by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For the past 20 years, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann has kept the words of Pope Paul VI in mind.
“He said as the pope that it’s not my church — it’s Jesus’ church,” said Archbishop Naumann. “And everybody’s here just for a season, in terms of leaders — whether it’s popes or bishops or pastors.”
As for his time as the leader of the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas, it’s been a great adventure.
“I’m just very grateful for the time that I had to serve the archdiocese,” said Archbishop Naumann.
“To be here for more than 20 years — that’s unusual in many ways,” he added. “Every bishop doesn’t get that time.”
Archbishop Naumann was appointed coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on Jan. 7, 2004, and succeeded Archbishop James P. Keleher as its archbishop on Jan. 15, 2005.
He will be succeeded by Archbishop-designate Shawn McKnight, who was appointed by Pope Francis on April 8.
First impressions
As Archbishop Naumann reflected on his first months in the archdiocese, he recalled the sage advice offered by the bishop who ordained him as a priest.
“He said when you first come to a parish, look out the window for a year,” said Archbishop Naumann. “He was basically saying don’t try and change things quickly but allow yourself time — first of all to observe.
“At least go through the calendar and observe all the different aspects of the life of the church.”
“But also give yourself time to win the trust of your people,” he added. “I think we have to earn trust.”
When he arrived in northeast Kansas, Archbishop Naumann discovered a vibrant church thanks to Archbishop Keleher’s leadership.
“Generally, in the church here there were many, many positive things happening,” he said.
In time, the archbishop set about enhancing the various ministries that were already up and running.
“There were a lot of good things in place,” he said, “but that I thought we needed to take to a new level.”
He identified five pastoral priorities as a framework for carrying out the church’s mission: conversion, evangelization, Catholic education, serving those in need and stewardship.
At the 10-year mark, he and his team conducted a listening process to prioritize three pastoral initiatives: evangelization, marriage and family life, and providing opportunities for people to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
“So, over the next 10 years, we developed particular targeted goals in each of those areas,” the archbishop said, “and then tried to put resources behind them.”
Solid leadership
The life of the church in northeast Kansas blossomed in many ways under Archbishop Naumann’s leadership, but he doesn’t take the credit.
“I think there are very good things that have happened thanks to a lot of ways that the Holy Spirit has brought together a constellation of good leaders,” he said.
The archbishop inherited the chancellor and vicar general, Msgr. Tom Tank, and the vicar general, the late Msgr. Charles McGlinn.
“They knew the archdiocese, the history of the archdiocese,” said the archbishop. “They were a tremendous help to me, guiding me in many of the decisions that we made.”
The archbishop continued and expanded upon Archbishop Keleher’s administrative team.
He also focused on the Hispanic community by creating a brand-new position in the archdiocese — vicar for Hispanic ministry — and working to incorporate Hispanic ministry into every part of the archdiocese.
The archbishop relied on lay leadership and expressed appreciation for initiatives like Holy Family School of Faith, a lay apostolate that offers a Spiritual Mentorship Program, faculty formation and a rosary meditation podcast hosted by Dr. Mike Scherschligt.
In 2019, it merged with the young adult ministry City on a Hill, which is now under its direction.
The archbishop has also been a staunch supporter of the work of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.
“I think Catholic Charities has continued to thrive,” he said, “and the Snow Ball (fundraising gala) is just one barometer of that — the support that our people have for doing the mission of the church of bringing the love of Jesus Christ to the poor.”
Archbishop Naumann has been inspired by the “entrepreneurial” spirit of the people of the archdiocese.
“I think there’s a positive attitude amongst people,” he said. “If there are problems or challenges, they’re solution-oriented.”
And the team of people that’s supported him personally — at his residence and the chancery — has been a blessing.
“I’m edified by their zeal, their dedication, their creativity in trying to help our church constantly be more vibrant, more alive,” he said.
“I think they’ve made me a better priest, a better bishop,” he continued, “by their support, their encouragement, their example of their own faith life.”
Focused on the future
Archbishop Naumann understood the importance of building up the next generation of Catholic leaders.
Strengthening the catholicity of archdiocesan schools was at the forefront of his work from the start.
