In order to attempt to preserve a bit of history often overlooked, the Ellis High School Alumni Association Cookbook Committee is working on a special project.
The Committee is now accepting recipes from a variety of community sectors, including past and present teachers, school cooks, administrative members of the school district, graduates or EHS Class of 2019.
Recipes are being collected now and includes those who attended/taught at the old country schools, St. Mary’s School, Washington Grade School, Ellis Junior High and Ellis High School facilities. You may submit “in memory of” any EHS Alum.
To submit recipes (a limit of 4 recipes per family), you can email to: [email protected], or download a form off of our Facebook page: Ellis High School Alumni (KS), or pick up a form locally from the Ellis Review, Ellis Alliance, Trio Home Center, Ellis Golf Club, USD 388 District Office, Ellis Credit Union, Salon 816, Golden Belt Bank and Equity Bank.
Recipes can be returned to the above mentioned email address or to PO Box 212, Ellis, KS 67637. Recipes are due by May 31 in order to be put in the cookbook. Publication target date is this fall.
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 7 to 10 mph becoming north northwest in the evening.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind 8 to 17 mph.
Sunday Night
Clear, with a low around 43. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 77. South southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 78.
The Uptown Fox, 1202 Main St., has reopened, bringing with it something new to Hays while restoring the classic feel to the historic downtown building.
During the next two weekends, the establishment will be open for dinner reservations only, giving a taste of what is to come when the restaurant will open for regular hours later this month.
“We do an inspired menu,” said David Proffitt, owner. “We decided instead of trying to create a menu we just took all the best restaurants we had ever eaten at or ever heard of and we would bring them all into Hays.”
A Hofbräuhaus Pork Knuckle sandwich will also be served along with a selection of beer from the Munich, Germany, tourist spot.
“We’ll have that great German beer on tap,” Proffitt said.
The menu will continually change, bringing something new to repeat customers.
“You’ll be able to come here and have some of the best dishes and drinks from around the country, and we will be constantly be changing it,” he said.
Along with the re-creations, the restaurant will feature steak and seafood unique to the area.
“They are easily the greatest steaks you will ever have,” Proffitt said.
Fish served in the Fox will come from a market where the restaurant can look at what was caught and have them shipped in the next day.
“We will be able to bring in a lot of great fish dishes to the middle of Kansas,” he said.
But great food is only part of the appeal of the new location.
They offer memberships that include a personal locker with an included humidor, a $100 restaurant credit every month, first right to show tickets and access to the cigar and private lounge.
“We have a $50,000 in-house cigar inventory,” Proffitt said, along with extremely high-end liquors.
Service is also a part of Fox’s appeal.
“We want to provide a level of service that you would get a steak house in Chicago, Dallas or New York,” Proffitt said.
Proffitt said he plans to schedule acoustic musical sets in the location and hopes to bring in notable comedians.
While the old theater has been restored to its original look, the technology in the space is cutting edge, including integrated phone app door locks, new lighting and enhanced sound dampening.
The Fox also has the largest movie theater screen in Hays, Proffitt said, with access to first-run movies.
“We will be able to give some cool experiences,” he said. “That’s what it is really about.”
Restoration work to create the original look in an old building was a challenge, but important to Proffitt.
“We really wanted to keep that ’50’s vibe,” he said, calling the people that worked on the building “artists.”
Proffitt hopes this is just the first project that will help to establish downtown Hays as a regional destination.
“There is no reason Hays is not a shopping capital and restaurant capital of the area,” he said. “We have monster visions with what we want to do with downtown.”
“There is not any place to go nearby that can offer more than Hays can in such a safe, great community.”
If things go well Proffitt hopes the Fox will be a launching point to demonstrate the value of Hays to the area.
“It’s a place you can bring people from out of town and show them Hays can do it as well as anybody,” he said.
