In yet another series of video clips, see the workmen of The LAW Company assembling some of the first columns and beams that will form the structural framework for the new commons area and classroom wing of our expansion project.  Work will continue on the structural steel through the last two weeks of June and into July.

To see the videos, click the "Read More" button below.

What good are brand new buildings if you don’t have a vibrant and healthy community of people to use them?  No, I’m not saying that St. Joseph’s parish is not vibrant and healthy.  We are blessed with many active and dedicated parishioners.  However, I think that as pastor, I could do better at inspiring and focusing each of us as members of this parish to dedicate ourselves more fully to following Christ in our daily lives and in our parish community.  As I have related to you before, my involvement in the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds leadership training for priests has sparked my imagination and fostered my courage to try to improve how I lead and shepherd our parish so that it meets the spiritual and personal needs of its members.

On May 11, 2010, workmen from the Ferco Company in Salina, KS began assembling the pre-cast concrete wall panels and double tee roof panels for our new parish gymnasium.  The panels were fabricated by the Waffle Crete company in Hays, KS.  It took a total of four days for the workmen to erect and assemble the panels, each weighing 17 to 18 tons.  The panels were welded together at metal plates that were fixed in points along the edges of the concrete panels.  During the week of June 7th, the LAW Company will pour the concrete floor inside the gym structure and will also pour six inches of concrete on the double tees of the roof to seal and strengthen it.  The new gymnasium is designed to be an above ground storm shelter.  It will house a basketball court and volleyball court as well as provide space for PE activities and other parish related activities.

Two video clips follow. (Note: because of the noise caused by wind blowing into the video microphone, you may want to lower your volume appropriately.)

The first two weeks of May have seen continued progress on the groundwork for our expansion project.  All of the concrete foundations for the activity center, classroom wind and storage rooms have been poured.  Irwin Plumbing has installed the drain and sewer lines in preparation for pouring the concrete slab, and M&J Electric is set to run their under-slab conduits at the time of this writing.  Groundwork for the foundations of the bell tower and adoration chapel are well underway, also.  As that work is finished, above ground construction will begin.  LAW Company Superintendant Terry Winn informed me that work will really start to pick up in the next couple of weeks.

Regarding above ground work, you may have noticed the large crane that was on site last weekend.  It belongs to the Fernco company, which handles the erection and assembling of the pre-cast concrete wall and roof panels for the gymnasium.  By the time this update is in print, much of that structure should already be standing.

The Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, was marked as a holy and memorable day for 29 second grade students of St. Joseph's Parish School of Religion and Parish Grade School as they made their First Holy Communion.  The celebration of the sacrament was held at a 2:00 p.m. Mass on that Sunday afternoon, April 11.  Many family and friends of the First Communicants filled the church to prayerfully support, witness and congratulate the boys and girls of this year's class.

The children's names are: Cupertino Banuelos, Yahaira Banuelos, Arista Bombardier, Sydnee Aileen Davis, Diana  Garcia, Edith Garcia, Baltazar Gaspar, Tyson Gottwald, Aaron David Green, Megan Grieb, Raegan Lynn Harger, Elijah Fulgence Hutfles, Ian Jenkins, Celey LaNae Johnson, Cyler Christian Johnson, Carissa Jean Klatt, Collin Kohl, Mya Mainzer, Megan Elizabeth Maltbie, Ashley M. Moore, Sydney Myers, Nicholas Pearson, Stacey Pham, Lakyn Schieferecke, Jason Lee Schowengerdt Jr., Trenton Stecklein, Petrona Tomas, Logan Weigel, Hannah Faith  Wuertz.  Second grade teacher and catechist, Diane Martinez, and Pastor, Fr. David Lies are also pictured.

The Lord has Risen!

He has truly Risen!

Happy Easter!

The last several weeks of construction activity have focused on the stabilization of the ground upon which the gymnasium and classroom wing will be built to the west of our current facility.  The excavating company dug the footing trenches in which they deposited limestone screening, a denser material that creates a firmer foundation.  The trenches were covered again and then the surface of the ground was mixed with fly ash to also lend stability to the surface of the building site.  Much of that work was accomplished in the days of late March and early April, leading up to Easter.

As we enter the third full week of construction, visible progress is being made.  Some of that progress was slowed due to the weather during that week, but such natural delays are to be expected.  Several deliveries of materials have been made, however.  The foundation rebar, and anchor bolts for the commons area in the activity center west of the current gym are on site.