“One of the pluses that helped with that was that Archbishop Keleher and his team actually were in the process of opening St. James Academy [in Lenexa],” said Archbishop Naumann.
“It didn’t open until after I was here, but the leadership team had already been engaged,” he said.
Founded in 2005, St. James was designed specifically to “help raise the bar in terms of what our Catholic schools can and should be,” said the archbishop.
He’s also been an avid supporter of the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), which provides tuition assistance scholarships for students whose families could otherwise not afford Catholic education.
He called CEF “a critical resource in making sure our Catholic schools don’t become elitist and only available to the rich.”
And the archbishop has worked hard to ensure that Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, which provides higher education to students who might not otherwise be served, continues to grow.
When it comes to the faith of young people in general, Archbishop Keleher had planted the seeds for a blossoming youth ministry, founding Camp Tekakwitha in 1998 and making a home for it at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg in 2000.
“That was another real strength in the archdiocese,” said Archbishop Naumann, “the focus on forming our young people well and raising up future leaders.”
Expanding religious life
The church in northeast Kansas wouldn’t be the same without the men who’ve answered the call to the priesthood over the past two decades.
Archbishop Naumann has been gratified by the fraternity among the priests.
“We have a lot of diversity in our priests,” he said, “but I think they enjoy each other and are supportive of each other.
“That’s been a very positive part of the culture here.”
Many vocations have come out of the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, he said, and the support of organizations like the Serra Club has been essential.
But he believes the archdiocese needs to foster more vocations.
Archbishop Naumann also understood the benefits of religious orders, supporting those who have been in the archdiocese for decades and ushering in new ones.
“I’d like to say I had this plan when I came here to bring these religious communities,” he said, “but I really didn’t.
“That was really a gift of the Holy Spirit in many ways to have these new, young religious communities.”
The Little Sisters of the Lamb came to Kansas City, Kansas, in 2008, to establish the Community of the Lamb’s presence after connecting with Father Anthony Ouellette while he was studying in Rome.
“Thanks to his coaching, we were able to be the first really to invite that community to the United States,” said the archbishop. “And it was a time when they were ready to accept a new mission.”
The Fraternity the Poor of Jesus Christ, founded in Brazil, have been serving the poor in Kansas City, Kansas, since 2012.
And under the leadership of Father Brian Schieber, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood, Archbishop Naumann brought in the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who are fluent in English and Spanish, in 2023.
Archbishop Naumann said the permanent diaconate has also enhanced the church’s impact.
The groundwork for it had been laid when he arrived, the first cohort of men began formation in 2006 and they were ordained in 2011.
“That’s been a great enrichment for the church here,” said Archbishop Naumann, “having these well-informed deacons.”
They and their wives have “been a great blessing to our parishes,” he added.
Looking ahead
Archbishop Naumann believes Archbishop-designate McKnight will be set up for success when he takes the reins.
“I think he’ll be inheriting a really excellent staff and a great presbyterate,” said Archbishop Naumann.
“I think the new bishop’s going to bring fresh eyes,” he added. “He’s going to bring new energy.”
Archbishop Naumann hopes the people of the archdiocese will welcome Archbishop-designate McKnight warmly.
“I’m confident that they’re going to welcome the new bishop and to love the new bishop [with the same] great support and affection that they’ve shown to me,” he said.
As he adjusts to the idea of retirement, Archbishop Naumann looks forward to living side by side with the Community of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kansas.
Construction for the St. Joseph House, a guest house for visitors to the community adjacent to the Little Brothers’ residence, is underway. He will be its first guest and live out his retirement years there as long as he’s able.
“I think that will be good for me spiritually to take advantage of their spirituality, the beauty of the way that they celebrate the liturgy,” he said.
The archbishop looks forward to passing his administrative responsibilities on but plans to continue being of service however he can.
“I hope, my health permitting, to substitute for priests so they can get away for vacation or retreats or continuing education,” he said.
Although his time as archbishop is coming to a close, Archbishop Naumann’s legacy will live on.
“Mostly, I’m filled with gratitude that I was given the gift to be able to serve here as the archbishop for a couple of decades,” he said.