Following the limited dinner weekends, the Fox will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with hours extended until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
As many of you are aware, the negotiations with China have soured recently. Last weekend, we saw the trade talks get complicated when the Chinese began to waffle on previously-agreed-to terms, walking back their commitments on a new agreement. In response, the trade war escalated with President Donald Trump announcing today raising tariffs on China from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
I have been assured that this does not mean that discussions for a trade deal have broken down completely. To the contrary, negotiations are continuing, and the President is making his stance clear. I am hopeful that a great deal will be result of this back and forth with China.
We need a deal; our farmers cannot withstand another round of tariffs.
Talking Trade With Ambassador Doud
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to visit with U.S. Trade Ambassador, Gregg Doud, a native of the Big First from Mankato, Kansas and KSU graduate. As the Country’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Ambassador Doud is well positioned to help advance trade agreements and policies that directly benefit our farmers and ranchers back home in Kansas. We discussed the work that is being done by the administration to secure agreements on the pending trade deals with China, Japan, Mexico and Canada, as well as ways Members of Congress from ag districts can help educate our colleagues about the benefits of finding new export markets around the world. Gregg is a true patriot and I am proud to call him a friend. EMAW!
Kansas Aviation Manufacturers- Flying in!
I had a wonderful meeting with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) this week. In our meeting, we discussed the important role that the aviation industry plays and the ways it impacts our economy. It was great to meet with some of the manufacturers from Kansas.
We also had the opportunity to talk about the funding concerns for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA’s mission focuses on making sure that air travel is as safe and efficient as possible. America is a global leader in airline manufacturing, and we need to do what we can to keep it that way!
Ending Sticker Shock at the Doctor’s Office
The GOP Doctors Caucus held a special round-table discussion this week, inviting their medical colleagues from across the aisle to discuss the importance of addressing surprise medical bills. Surprise medical bills occur when you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider during an in-network hospital visit. This has rightly received a lot of attention and is a priority issue for many Americans facing sky-rocketing medical bills.
To address this, we went straight to the source at the state level to a see what can be done at the federal level. Some proposals brought to us included ‘baseball arbitration’ where the provider and insurer would submit a proposed amount to an independent arbitrator that would the set the final amount. This would eliminate patients from being stuck in the middle. We also discussed limiting patient cost-sharing to the amount they would owe to an in-network provider and setting a payment standard regarding what insurers owe providers in these situations.
This remains a complicated issue, and one that my colleagues and I will continue to work on.
Looking Out For Our Local Pharmacies
Yesterday, my colleagues and I joined together for a Special Order on the House floor in support of pharmacists and seniors across America. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have proposed a rule that would reform the use of pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees, or pharmacy price concessions, in the Medicare Part D program.
DIR fees by plan sponsors and their pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have increased by more than 45,000 percent over the past seven years. The increase of DIR fees over the last several years has raised out-of-pocket costs for our seniors and put our local pharmacies at financial risk, often operating in negative margins. Far too regularly PBMs collect DIR fees from pharmacies months and months after the claim. It’s completely unpredictable and unfair… while the benefit all goes to the pocket of the PBM. The proposed rule would end this issue by requiring that all DIR Fees are done at the point of sale.
Earlier this year I led a letter from proposing to have this rule finalized and implemented by 2020. There are 506 chain drug stores and 253 independent community pharmacies across Kansas and we need to make sure that they are being treated fairly!
Video of my speech can be found here!
Celebrating Kansas Small Businesses!
This week is national Small Business Week! We honor the millions of people across the country that take risks, invest in their communities and create jobs!
In Kansas, more than 80% of all businesses are considered to be small businesses, in industries ranging from manufacturing to retail, construction to health care. Each year, small businesses bring more than 15,000 new jobs to the state, according to the Small Business Administration, boosting both the rural and overall state economy.
Over the past two years I’ve had the privilege of touring many small businesses across my district, companies like Vortex in Salina, which designs and manufactures components for handling and processing dry bulk solids, such as cement, grain, or rubber. Sugar Creek Country Store in St. Mary’s is a family owned specialty grocery store and deli that was also awarded the 2018 Emerging Business of the Year by Kansas Small Business Development Centers. In Atwood, Carlson Choke Tubes has been manufacturing a variety of chokes for a wide range of shotgun models, and was recently named a top pick for turkey gear by Outdoor Life Magazine.