Job superintendant Terry Winn met with excavator Todd Kaiser they have come up with a plan to continue the dirt work, given the improvement of the weather. Another step that will be taken is remove the sidewalks along the west side of the building, and fashion a temporary compacted gravel emergency only walkway prior to the students return on Monday the 22^nd. Preparation of the ground under the foundations and slabs is planed to begin as well.  The foundations for the new activity room will be pour in approximately  two to three weeks. Waffle-Crete, the company responsible for the fabricated concrete walls and roof, has already started casting the precast wall panels that do not have electrical assemblies in them. Dirt work will start within the next couple of weeks on the adoration chapel and bell tower area.

I am grateful to everyone who has adjusted to the decreased amount of parking space for weekend Masses.  So far, it sounds as if that has been trouble free.  Please don’t hesitate to notify me if you notice any difficulties.

To see pictures of the project and groundbreaking ceremony, click HERE and look at the "Expansion Project 2010" album of photos in the St. Joseph collection.

After several years of planning and several months of design work on paper, the project of expansion and renovation at St. Joseph's is about to enter the visible phase of on site work.  On Tuesday, February 23, the job site trailer was delivered and placed in the parking lot south of the school.  The same week, a new procedure for picking up students after school was implemented.  (Thank you to all drivers for your patience in engaging in the new format!)  On Monday, March 1, the LAW Company will be on site with excavation equipment to be grading and foundation work in the former playground area and in what will become the site of the new activity center and wing of classrooms.

Heading up the work for the LAW Company will be job superintendent Terry Winn.  Terry brings with him a wealth of experience in overseeing jobs that take place in church and school environments.  In construction planning meetings, he has made it evident that the safety and well-being of persons who will be near the construction work, namely school children, faculty and staff, comes first.  Terry will become a familiar face around St. Joseph's as the fifteen month project gets off the ground.

The following is what may be expected to occur in this first week of construction activity:

Monday, the earthwork in the new classroom and activity room area west of the current school will commence. This will continue for the next couple of weeks. Also, on Monday, the foundation plates for the precast walls will be delivered.

On Wednesday, March 3, the construction perimeter fencing will begin to be erected, and that work should be completed on Thursday. We will not be fencing off The area around the site of the new adoration chapel and bell tower will not be fenced off until after the ground breaking ceremony on Sunday, March 7.  Thursday and Friday will see the delivery of foundation rebar.

From this point on, for the most part, Terry will be on site full time.  If you cross paths with him, or other members of the LAW Company construction crew, extend a greeting and warm hospitality.

Why Jesus was Baptized...

From a sermon by Saint Maximus of Turin, bishop

The Gospel tells us that the Lord went to the Jordan River to be baptized and that he wished to consecrate himself in the river by signs from heaven.

Reason demands that this feast of the Lord's baptism, which I think could be called the feast of his birthday, should follow soon after the Lord's birthday, during the same season, even though many years intervened between the two events.

At Christmas he was born a man; today he is reborn sacramentally. Then he was born from the Virgin; today he is born in mystery. When he was born a man, his mother Mary held him close to her heart; when he is born in mystery, God the Father embraces him with his voice when he says: This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: listen to him. The mother caresses the tender baby on her lap; the Father serves his Son by his loving testimony. The mother holds the child for the Magi to adore; the Father reveals that his Son is to be worshiped by all the nations.

That is why the Lord Jesus went to the river for baptism, that is why he wanted his holy body to be washed with Jordan's water.

Someone might ask, "Why would a holy man desire baptism?" Listen to the answer: Christ is baptized, not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water holy, and by his cleansing to purify the waters which he touched. For the consecration of Christ involves a more significant consecration of the water.

For when the Savior is washed, all water for our baptism is made clean, purified at its source for the dispensing of baptismal grace to the people of the future ages.  Christ is the first to be baptized, then, so that Christians will follow after him with confidence.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception,

Tuesday, December 8th

Masses:

Vigil Mass - Monday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindsborg

Mass of the Day - Tuesday, December 8th at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph

The Immaculate Conception celebrates Mary's conception and freedom from Original Sin in order to prepare her to be the sinless and spotless dwelling place of the Son of God in the Incarnation.

The long anticipated release of construction documents for our parish expansion project occurred on Tuesday, November 3rd.  Project architect Bob Faires of Howard & Helmer Architects has set the date of December 3 2009 as the deadline for construction companies to submit bids for the work.  The following is a list of building contractors invited to submit bids:

Bussbom & Raugh Construction, Salina

Dondlinger Construction, Wichita

Eby Construction, Wichita

Harbin Construction, Salina

The LAW Company, Wichita

Simpson & Associates, Wichita

Representatives of the construction companies will have an opportunity to meet with Fr. David and Mr. Faires at a pre-bidding meeting at St. Joseph's on Wednesday, November 18.  This meeting will provide the bidding companies to see the site first hand and to ask any questions about the construction documents or goals of the project.

