by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
In recent weeks — with the 50th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood on May 24, my more than 20 years serving as the Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas and my retirement imminent — I have been asked on numerous occasions what I consider to be my legacy. Truthfully, I think it is best to let other people articulate what they consider to be the legacy of my ministry as a priest and bishop.
At the same time, I can share what I hope will be the enduring fruit of my ministry as the archbishop. First of all, I pray that during the last 20 years, we have realized at some level our mission statement: “Growing as disciples of Jesus, making disciples for Jesus.”
In his apostolic exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis stated that he never tired of repeating the words of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who said frequently: “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” I hope in some way my ministry has helped to foster opportunities for the people of the archdiocese to encounter the event that changed everything — the death and resurrection of Jesus. I also pray that my ministry helped to facilitate encounters with the person of Jesus.
I did not arrive in the archdiocese with a preconceived agenda or plan. I wanted to first experience the life of the church in northeast Kansas.
I am very grateful for the pastoral work of my predecessor, Archbishop James Patrick Keleher. We continue to reap the fruits of his dedicated service. Archbishop Keleher founded Prairie Star Ranch and its youth camps, where so many of our young people, surrounded by the beauty of nature, encountered Jesus through their experiences of adoration, confession and the Eucharist. Archbishop Keleher created a culture that encouraged young people to consider vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life. When I arrived in 2004, St. James Academy was under construction, and plans had been developed for Santa Marta, a continuum of care retirement community.
From my first days in the archdiocese, I was grateful to experience the vitality of the church and hoped to build upon what was already in place. I believe the Holy Spirit raised up a unique and talented set of leaders to help provide many opportunities for the people of the archdiocese to encounter Jesus.
Early in my time in the archdiocese, we cosponsored with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph a Living Rosary Rally at Kauffman Stadium with more than 20,000 in attendance. In preparing for the rosary rally, we promoted the daily praying of the rosary by individuals and families. When we draw close to Mary, she always draws us closer to her Son.
Under the leadership of the cofounders Dr. Mike Scherschligt and Dr. Troy Hinkel, the Holy Family School of Faith, a public association of the faithful, was founded to provide adult faith formation and education. Today, the Holy Family School of Faith, through its “Daily Rosary Meditations” podcast, provides to more than 250,000 subscribers inspiring reflections on Scripture, the catechism and the lives of the saints.
Recognizing the desire of so many to deepen their prayer life, at my request, the Apostles of the Interior Life and the Holy Family School of Faith developed the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program that equips clergy, religious and mainly laity to accompany others desiring a closer relationship with Jesus. Several hundred men and women have received excellent formation to help others grow their life of prayer.
At my request, the Holy Family School of Faith developed a spiritual formation program for Catholic school teachers. Donnelly College’s Blessed Seelos Institute now provides this spiritual formation for all of the faculties of our Catholic secondary and elementary schools.
Many years ago, I began the practice of visiting our high schools — not only annually for Mass, but also for eucharistic adoration with the entire faculty and student body. After Mass or eucharistic adoration, I often meet with a group of students to allow them the opportunity to ask me questions, but also to learn from them their experience in our Catholic schools. I am edified by what our students share. They readily acknowledge the inspiration they receive from their teachers, coaches and staff. They recognize the difference friendship with Jesus and participation in the Catholic Church makes in the lives of their faculty.
The archdiocese has increased our efforts to provide married couples with more opportunities to renew and deepen their marital love. The family is the foundation for society, culture, the nation and the church. Marriage is the foundation of the family. Under the leadership and guidance of Brad and Libby Dupont, who lead our marriage and family life office, the archdiocese has partnered with EverMore In Love, the School of Love, Communio and several other ministries to offer opportunities for marriage enrichment for couples.
Pope Francis reminded us that we encounter Jesus when we strive to bring the Gospel to the peripheries. I am amazed at the many ways Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas makes tangible the love of Jesus Christ to those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Catholic Charities not only provides emergency assistance (food, clothing and shelter), but through the St. Rita Workforce Development Program, removes barriers for economic stability and success for the unemployed and underemployed. This program for individuals who are motivated to break free from the cycle of poverty changes lives through education and career advancement.
Similarly, I am very grateful for our pro-life ministries that surround mothers in a difficult pregnancy with a community of love and support. Our pro-life network is doing so much to rescue babies and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion. Our Project Rachel ministry offers healing and mercy to those who have been involved with abortion. I am also very grateful for our Foster Care Ministry that is striving to identify and equip more foster families and energize our parishes to increase their support for foster care.
Likewise, the Catholic Education Foundation has had remarkable success in raising millions of dollars for scholarships to our Catholic schools. Their success has kept our schools from becoming economically prohibitive and made them financially accessible for all families. Donnelly College, the vast majority of whose graduates are first-generation recipients of a higher education degree, is another unique and beautiful way that the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas provides opportunities for individuals to escape the cycle of poverty.
The archdiocese has been incredibly blessed with the presence of new religious communities, such as the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George, the Little Sisters and Little Brothers of the Lamb, the Friars and Sisters of the Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ, the Missionary Fathers of the Nativity of Mary, the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, and most recently, the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The witness of these religious women and men, combined with the religious orders present in the archdiocese for many years, serve as leaven and light for the entire church.
The Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is not my church. It is the church of Jesus Christ. I have had the privilege to serve in the archdiocese for a season — a fairly long season, more than 20 years. I have had the privilege to impact a generation of Catholics. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. I feel very grateful and extraordinarily blessed!
