Fr. Drew happy to begin priesthood at SFAJULY 2019

Wichita, Kansas

My name is Father Drew Dellasega; I was recently ordained for our Diocese, and Bishop Kemme has assigned me to St. Francis of Assisi. I have been here now for a few weeks and am beginning to settle in. We have such a fantastic parish with so many wonderful people and so many great things going on.

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you a little bit more about me.

I grew up in Pittsburg, Kan., in the far southeastern corner of our Diocese. At my home parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, I attended our parish school from kindergarten through high school.

My parents, Doug and Julie, along with most of my extended family, reside in Pittsburg. I am the oldest of three boys. One brother is one year younger than I am; he and his wife live in Kansas City. They have one daughter who will turn two this month; she has brought great joy to our family and is

unquestionably the center of attention.

My brother and sister-in law are expecting a little boy, who will likely have been born by the time

you read this article. My youngest brother recently graduated from Pittsburg State University and has moved to Wichita to begin his career here.

My vocation was born from my experience of the Lord in high school in the context of our youth ministry program. It was in those formative years that I learned to pray and grew in

relationship with Jesus Christ. The thought of priesthood and going to the seminary to further discern what God was calling me to do grew stronger throughout my years of high school.

Throughout my senior year, I found myself frequently going to adoration and pondering what I should do the coming year. As I considered all the various options on the table, the thought of further discerning priesthood in the seminary is what brought me the

greatest peace. In the fall of 2010, I began

at Conception Seminary College. I spent four years there completing my studies in Philosophy. In the fall of 2014, I began my next period of studies at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. In the course of my time at Kenrick, I had the opportunity to do an internship year, where I spent an entire year living and working at a parish.

I spent the year here in our diocese at Church of the Magdalen. This experience proved to be pivotal in my own discernment and preparation for priesthood. I found a real love for parish life and ministry and upon completing the year was all the more energized to complete my time in seminary so that I could once more return to a parish.

Having begun here at St. Francis after nine years of seminary, I feel as though I have finally arrived. I look forward to working with, serving and getting to know all our many parishioners here at St. Francis throughout my time here!

Wichita, Kansas

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH

THE V E R N A C U L A R

July 2019 THE VERNACULAR

2Layout by Jami Hennessy2

Andrew and Kristi Bird are St. Francis parishioners. The following is an excerpt from their testimony during SFA’s annual stewardship renewal last November.

Stewardship has been a learning process that began years after joining St. Francis and continues to grow daily. Our stewardship starts at home, supporting our seven little boys and each other, and has expanded to our church family.

We have learned from those before us that stewardship can be as basic as greeting us with a helping hand and a smile at the door, inviting us to doughnuts, or picking up a kid needing a hug and loving him like he was your own.

It includes simple things such as providing a meal after having a baby, helping watch kids, and many other small acts of kindness from parishioners like yourselves.

The simple examples we have mentioned here are the basic building blocks to a greater stewardship way of life and were inspirations on our journey here at St. Francis.

The theme for this year stresses being fully alive as missionary disciples. Your gifts of time,

talent and treasure have kept this community as a light of hope for us as parents. Adoration, Mass and St. Francis School serve as a beacon of strength for this community, helping families strive to

be more like the Holy Family. The love you show keeps us

grounded in the faith we so love and try to keep, in a society that tells us we are only to look out for ourselves. This love starts with our children growing up watching this parish give so much of itself for their educational needs, and always striving to keep religion at the center of its curriculum. On that note, if you have not seen the new ministry house for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, you should check it out … we promise you will wish you would have learned the faith in the beautiful environment they have created!

As our parish changes, there is always a need for stewardship, and we ask ourselves how we can give back to you. We are still striving to meet the example of so many. We are small stewards working to grow, because of the faith and witness of all of you.

Thank you and God bless!