Of course, these are only a handful of the amazing small businesses found in the Big First, working to grow our local economies and bring jobs to rural America. I have loved getting to know many of the wonderful and creative entrepreneurs across the district, and it’s been a priority of mine to ensure that we continue to roll back regulatory burdens, increase access to capital, and provide training and support to small businesses so that these startups can continue to grow and contribute to the vibrant business landscape found in Kansas.
Kansas is home to hundreds of small, innovative agribusinesses, retailers, restaurants and more that play an integral part in keeping our Kansas economy strong.
US Army War College: “Congress Must Work Together”
A group from the United States Army War College (USAWC) stopped by my office this week. The USAWC was founded in 1901 and for well over 100 years now has educated and produced leaders invaluable to the United States military. They were on the Hill to discuss a wide range of issues important to our armed forces.
Diplomacy plays a huge role in our national defense and the team from USAWC stressed the importance of strengthening our alliances around the world. These partnerships allow the United States to promote our values and share information as we work with foreign leaders and military personal to keep our nation safe and prosperous.
We also touched on how important it is that Congress bridge the partisan divide. We must move past polarizing politics and get to working for the American people; this is particularly true when it comes to our national defense and our military. I am ready to work across the aisle and make sure that the brave souls responsible for protecting America have all of the support their government can offer. I want to thank those from the Army War College for coming to the office and assure you all that our troops have my full support.
Discussing the Road to Recovery For Substance Use Disorder
This week I met with the leadership team at Valley Hope, an organization that helps Kansans with substance use disorder (SUD). I had toured their facility in Atchison a few weeks ago and was so happy to have the opportunity to follow up with them to learn more about their what they do and the issues they face.
Last year, the Republican led 115th Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, together appropriating nearly $10 billion to help the help against substance use disorder and mental health issues – the largest investment to date. This funding goes to enhancing state grants, public prevention programs, and law enforcement activities related to SUD and mental health programs.
I was happy to share with them available funding opportunities through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that would help provide additional grant funding for medication assisted treatment. I look forward to working with Valley Hope or any organization in the district that seeks to help patients suffering from substance use disorder get on the road to recovery.
Railroads – Vital to Our Ag Producers
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) were in Washington for their “Railroad Day on Capitol Hill”.
I am fully aware of how important short line railroads are to the agricultural industries in Kansas. The farmers and ranchers of Kansas work incredibly hard, and it is vital that they have the infrastructure necessary to get those commodities, such as wheat, corn, sorghum, and beef to market. I appreciated these operators coming to D.C. to share their thoughts with me about the upcoming infrastructure package, as well as the importance of things like trade and workforce development.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Low bids from DHC (Dustin Hynes Construction) of Hays were approved by the Hays city commission Thursday night for new sidewalks at Rolling Hills Park – $26,841.90 – and at 13th and Canterbury – $35,135.53.
Both projects will offer safer options for walkers, Jeff Boyle, director of parks, told commissioners.
“At 13th and Canterbury, generally speaking, all of these areas that are basically just grass and dirt right now are going to be connecting to existing sidewalks at the Hays Recreation Commission (HRC) and Hays High School,” said Boyle.
One section of the sidewalk on the north end of HRC will be eight foot wide instead of the standard five foot width in anticipation of a proposed multi-use path to be built in east Hays. “We’re just trying to plan ahead,” he explained.
“That concept will actually be brought back to the commission later this year during the 2020 budget process,” interjected City Manager Toby Dougherty.
The southwest corner of 13th and Canterbury is a vacant lot which is for sale.
Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller, who abstained from the vote, said he is one of 11 owners of the property.
“Some people think as mayor, I’m getting a free sidewalk. I didn’t ask for the sidewalk. I didn’t know about the sidewalk,” said Schwaller. “In fact, I kinda don’t want the sidewalk.”
Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil pointed out that current city policy requires developers to put in sidewalks.
“This is a situation where we are addressing past oversights,” Dougherty said.
