by Debra Niesen
I have heard Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann say many times to various audiences, “I wish everyone could come along with me for just one day to see all the good happening around the archdiocese.”
He said it again recently while meeting with a group of us at the chancery, and this time, the archbishop’s emotion was palpable.
At that moment, I felt especially privileged to have this inside view of the genuine care and love our shepherd of 21 years has for his flock and hoped everyone in the archdiocese had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. As the archbishop enters retirement, I reflect with profound gratitude on the inspiring pro-life leader and gift he has been to so many in this ministry. I echo his words but with a slight twist — I wish everyone could know all the good the archbishop has done through his love of life.
When I was hired in 2018, I couldn’t have known what I would be blessed to witness: from the significant impact he made on the national stage as the USCCB chairman of the pro-life committee, to leading the effort to protect life in our state through a Kansas constitutional amendment. However, it is the more personal examples that arguably bore more fruit. Here’s just a few:
• His love and respect for his own mother, who was widowed when pregnant with him, no doubt influenced his development of the national Walking With Moms in Need parish initiative, helping women facing challenging pregnancies receive support they deserve.
• A woman who shared her deep pain after experiencing an abortion impacted the archbishop deeply many years ago. Ever since, he’s had a tender spot in his heart for the Project Rachel abortion healing ministry.
• Every year, the archbishop walks in the D.C. March for Life and is stopped countless times for a conversation, hugs, blessings or photos and says “yes” to every request. He is respected and loved across the country.
• “My dear young people . . .” Archbishop loves our youth and desires the best for them. They love his hearty laugh, quick wit and fatherly wisdom.
• The archbishop asked us to start one of the only diocesan Foster Care Ministries in the country, saying, “If we are truly pro-life, we must ensure children have an environment to not just survive, but thrive.”
• The archbishop and his ethics council spent many a late night thoroughly dissecting and discussing important life challenges, often regarding end-of-life issues, desiring to protect his people from harm.
• Listening lunches with pregnancy resource centers, sidewalk prayers, racing to console his flock in Seneca and so much more.
Thank you, Archbishop Naumann, for your joyful and powerful example of living the “Gospel of Life.” Life will be victorious!