Stewardship Witness: Andrew & Kristi Bird

Photo courtesy of Lifetouch

UPCOMING EVENTSBAPTISMS

Jade Josephine, daughter of Josh & Kirsten Bird, June 8

Emily Claire, daughter of Jason & Evamaria Richey, June 8

Penelope Jade, daughter of Ja’Vaugh & Elizabeth Hubbard, June 8

Anthony James, son of Joseph & Cynthia Timmermeyer, June 14

Benjamin Michael, son of Michael & Christine Knee, June 23

Caroline Paige, daughter of Anders & Morgan Herpolsheimer, June 23

Sophia Rose, daughter of Clint and Amanda May, June 30

NEW PARISHIONERS

Jim & Brenda Brennan, 3 children

Andy & Michelle Dalbom, 4 children

Dustin & Amanda Downing,

3 children

Lexi Eck

Jack & Penny Feist, 6 children

Blake and Allison Fisher

Dustin & Nicole Girrens, 2 children

Joseph & Phyllis Jerrick

Linda Leis

Nicholas & Rebecca Speck,

3 children

My & Vinh Tang, 3 children

Bao & Mai Vo, 3 children

July 2019THE VERNACULAR 3

‘Flame of Love’ is latest addition to RosarySince the onset of the Marian

Age in 1830, we have witnessed a gradual progression in Mary’s role in the work of our salvation. By 1917 in Fatima, Portugal, Mary revealed that, “God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”

The primary way of showing our affection and devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart is by praying the rosary. Much has been written about it, yet still many Catholics are unaware of the history and timely role the rosary has played in the church’s battle against heresies and attacks on the faith. It has proven to be a weapon of spiritual mass conversion over the centuries.

A brief history of the formulation of the Hail Mary prayer and the rosary illuminates its marvelous work in salvation history. Much of this history comes from Fr. Don Calloway’s book “Champions of the Rosary” should you wish to read more about it.

There are three antecedents to the rosary. They are the prayer beads, the “Angelic Salutation” (“Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee”) and the “Our Father.” Elizabeth’s Evangelical Salutation: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” was also being said with the Angelic Salutation by the year 1050.

When Mary appeared in 1208 to St. Dominic to encourage the recitation of her prayer, praying the Marian psalter was already a well-established practice. The Psalter was comprised of 150 Hail Marys and 15 Our Fathers on prayer beads.

So, to St. Dominic, whose efforts preaching to convert the Albigensians from their errors was mostly fruitless, Mary appeared with her remedy. She said, “Wonder not that until now you have obtained so

little fruit by your labors; you have spent them on a barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of divine grace. Therefore, preach my Psalter.”

Mary desired Dominic to use the first half of the Hail Mary as we know it today, as a preaching tool centering on the mysteries of Christ, especially his incarnation. By this he successfully crushed the theological errors of the Albigensians that taught all matter including the body was evil – a direct attack on the incarnation, the humanity of Christ and his salvific work.

In 1261 Pope Urban IV added the name of “Jesus” to the end of Elizabeth’s declaration.

Because of the Black Plague in the 1300s and resulting 25 million deaths, the second half of the “Hail Mary” with the petition to “pray for us sinners now and at our death” was added in breviaries of religious communities. In 1439 the Abbot Adolph of Essen originated the idea of adding mysteries to officially contemplate while praying the Rosary.

The “pray for us sinners …” petition was added officially to the catechism of the Council of Trent in 1566. By 1917 at Fatima, Portugal, because of the Communist errors that were spread throughout the 20th Century, Our Lady requested the following words be prayed at the end of each decade, “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.”

In 2002 we all took note when John Paul II added an entire new set of mysteries to the Rosary, “The Luminous Mysteries of Light.”

The Rosary is a spiritual weapon that has developed over a thousand-year span. In our day, Mary has

requested a new petition, and it has received full church approval to be added to the Hail Mary.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

– Amy Law

SAVE THE DATE

Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of

Mary RetreatAug. 25, St. Francis of Assisi

Retreat director Fr. James Blount, SOLT, is a priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity, Georgia Mission. A very gifted spiritual director and confessor, Fr. Jim is a bold, charismatic preacher endowed and empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He speaks of living a life in relationship with each of the Persons of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Dedicated to his healing and deliverance ministry, he travels in the United States and abroad, preaching and proclaiming the Gospel whenever and wherever he can.

Please direct all inquiries to Amy Law at amylaw5@att.net or 644-2315.

July 2019 THE VERNACULAR4

BCCHS Class of 2019 includes 53 from SFAOn May 19 at Hartman Arena,

293 students graduated from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. Congratulations to the 53 BCCHS graduates from St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Jack Aruskevicius**†, Connor Bennett†, Brenna Bradley, Chase Brouillette†, Aaron Calderon, Logan Carter†, Zachary Cerre, Nolan Conrad, Addison Dwight, Isaac Elpers, Alec Esch, Gavin Evans, Madeline Floerchinger.

