by Marc and Julie Anderson
mjanderson@theleaven.org
MERRIAM — Since 2009, local Knights of Columbus councils, along with the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, have raised money to fund the purchase of nearly 2,000 ultrasound machines for pregnancy resource centers across the country.
As of June 7, the Kansas City Pregnancy Clinic’s second location in Merriam “officially” received the 36th such machine purchased by the Knights of Columbus in Kansas during an open house, complete with tours, refreshments and a blessing/dedication of the machine and its room by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann. The new machine was purchased by the Knights at a cost of around $44,000.
The clinic’s second location opened in November 2024 — at least six months ahead of schedule — and offers services like pregnancy testing; ultrasounds; counseling; and education on abortion, the abortion pill, parenting and adoption options. The clinic also offers presumptive eligibility for Medicaid, meaning clients without insurance can prequalify for Medicaid, increasing the likelihood of receiving prenatal care earlier in their pregnancies. All services are confidential and provided free of charge to clients.
During the open house, Donna Kelsey, the clinic’s volunteer executive director, said the ultrasound room had “a very special name.” The plaque reads: “In honor of Louise Naumann, mother of Archbishop Joseph Naumann.”
Prior to blessing the ultrasound machine, the archbishop dedicated the clinic’s ministry to the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Anthony of Padua.
In his brief remarks, Archbishop Naumann thanked the Knights of Columbus, saying, “We’re grateful, as always, to the Knights of Columbus who have been on a mission to help with the truth that this technology can help reveal to parents as a way of rescuing children from the tragedy that is every abortion.”
Archbishop Naumann also praised Donna Kelsey and her husband Ron who have helped to found five pregnancy clinics across the archdiocese — and might be open to founding another one.
“His entrepreneurial abilities, along with her abilities in administration and pastoral care, are a great combination. I never imagined that they would open up a whole chain of clinics,” the archbishop said.
He also expressed gratitude for the people of the archdiocese and the way they supported the clinics with their time, talent and treasure, thereby providing mothers with “a community of love and support. They’re the second victims of every abortion.”
Representing the Knights of Columbus State Council were state advocate Doug Wietharn and Denis Juenger, a regional membership chairman.
“We just give [the clinics] the machines,” said Juenger of the Knights’ contribution to the cause.
“The people and the volunteers — what they do, I could not do,” he said. “They are the people that are in the trenches. Thank you to all of you.”
