by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Christmas came a few days early for Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann, and the gift he received exceeded his expectations.
The archbishop moved into his new home, the St. Joseph House, on Dec. 17.
“It’s perfect,” said Archbishop Naumann. “It’s more than I could hope for. The Little Brothers and Sisters thought of every detail.”
St. Joseph House is located in “Lamb Village” in Kansas City, Kansas, beside the monastery of the Little Brothers of the Lamb and one block down the hill from the Little Sisters.
The 1,860-square-foot home includes a living and dining room, office, kitchen, laundry room, chapel, bedroom and garage.
Keene Constructs was the construction company, and Cody Moore was the project manager.
Many people helped make St. Joseph House possible, including individual donors, archdiocesan parishioners, local artists and groups like the Knights of Columbus at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.
The Little Brothers crafted all the interior woodwork, including the cabinets, doors and office shelves. The detail matches their monastery.
Archbishop Shawn McKnight toured the community’s monasteries and St. Joseph House on Dec. 30, where he joined Archbishop Naumann as he blessed his new home. Father Keith Chadwick, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, assisted in the blessing.
Archbishop Naumann expressed his gratitude to Archbishop McKnight for his presence, to the people who made St. Joseph House possible, and to the Community of the Lamb for their work on the house and their impact on the neighborhood.
“Their charism is to have a friendship with the poor,” said Archbishop Naumann, “and not necessarily to be doing direct service, but to build relationships with them.
“And it’s beautiful to see how that’s happened and what an impact they’ve had — not just in this neighborhood but on our local church.”
After the blessing, the archbishops shared a phone conversation with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, former archbishop of Vienna and the one responsible for the Community of the Lamb, who expressed his delight at Archbishop Naumann’s new home.
For Archbishop Naumann, it was bittersweet leaving his former residence in Kansas City, Kansas, where he lived for nearly 22 years.
“I loved that house,” he said. “I loved the chapel there particularly. I lived there longer than I lived in any other single place.”
But he’s grateful to be close to the Community of the Lamb and looks forward to joining them for Mass when he’s available.
“They pray the liturgy beautifully,” he said.
As for retirement, Archbishop Naumann is adjusting to the flexibility.
“I’m in more control of my schedule than I’ve been for 50 years,” he said. “I’m free from a lot of decision-making and meetings.
“But I get to do all the things that attracted me to the priesthood to start with, like celebrate the sacraments, be available to visit people in the hospital and spend more time with people than I could as an archbishop.”
Archbishop Naumann offered The Leaven a tour of St. Joseph House. To view a video and more photos, visit us on Facebook or Instagram.