The projected time frame for the entire project is fifteen (15) months.  If construction begins at the first of the year, 2010, the tentative completion date would be March 1, 2011.  Work on the renovation of the parish offices is scheduled to start on May 31, 2010, after the completion of the school year.  If weather permits, construction on the other parts of the parish site will begin sooner.

As more information is made available, it will be published in the bulletin and on the parish web site.

Fr. John Lanzrath, Director of the Diocesan Stewardship Office, provides insights on the adjective "Christian," a word we may take for granted as often as we hear it and use it day-to-day.  As Christians, we are identified by our following of and relationship with Jesus Christ.  As Christian disciples, we strive to make a grateful response with the gifts God has bestowed upon us.

As we begin to prepare for our annual stewardship renewal, this weekend we can reflect upon the "response" that begin a Christian Steward requires of us.  The celebration of All Saints day provides us with many examples of the holy men and women throughout the history of the Church who responded to God in an imitation of Christ.  Fr. John Lanzrath, Director of the Office of Stewardship, continues his reflections on Stewardship.

"Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're going to get," says the character, Forrest Gump, in the motion picture of the same name.  The same can be said of responses that kids make when you ask them questions during a homily at Mass.  This has been my experience, especially when preaching during the grade school morning Masses here at St. Joseph's.  I just never know what answer I'm going to get, but a fair number of them are quite humorous, and I thought I would share several of the more recent and memorable responses.  (Names and grades of the students have been withheld to protect the peace of mind of their parents!)

At one morning Mass not so long ago, I was preaching about and explaining the short account in Luke's gospel where in Mary and some of Jesus' disciples come looking for him while he is preaching in a crowded house.  Jesus' mother is standing outside while someone inside tells Jesus she is there.  When he learns of his mother's presence, he makes the all-inclusive response that anyone who hears the word of God and acts on it is his mother and brother and sister.  I wanted to impress upon the kids just how shocking Jesus' response to Mary might have seemed, so I tried to get them to think how they would respond if they knew their mother was looking for them.  I asked them to think, for instance, what they would do if they were at a friend's house, and their mom came by to pick them up.  Of course, I'm thinking that the response should be that they would go right to the door to see her.  As I looked at the raised hands of the kids who wanted to answer, I picked one student and asked the question, "Yes! What would you do if your mom was at the door?" and she replied, "Hide!"

Another humorous exchange occurred on the feast day of St. Padre Pio.  During that homily, I was explaining that the saintly Italian priest and monk had the miraculous ability to bi-locate.  I explained to the kids that this meant he could be in two places at one time!  I further elaborated, humorously, that that would mean that if they could bi-locate, then they could both be at school working hard and at home playing.  One of the students raised a hand to that statement.  I called on him and he responded, "So, the real one of us would be at home, and the fake one of us would be at school!"  Oh boy...I had some more explaining to do!

It's moments such as these that lighten the day with humor and bring joy to my life as a priest and a preacher.  You've got to love kids.  Truly, as Jesus commented upon the personality of the apostle Philip, they are human beings without guile!

This past Sunday, October 4th, was named "Respect Life Sunday" in the Catholic Church, marking the month of October as being dedicated to continued respect for life, especially the lives of the unborn. Members of the 7th and 8th grade Middle School Youth Group (MSYG) joined several other St. Joseph's parishioners as well as members of the congregations of other McPherson Christian Churches to participate in a life chain. 

MSYG members, Fr. David and adult sponsors gathered with other participants under the picnic shelter at Linnea Park.  Invoking the Holy Spirit with song and prayer, the group then took up signs which called for an end to abortion, an increase of prayer to save lives, and encouraging adoption.  Numbering approximately 60 persons, the group stretched out along the side walks and curbs lining both sides of Kansas Avenue from Oak street, west toward Main street.  For an hour the witnesses of the dignity of life quietly and prayerfully stood holding the messages and cherishing the beautiful fall weather that warmed bodies and hearts.

While the actions of the Life Chain participants were minimal, the responses from passing motorists varied.  Some drove by without acknowledgment.  Several passed and expressed disapproval in various ways.  But, many waved in support, and several semis sounded their air horns to acknowledge the efforts of the group and their message.  All the while, the young men and women of St. Joseph's MSYG deported themselves admirably, most experiencing for the first time what it felt like to be a visible witness of Christian values.

Shortly after 3:00 p.m., the participants left the roadside and returned to the picnic shelter to close with song and prayer and a blessing from six or seven of the pastors of the area churches gathered in unity for the respect for the life of the unborn.  While the effects may have appeared minimal, the hope of the group of witnesses was that the Holy Spirit used the day to positively impact the hearts and values of those who witnessed the Life Chain.

