Pope's full homily to Bishops, Priests, Religious and Seminarians in Manila
Manila, Philippines, Jan 15, 2015 / 08:24 pm (CNA) - Pope Francis' Homily at Manila's Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral during Holy Mass for Bishops, Priests, Religious and Seminarians Jan. 16
"Do you love me?… Tend my sheep" (Jn 21:15-17). Jesus’ words to Peter in today’s Gospel are the first words I speak to you, dear brother bishops and priests, men and women religious, and young seminarians. These words remind us of something essential. All pastoral ministry is born of love. All consecrated life is a sign of Christ’s reconciling love. Like Saint Therese, in the variety of our vocations, each of us is called, in some way, to be love in the heart of the Church.
I greet all of you with great affection. And I ask you to bring my affection to all your elderly and infirm brothers and sisters, and to all those who cannot join us today. As the Church in the Philippines looks to the fifth centenary of its evangelization, we feel gratitude for the legacy left by so many bishops, priests and religious of past generations. They labored not only to preach the Gospel and build up the Church in this country, but also to forge a society inspired by the Gospel message of charity, forgiveness and solidarity in the service of the common good. Today you carry on that work of love. Like them, you are called to build bridges, to pasture Christ’s flock, and to prepare fresh paths for the Gospel in Asia at the dawn of a new age.
They came, they saw, 
they gardened
Joy of ‘ministering to the earth’
brings four local women to
Ohio farm for annual mission
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
Editor's Note: At right are Bernice Rebein of Dodge City, Sister Marie Hageman, OP, of Garden City, and Sister Rose Mary Stein, OP, and Bernice Droste, both of Dodge City.
Who would have guessed that when the Dominican Sisters from seven different congregations formed in 2009 to become the Dominican Sisters of Peace, one of the benefits would be learning how to measure garlic cloves?
How to join the US bishops in 9 Days for Life
By Matt Hadro
Washington D.C., Jan 16, 2015 / 11:49 am (CNA/EWTN News) - The U.S. bishops hope a new pro-life prayer campaign will unite Catholics against not only abortion, but other threats to human fulfilment and life as well.
“Pope Francis reminds us constantly of the loving concern Christians have for all people at any stage of life who’ve been cast aside or forgotten by society,” stated Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, the chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
“The 9 Days for Life novena offers a chance to join in prayer and solidarity with the unborn, victims of violence, those suffering from addiction, and those whose hearts ache to be part of a family.”
Diocese mourns 
Sister Rosemary Henrichs
Former Superintendent of Schools
dies in tragic accident
By TIM WENZL
Southwest Kansas Register
Editor's Note: In the file photo at right, Sister Rosemary Henrichs, A.S.C., sings for children at Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Dodge City. Sister Rosemary died in a car accident in Illinois Sept. 29.
The Diocese of Dodge City has lost an old friend: Sister Rosemary Henrichs, A.S.C., who for six years served as Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Dodge City, died Sept. 29 in a vehicular accident in Illinois.
“I knew Sister Rosemary Henrichs only a few years, but two things stood out clearly,” said Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore. “She was the consummate Road Warrior, always conscientious, always driving to this school and to that school, always moving on. And where should our latter-day pilgrim meet her death? On the road, of course. Of course.
Pope on Charlie Hebdo: Don't kill in God's name but don't insult faith
By Alan Holdren
Aboard the papal plane, Jan 15, 2015 / 05:37 am (CNA/EWTN News) - During an in-flight press conference Pope Francis spoke on the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, saying that freedom of expression has limits but no one has the right to kill in the name of God.
"Let's go to Paris. Let's speak clearly," said Pope Francis in reference to the Charlie Hebdo killings. He was asked by a French journalist if he saw freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
"You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith," Pope Francis said during a Jan. 15 press conference held en-route to the Philippines. If you do, he said, you "can expect a punch."
On Jan.7 Muslim extremists entered the headquarters of French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. They claimed the attacks avenged the cartoons printed in the publication that depicted offensive images of the Prophet Mohammed.
The Pope said that while the Paris attack "astonishes us," in world history wars and atrocities like the Catholic-led massacre "St. Bartholomew's night" incident in France have also come from those who profess religions.
Five generations gather for a
‘Mexican Village’ reunion
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
The good feelings were palpable -- the joy of recognition, the celebration of memories shared, the feeling of unity created by a common experience.
Just days after the bicentennial of the start of the war of independence between Mexico and Spain, former residents of what became known as the “Mexican Village” in Dodge City, their descendants and friends, gathered for a reunion in the social hall of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The celebration also happened to fall on approximately the 100-year anniversary of the formation of the village.
Surrounding the crowd of more than 200 people were tables filled with photos and memorabilia, each table representing a different family and one more volume in a multitude of stories and memories.
Full transcript of Pope's interview in-flight to Manila
By Alan Holdren and Andrea Gagliarducci
Aboard the papal plane, Jan 15, 2015 / 11:58 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Speaking to journalists aboard the Jan. 15 flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, Pope Francis discussed his trip, his recent canonizations, the upcoming encyclical on ecology, and reasonable limits to freedom of expression.
Below is a full transcript of the discussion between Pope Francis and journalist's during Thursday's flight:
Actor brings famed coach to stage
By RON LAJOIE
Catholic News Service
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Dan Lauria bears a striking physical resemblance to Vince Lombardi.
Same granite jaw, same gap-toothed smile. When he puts on the signature Lombardi 1960s-style, tortoise-shell glasses, it becomes almost uncanny.
He also shares Lombardi’s Italian-American heritage, his birthplace, Brooklyn, and for extra measure, he has even played and coached some football himself.
But he admits that what he really shares with the legendary Green Bay Packers coach he portrays in the Broadway production “Lombardi,” set to open Oct. 21 at the Circle in the Square Theatre, is his attention to detail and his single-minded determination to excel.
CSS: Providing homes, hope
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
A buzz sounded in the lobby of the century-old house that serves as the main offices for Catholic Social Service in Dodge City.
Inside, Maria Gutierrez pressed a button and a young, haggard looking man pulled open the large, wooden door.
“He was 19 or 20,” said Maria, a program assistant for CSS. Each day, Maria helps people and families who are homeless, or on the verge of homelessness, to find residence. But this was different. This man wasn’t looking for a home.
“He came in, and I could tell he wasn’t doing well. He said he was working at a lumber yard and hadn’t had a paycheck for two weeks. He had no money for gas to go to work.”
The man was staying at Manna House, which offers temporary housing for those in transition. His only daily meal was at Friendship Feast, a free lunch served at First Presbyterian Church, but there were days when his hours interfered with Friendship Feast hours, so he’d go the whole day with no food.
Odin parish honors 
Father Don Debes on his
40th anniversary of ordination
By PAULINE OBERLE
Special to the Register
Father Don Debes, OFM, Cap., celebrated his 40th anniversary of his ordination with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Family Church in Odin on Aug. 29.
Celebrating with Father Debes was Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, Cap., of Denver and Father Matthew Gross, OFM, Cap., of Hays.
Father Don is a native of the Odin parish and is the son of John and Helen Debes, deceased.
A dinner and reception was held at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center in Claflin for family, Capuchins friars, friends and Odin parishioners.
Father Don was ordained a Capuchin priest at St. Fidelis Church in Victoria on Aug. 29, 1970. He said his first Mass at Holy Family Church in Odin on Aug. 30, 1970.