Dillon Frangenberg†, Madison Garcia, Steven Garcia, Katelyn Graham, Britney Ho, Hailey Kotrba, Emily Landon, Pedro Lara, Catherine Le, Carson Lee, Seth Lyle, Gunner Lynch, Marianna Martin*†,

Alexis Marvin, Kody Marvin.Augustine McCormick, Noah

McPeak, Katherine Melillo, Daniel Mies, Armond Morgan†, Calvin Morgan, Van Nguyen, Aaron Owen†, Talia Powers, Michael Ramirez, Claire Sanburn, Haylie Schweitzer.

Sophia Scott†, Anthony Seiler†, Teresa Stewart, Brandon Thomas, Dylan Thomas, Brandon Tran, Katelyn Tran, Kyle Tran**†, Tracy Tran†, Jason Trower, John Vasquez, Paola Vasquez-Ringgold, James Wall†.

Some of the other awards won by SFA parishioners are as follows:

Salutatorian: Kyle TranBishop’s Crest: Zack Cerre

Monsignor Barth Award: Jack Aruskevicius

Kansas Governor’s Scholars: Jack Aruskevicius, Kyle Tran

President’s Volunteer Service Award: Haylie Schweitzer

Good Shepherd Guild Award: Catherine Le

Judge & Mrs. Gray Scholarship: Daniel Mies

Golden Eagle Band Award: Aaron Calderon

Names marked with * received the Kansas State Scholar award; those marked with ** received that award plus the Kansas Exceptional Academic Performance Award. Names marked with † completed the Kansas Scholars Curriculum.

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SFA hosts reception for parishioners graduating from high school this year.

July 2019THE VERNACULAR

SFA looks to future as it celebrates 60 years“You look good for your age.” This

is one of those phrases in which the meaning is all in how you say it. “You look good … for your age” does not sound the same as “you look GOOD for your age.” “YOU look good for your age” sounds better than “you look good, for your age?”

I am here to tell you, St. Francis, that you look GOOD for your age! Our parish was established by Bishop Mark K. Carroll on July 1, 1959, 60 years ago.

Tradition has it that the 60th anniversary is the diamond anniversary. Our parish is like a diamond that is being refined by time. We should be proud of our history and how far we’ve come. St. Francis began as a small, far west side parish with 275 founding members. We grew

and prospered. A school was started, a new church

was built, and new buildings were added to our campus. Stewardship as a way of life became part of our DNA. Our stewards helped shape other parishes that were formed around us. The diamond in the rough was being reshaped, recut and clarified.

YOU are looking good for your age, St. Francis, and we are only getting started. What do the next 60 years have in store for us? Who can say? Our next five-year plan has us focused on being better disciples of Jesus by growing in our practice of evangelization, stewardship and improving our parish operations and facilities.

These are ambitious, yet attainable, goals if we all work together. Our

ability to adapt and evolve over the last 60 years will serve us well as we look to the future. We must grow and change while staying true to the mission and vision that got us to today. We can’t let who we’ve been keep us from who we are to become.

You are LOOKING GOOD for your age, St. Francis. May we continue to grow and prosper as a parish family. May the brilliance of our diamond anniversary shine brightly for all to see. May we gratefully look forward as good stewards and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Happy 60th anniversary, St. Francis!

St. Francis of Assisi – pray for us.– Pat Burns, Director of Stewardship & Finance

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BCCHS Grads

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Kyle Tran, Salutatorian Zach Cerre, Bishop's Crest Award Winner

July 2019 THE VERNACULAR 56

City Wide Prayer service set for Aug. 15After I received my first confession

my mom gave me a book as a present, Lives of the Saints. I did what might be expected: I promptly set in on my bedside table where it stayed for years. Then one day, I picked it up and started reading about the saint of the day.

Looking back at my adolescent years, it is hard to say what moved me to do this, but probably some combination of loneliness, a lack of purpose in life, and a sense that there had to be something more. The saints shocked me with their complete dedication to God and their happiness even in radical suffering.

Finishing the book, I started on the other untouched book on my bedside table, the Bible. Beginning with “in the beginning,” I made my way through a chapter a night. Sometime after this, I decided I should do what any good Catholic would do and started praying the rosary. But what was perhaps more important than all of this was that, afterward, I would think about what was most important in life.

One night, I felt like the whole world simply fell away and God brought me up into himself. I experienced a profound sense that God was the most important reality in life, and that nothing else really mattered.

Looking back, this encounter with

Jesus was the most pivotal moment in my life, and it led me to where I am today. But, it has really only been a few years since I started intentionally nourishing my personal relationship with Jesus on a daily basis. I was finally encouraged to open my life to a daily encounter with Jesus through the consulting group Evangelical Catholic. I had no idea how much I had been missing. The daily awareness that I am personally loved by God has become my foundation for helping others recognize their own worth.

