by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
I am so inspired by the people of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
Mahomes, Kelce and Butker shattered records this year; the 2024 evangelization stats for the people of the archdiocese are equally impressive.
At a glance, 100 men hiked and prayed at the F.I.R.E. overnight retreat and the very next Saturday, 1,150 men turned a Lenten mirror on themselves at Men Under Construction.
Over 2,000 generous souls stood up against poverty and injustice at the Catholic Charities Snow Ball, and there was a full house at the inaugural Cathedral Ball.
Kids from all over the archdiocese flooded into the Junior High Youth Rally at Prairie Star Ranch.
More than 1,300 campers are signed up to engage with Jesus in prayer and study in between riding horses, blasting down water slides and ziplining at Camp Tekakwitha this summer.
And the April Tekakwitha Women’s Retreat is loading up with registrations.
Catholics have obviously been sharing the amazing fruits and abundant life that being Catholic provides, as evidenced by the 300 participants of our recent OCIA (formerly RCIA) retreats offered for those joining the church.
Our Spanish Advent retreat had 70 leaders attend and the Spanish Lenten retreat had over 125 disciples reflecting on the mission that Jesus Christ has for them. The recent Spanish vocations retreat for families had 175 souls considering the will of the Father.
These are only a few of the areas where God is stirring the hearts of his people in northeast Kansas. Our parish leaders are working tirelessly to provide opportunities for each of us to more deeply experience the infinite love of Christ.
Archbishop Naumann has asked the office of evangelization to equip parishes to teach their members how to pass on the faith in beautiful, organic ways that aren’t intimidating.
The early years are especially important in shaping a worldview that recognizes God as active, caring and central. Evangelization is first and best done by parents.
Days of Equipping are being offered where attendees will learn practical approaches for sharing the Gospel. An English and a Spanish day are being offered. Registration and info on evangelization can be found online at: www.archkck.org/revival.
The Spanish-speaking “ArchKCK Dia de Equipamiento” session will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on March 7 at St. Pius X Parish in Mission.
The English-speaking “Day of Equipping” session will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 19 at the Father Quigley Center at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa.
The National Eucharistic Revival challenges us all to wrestle with the actual nearness of God. He tells us that he will not abandon us, and that he will be with us until the end of the age.