With a careful search and examination, one can find a wealth of information online about the Catholic faith and Catholic culture.  RealCatholic TV is such a source for current information and commentary on how the Catholic Church and present day culture meet and, in some instances, clash.  Providing up to the minute commentary on political and social matters, messages from bishops of the church, reflections on the saints of the day, and a variety of other information, this site is one that will provoke you to think about your faith and the world in which we live.  Here's a recent video segment:

Prayer is the beginning and end of reading the Bible
Know what the Bible is and what it isn’t
People read Bible as part of community, Christian tradition

WASHINGTON—Reading the Bible should begin with a prayer to open our hearts and minds to the Word of God and end with “a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people.” The notion of prayer being the beginning and end of reading the Bible is one of 10 points for fruitful Scripture reading for Catholics offered by Mary Elizabeth Sperry, Associate Director for Utilization of the New American Bible at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
           
Sperry’s points, online at http://www.usccb.org/mr/mediatalk/bible_catholics.shtml, include knowing what the Bible is and what it isn’t. “The Bible is the story of God’s relationship with the people he has called to himself. It is not intended to be read as history text, a science book, or a political manifesto,” said Sperry. She also cited the importance of context, for instance how the Old and New Testaments relate to one another and how the Bible is read both within the tradition of the Church and among a community of believers.
           
The 10 points covered by Sperry are:

1. Bible reading is for Catholics. The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily prayer lives. Reading these inspired words, people grow deeper in their relationship with God and come to understand their place in the community God has called them to in himself.
2. Prayer is the beginning and the end.  Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel or a history book. It should begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the Word of God. Scripture reading should end with a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people.
3. Get the whole story! When selecting a Bible, look for a Catholic edition.  A Catholic edition will include the Church's complete list of sacred books along with introductions and notes for understanding the text. A Catholic edition will have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. An imprimatur indicates that the book is free of errors in Catholic doctrine.
4. The Bible isn’t a book.  It’s a library. The Bible is a collection of 73 books written over the course of many centuries. The books include royal history, prophecy, poetry, challenging letters to struggling new faith communities, and believers’ accounts of the preaching and passion of Jesus. Knowing the genre of the book you are reading will help you understand the literary tools the author is using and the meaning the author is trying to convey.
5. Know what the Bible is – and what it isn’t.  The Bible is the story of God’s relationship with the people he has called to himself. It is not intended to be read as history text, a science book, or a political manifesto. In the Bible, God teaches us the truths that we need for the sake of our salvation.
6. The sum is greater than the parts. Read the Bible in context. What happens before and after – even in other books – helps us to understand the true meaning of the text.
7. The Old relates to the New. The Old Testament and the New Testament shed light on each other.  While we read the Old Testament in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it has its own value as well. Together, these testaments help us to understand God’s plan for human beings. 
8. You do not read alone. By reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, Catholics join those faithful men and women who have taken God’s Word to heart and put it into practice in their lives. We read the Bible within the tradition of the Church to benefit from the holiness and wisdom of all the faithful.
9. What is God saying to me? The Bible is not addressed only to long-dead people in a faraway land. It is addressed to each of us in our own unique situations.  When we read, we need to understand what the text says and how the faithful have understood its meaning in the past. In light of this understanding, we then ask: What is God saying to me?
10. Reading isn’t enough. If Scripture remains just words on a page, our work is not done. We need to meditate on the message and put it into action in our lives.  Only then can the word be “living and effective.”(Hebrews 4:12).

On Thursday, June 25th, Fr. David, and three parish representatives--Farrell Pedreauville, John Holecek and Peggy Bahr--interviewed three candidates for the position of architect of St. Joseph's expansion project.  The candidates were a combined team of McPherson architect, Randy Clark, and Brett Prather of Architectural Innovations of Wichita, Dennis Smith of Law Kingdon Architects of Wichita, and Bob Faires of Howard and Helmer Architects of Wichita.

All three architects interviewed very well, and each would have served the project with their expertise. However, after hearing each presentation, the interviewing panel unanimously expressed a preference for Bob Faires of Howard and Helmer Architects.  Mr. Faires had most recently served as the lead architect for the following projects: the new grade school at Mary, Queen of the Angels Church in Ft. Scott, the new grade school and expansion of the high school at St. Mary's-Colgan schools in Pittsburg, KS, and the new Church of the Magdalen church and school in Wichita.  Along with the experience of these and many other projects, Mr. Faires also demonstrated an attention to detail in outlining his approach to the expansion and renovation work at St. Joseph's.

Moving ahead now, the goal is to finish the drawings and specifications begun, and over half way completed, by previous projectarchitect Andy Steffes.  Mr. Faires did acknowledge that this project will remain indebted to the talent and creativity of Andy Steffes and that his task will be to guide the work through to the completion of Andy's vision. Efforts will be made to put the project out to bid by
the end of August.  Please continue to make St. Joseph's expansion and renovation a regular intention of your daily prayers!