Category: Faith

Public community forum planned Sept. 20

The Mayor’s Clergy Roundtable will hold a public community forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Kansas City Kansas Community College TEC Center, 6565 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan.

The discussion will be about how the community and law enforcement can work together to make Kansas City, Kan., a safer and healthier place to live, Mayor Mark Holland said at the Unified Government Commission meeting on Thursday.

The community forum is open to the public, and the public is invited to share their thoughts.

Children suffer violence in El Salvador

by Murrel Bland

More than 400 children were killed in El Salvador during the first three months of 2016. That is one of the challenges that the Rt. Rev. David Alvarado faces in El Salvador.

Alvarado is the Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Salvador. He spoke during the Labor Day weekend at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan. He came here on behalf of the Episcopal Dignity and Justice program. This program works in cooperation with St. Francis Community Services with headquarters in Salina, Kan. St. Francis has a branch office in downtown Kansas City, Kan.

“We must work together to stop the violence,” Bishop Alvarado said.

Angela Smith, the director of mission engagement for St. Franics, said that matters like poverty, violence, immigration and human trafficking are shared issues that can be addressed more effectively if we work together.

El Salvador is a country in Central America of about 6.3 million persons in an area of about 8,100 square miles. Many of its residents suffer because of a lack of educational and employment opportunities—something that Bishop Alvarado said needs to be corrected.

Smith said the violence is a result of “death squads” and gang members who often target children, particularly boys.

Jose Lopez, a lawyer who works with Bishop Alvarado on behalf of human rights issues, said he commends Pope Francis for his calling these issues to the public. These issues in Central America are quite similar to those in other parts of the world, Lopez said.

Smith said that El Salvador suffers from a “sweat shop” economy that makes it very difficult for its residents to break out of a cycle of poverty.

Many children from El Salvador immigrate to Mexico and then to the United States. This is very dangerous—however, often not as dangerous as living in El Salvador. Some of these children end up in Kansas and are served by St. Francis.

Smith said she will be working with Bishop Alvarado and his staff when they sponsor a week-long reconciliation conference in El Salvador. A keynote speaker will be the Rev. Michael Lapsley of South Africa. Lapsley worked with the Rt. Rev. Desmond Tutu, a bishop of Johannesburg who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his opposition to apartheid. Bishop Tutu also developed a program of reconciliation that helped assure a fair and democratic society would prevail, as South Africa became an integrated country.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press.

Faith news

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Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2203 Parallel Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will hold its Parish Fiesta on Saturday, Sept. 17. It begins with a bilingual Mass a 4 p.m., with the fiesta continuing until 9 p.m. Mexican food, refreshments, games, dancing and music are planned.

Bishop Ward High School, 708 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan., will hold a Responders Mass at 9:20 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. It is dedicated to those who serve to protect the community. A reception will follow. Reservations are requested to gduggins@wardhigh.org.

The Cathedral of St. Peter, 416 N. 14th St., Kansas City, Kan., will hold a fall festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. The event includes a taco dinner, fundraisers, bingo, a silent auction, food items and games for children.

Christ the King Catholic Church, 53rd and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kan., is planning a blood drive from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, in Davern Hall at the church. To sign up to donate blood, visit www.savealifenow.org or call 913-287-8823.

Holy Family Catholic Church is celebrating Slovenefest 2016, on Saturday, Sept. 24. The celebration will be held at Holy Family Club, at the Monsignor Mejak Hall, Gym and School Grounds, at 513 Ohio, in Kansas City, Kan., and will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. All proceeds benefit Holy Family Church.

Judson Baptist Church, 8300 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan., will hold Sunday morning services at 11 a.m. on the first Sunday of the month, and at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on the other Sundays, and Sunday school is at 9:45 a.m. The church website is http://judsonbaptistchurchkck.com/.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kan., http://www.opendoorkc.com/, will honor those who died, who served and who are currently serving as first responders on Patriots Day, Sept. 11. There will be a guest speaker at the 10:30 a.m. worship service, music and a potluck dinner afterward.

Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic Church Gospel Choir Concert will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at the church, 2300 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kan.

Our Lady of Unity Catholic Church, 2645 S. 34th St., is holding a festival and silent auction from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sepet. 10. The event includes games for children, music, food, a talent competition, and Mexican dance groups.

Risen Lamb International Church of the Nazarene, located in the Turner area of Kansas City, Kan., has announced the opening of the Risen Lamb Prayer Room and Retreat Center. On location at their church at 5301 Metropolitan Avenue, the prayer room and retreat center is open to the public for daytime retreats. All individuals or small groups seeking a quiet, sacred space to gather, pray, meditate, journal or read resources about prayer are welcome. The prayer room provides a peaceful space for solitude or can be scheduled in advance for groups of up to eight people. Guests seeking spiritual guidance may schedule a time of spiritual direction with one of the pastoral staff, and groups may inquire about scheduling a member of the pastoral team to lead or speak at a retreat. Donations accepted but not required. For more information, or to plan a visit, contact the Rev. Philip Friday at pobfriday@yahoo.com or call 913-287-9418.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., is planning an all-church tailgate after the second service on Sunday, Sept. 18. The tailgate event is expected to start approximately 12:30 p.m. The church will provide hamburgers and hot dogs, with those attending bringing side dishes, desserts and drinks. Those attending may bring lawn chairs, or they may eat inside the activity center. The Chiefs game will be on.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 94th and State Avenue, is planning an ice cream social at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. The event includes music, food and dancing. A polka band is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., with a disc jockey from 7 to 10 p.m.

The Rev. Dixie Roberts Junk, the priest-in-charge at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan., will return to the parish this week after a summer sabbatical.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., is planning a garage sale and United Methodist Women bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17.