“The current development policy says that if you build a property out, you put a sidewalk in. For example, if you’re in a residential area you have three years from 50% build-out to put the sidewalk in to eliminate the connectivity issues.”
“This was a remnant of the policy that said if it’s not built-out, you don’t put a sidewalk in, and we’re not going to take into consideration what gets built-out past that,” explained Dougherty.
“So what happened here is we had a somewhat undeveloped intersection – there’s actually still two corners of this intersection that are still undeveloped – and we built a high school on one quadrant and Hays Rec Commission on the other quadrant.
“The mindset back then was we’ll just put the sidewalk in whenever we deal with it. It’s led to some of the areas we’ve been addressing over the last few years in the sidewalk program. We’re trying to infill areas that were developed.”
He cited as an example another area in east Hays where a sidewalk was installed last year between Indian Trail and Donald.
“You had a sidewalk going through a commercial corridor, and then nothing, because it was undeveloped, and then residential housing that goes a quarter mile to the east to a park without thought of how you’re going to get there. There was, and is, a well-worn path in all these areas where people are actually (walking). That’s how we identified all these areas. We looked where the paths were in the dirt.”
Rolling Hills Park, bordered by 41st Street to the north and Autumn Lane to the east, has no connecting sidewalks for pedestrian traffic.
“We want to go from the existing curb cut sidewalk area all the way down 41st. It’ll actually drop off down into the park area and go all the way to Autumn Lane where it will turn south,” explained Boyle. “That’ll provide full connectivity for everybody in the neighborhood to get up to the walking path on 41st. We’ve seen a lot of folks trying to walk on 41st Street and it’s just not safe.”
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs agreed.
“I’m really happy that we’re doing this. It is a dangerous area and there are a lot of people up there walking.”
RUSSELL – The Downtown Russell Market Pop-up Event will take place the Saturday before Father’s Day, June 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We would like to invite all types of vendors to join us for a busy weekend in Russell, with over 1,000 spectators planned to arrive in our community for a Father’s Day Softball Tournament, we are anticipating a lot of foot traffic.
The market event will take place outdoors on the bricks in Downtown Russell. We are currently searching for vendors of all categories ranging anywhere from antiques to clothing. Food and children’s activities will also be available. Vendors will be set up in the parking stalls between 6th and 8th street while Downtown businesses utilize the sidewalks for sales and specials.
If you are interested in joining us the cost per vendor booth is $30.00 for Non- Members and $20 for Members. Booth space is approximately 12’x15’. We ask that all booths be set-up before 8:30 am the day of the event. Event will take place rain or shine. Each vendor is responsible for all their own display tables, racks, tent, etc. Power is limited, please document on the registration form if electricity is needed, there will be an additional $10 fee for electricity. Please call before scheduling if you plan to bring a food truck or trailer.
To be included in this year’s Russell Downtown Market, vendors must register online at russellmainstreet.com/downtown-market or mail registration form and payment to 207 E. 8th Street in Russell.
For more information call the Russell Main Street, Inc. office at 785-483-2897.
Former Hays city commissioner Eber Phelps has been appointed to fill the unexpired term of commissioner James Meier.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Hays city commissioners on Thursday unanimously voted to appoint former City Commissioner Eber Phelps to the unexpired term of James Meier.
“I really believe that we should have the people vote for them, but we don’t have a choice now by state statute,” said Vice-Mayor Sean Musil who made the motion to appoint Phelps.
“I think Eber Phelps — that guy cares so much about this community. He’ll do a great job in the seven months remaining. That’s why, in my opinion, we should appoint him,” Commissioner Ron Mellick seconded Musil’s motion.
Meier’s seat is up for re-election in the Nov. 5 general election. He vacated the position May 3 and will be moving to Wichita. By state law, the city commission has 10 days to appoint the replacement.
“A lot of changes going on right now,” said Mayor Henry Schwaller, “and one of them is the city manager working solo. There’s no assistant city manager. So bringing someone up to speed (about city commission activities) would be rather challenging for all of us at this point.”