Recently, I found support for this encounter with Jesus in an unexpected place. Fr. Jarrod Lies invited me to go with him to the National Day of Prayer, which was organized by an ecumenical group of Christians at wichitaprayer.com. With more than 700 people, we worshiped God together and prayed together for healing. How powerful would it be to bring back this united personal prayer to our own parishes?

From the ecstatic prophets of the Old Testament to the 16th century mystics, this personal encounter with Jesus has only in recent times been lost in Catholic circles. This personal encounter is a shared heritage of the entire Christian family and, if you want to experience something more of Jesus, the 21st City Wide Prayer is only a short time away.

Fr. Jarrod Lies and I will be gathering a group outside of Koch Arena (21st and Hillside, WSU), near the flagpole at the southwest corner entrance at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15. More information can be found at the wichitaprayer.com website.

– Chris Barnard

This monthly newsletter is published by and for the parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. It is mailed to each registered parish household by the end of each month. It can also be emailed to parishioners upon request.

To submit articles, high-resolution photos or story ideas, send an email to sfavernacular@gmail.com. Deadlines are the 10th of each month. Contacts for the Vernacular are news editor Lanette Belton, 722-3952, and copy editor Ann Walden, 249-2430. New volunteers are always welcome.

The Vernacular

“… Anyone among you who

aspires to greatness must serve

the rest, and whoever wants to

rank first among you must serve

the needs of all. Such is the case

with the Son of Man who has

come, not to be served by others,

but to serve, to give his own life

as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:26

Stewardship Thought

FUNERALS

Bernard Koch, husband of Ann, May 29

Shirley Wise, mother of Michael Wise, Patricia Bruner and Kelli Cochran, June 24

July 2019THE VERNACULAR 7

New, improved playground requires tree removalMany parishioners have noticed

and wondered about the removal of mature trees from the playground area on the northwest corner of the parish campus. The eight trees that were removed – four oak, two elm and two pine – were an unfortunate casualty of the new and improved play area that will be ready in time for the start of school in August.

As covered in a previous issue of the Vernacular, there were significant drainage, foundation and other types of problems in that area. Every one of the Operations Council members and parish staff involved with this project struggled with the decision to remove the trees.

“It took 60 years for the trees to get to this size, so they can’t just be replaced,” said Ray Frangenberg, plant operations manager. “But we knew it was better in the long run.”

Much of the root system in the playground was above ground, providing a trip hazard as well as creating significant risk of damage to the new artificial turf being installed. The turf was the choice for the new

play surface because of cleanliness, durability and drainage.

“When you’re putting the money into the turf, you can’t have roots, acorns, pine needles and seeds damaging that investment and shortening the life of the turf,” Ray said.

When removing the trees, they discovered one of the roots growing through an old clay sewer line, which had to be replaced. Another tree – one of the oaks – had a rotten area in the middle that would have caused it to come down eventually anyway.

Ray had a special reason to be sad about the trees. He was in eighth grade in 1974 when he and some of his SFA classmates helped their teacher, Larry Dostert, plant one of the pine trees on the north side of the playground.

“It started out as a Christmas tree in the eighth-grade building (the old Ambrose Hall, now Stewardship Hall), which we watered, then planted before Christmas break. It was neat watching it grow over the years,” Ray said.

Ray is keeping a portion of the tree trunk and plans to make a bench out

of it. Perhaps a future seating area to grace the playground? Many of the other trees are serving a purpose, as well, with the SFA Boy Scouts cutting some of the trees into firewood that they will sell to support troop activities.

We were able to sell the old playground equipment and were fortunate to find buyers who were able to take it apart and cart it away on their own. Nothing went to waste.

In the end, the trees will be missed, but our school kids and other parishioners will be able to enjoy a larger overall play area, no more muddy surfaces, new age-appropriate equipment, and a separate preschool area with built-in shade. Meanwhile, our Landscape Guild has plans for new plantings around the parish campus. We look forward eventually to seeing the fruits of their labor as well.

As of this writing, several parishioners have signed up to help install the new equipment at the “Playground Build” on Aug. 2 and 3, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

– Ann Walden

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Happy Anniversary, SF A!

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City Wide Prayer Service

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WICHITA, KSPERMIT #152

Catholic Diocese of WichitaSt. Francis of Assisi861 N. SocoraWichita, KS 67212-3237