or at their encampments in the woods. Willie Dugan, a member of St. Agnes Parish in Roeland Park, has par-ticipated in the street ministry with the Sisters for several months.

“They are so delightful to be around,”

Dugan said. “They’re very inspiring — their spirituality, their humility, their willingness to help the poorest people. I feel honored to have met them.”

Personal interactionAfter nine months, the order has

established a foothold in the neighbor-hood. Their friends represent the di-versity of the surrounding area.

Many were present Oct. 23 for a Mass and reception to celebrate the order’s 11th anniversary. Perla Longo-ria, of All Saints Parish in Kansas City, Kan., met the Sisters in June, when she was coping with the loss of her cousin.

“The first time I came, I found people of love,” said Longoria. “They helped me with self-esteem, with prayer. They are good people. I have never had any-one to help me like this.”

The members interact with resi-dents on a personal level, listening pa-tiently and with compassion.

This highly personal interaction oc-curs during a weekly devotion to the Blessed Mother known as “peregri-nação” in Portuguese, or “pilgrimage,” that has become especially popular with the Hispanic community.

Every Wednesday, a statue of Mary is delivered to a family. That evening, the Poor of Jesus Christ members, neighbors and friends — both children and adults — show up at the family’s

home to pray the rosary and offer in-tentions for the family.

The family keeps the statue and prays the rosary daily until the follow-ing Wednesday, when the statue moves to a different house and the devotion is repeated.

“It is an opportunity for us to get close to the community, to spend time

with [families] in their homes,” said Sister Paula.

During the devotion, Sister Agatha centers everyone by strumming her guitar and leading hymns in Spanish. Participants take turns saying a Hail Mary. After the rosary, everyone prays for the family. Then dinner is served.

“The devotion is powerful because it strengthens the family,” said Brother Casio.

meeting the needIn a neighborhood that many con-

sider abandoned, members of the Poor of Jesus Christ are gently working their way into the hearts of the residents.

“People say it is a poor area — that there is a lot of violence here,” Brother Casio said. “But we see people thirst-ing for God.”

The order’s ultimate goal is to bring the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to those who need him. But be-fore they can do that, they must meet the immediate needs of residents, oth-erwise the word of God is just words, Brother Casio said.

Are they making a difference? “The answer has to come from those

around us,” said Brother Casio. “We are living to work and help the best we can. What God sees is more important. That answer coming from us means nothing.”

10 local news TheLeaVeN.Com | NoVemBer 23, 2012

Concrete WorkAny type of repair and new work

Driveways, Walks, PatiosMember of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish

Harvey M. Kascht (913) 262-1555

traveling statue devotion proves popular with hispanic community

A participant in the Fraternity of Missionar-ies, the Poor of Jesus Christ anniversary Mass wears a handmade crucifix made by the order.

>> continued from page 1

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