Phelps will be sworn into office at the May 16 work session.
Schwaller said several people contacted commissioners to express interest in the position.
Five priests for the Salina Diocese will celebrate anniversaries this year. Celebrating 60 years of priesthood are Father Alvin Werth and Father Roger Meitl. Celebrating 50 years is Capuchin Father Earl Befort and Father James Dallen. Celebrating 25 years is Father Henry Saw Lone.
Father Alvin Werth
Werth
Father Werth said his hometown pastor, Msgr. Frank Reidel, who was assigned to St. Anthony Parish in Schoenchen, encouraged his priestly vocation.
“When I grew up, I was on the farm west of Schoenchen,” he said. “I was a little withdrawn, shy. I grew out of that, and enjoy serving, celebrating Mass, and working with people.” Msgr. Reidel talked with his family as he neared the end of high school, and encouraged Father Werth to enter the seminary. The parish priest was a constant in the life of his family.
“He married my parents, was there for my baptism, all the sacraments and was there for my ordination,” he said. “He also paid for my entire education. He sponsored me all the way through.”
Father Werth attended seminary at Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo. The trip from his western Kansas farm to Kansas City was an adventure.
“It wasn’t by car in those days. It was by train,” he said. “We left Hays about midnight. We went to Kansas City on Union Pacific and got there about seven in the morning.”
Father Werth was ordained April 6, 1959, at St. Anthony Church in Schoenchen by Bishop Frederick Frecking. He was assigned to 19 parishes across the diocese during his service as a priest.
“I found people to be very good in all the parishes,” Father Werth said. “There are some differences, but as a whole, they respected the priests.”
One hobby he enjoyed throughout his life is flying.
“I got my pilot’s license in ’69,” Father Werth said. “When I was at Oberlin, we formed a club and 10 of us bought a small, used plane. “I used the plane to go to Atwood a number of times and also to go to meetings in Salina.”
He was a member of the National Association of Priest Pilots, and gathered regionally and nationally with fellow priest pilots. “It was a good experience with the priest pilots because I got to meet priests from all over the United States. We still do meet,” he said. “I sold my plane last year. As I’m getting rid of things, I’m now working on getting my angel wings.”
While he formally retired in 2003, Father Werth said he still enjoys being in parishes. “Now, it’s my greatest joy to substitute in parishes,” he said.
St. Anthony Parish in Schoenchen hosted a joint celebration for Father Werth and Father Befort, for their 60th and 50th anniversaries, with Mass and breakfast on April 28. Father Werth retired to Hays in 2003.
Father Roger Meitl
Meitl
Also celebrating 60 years as a priest is Father Meitl. A Leoville native, he said his family was involved in Immaculate Conception Church.
“I was working with the parish and seeing a great need there,” he said of his vocational discernment. “I just kind of got involved there and enjoyed it.” This led to Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo., followed by Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.
During his active ministry, he served in more than two dozen parishes across the Salina Diocese.
“There’s a variety (of work in parishes),” he said. “I liked visiting with people in their homes. That was enjoyable, getting acquainted and helping them to be more active with their faith.” He moved to an assisted living home in Wichita upon his retirement in 2006.
Capuchin Father Earl Befort
Befort
Celebrating 50 years as a priest is Capuchin Father Befort, a native of Schoenchen, who has served most of his tenure in Ellis County. “I was sent to Thomas More Prep in May of 1970 and have worked there as a teacher, coach, administrator and chaplain ever since,” he said.
He had several assignments, including Catharine, Antonino, Schoenchen and St. Joseph in Hays.
“I still serve in those three little parishes,” he said of Catharine, Antonino and Schoenchen. His path to the priesthood included several high school years at St. Francis Seminary in Victoria. “My older brother was in the seminary and that interested me but I just wanted to see for myself,” Father Befort said. “I don’t think anyone knows for sure until they give it a try.
The five decades spent as a priest have been enjoyable.
“The highlight (of the priesthood) is administration of the sacraments,” Father Befort said. “Over the years I have literally done hundreds of funerals and weddings along with many baptisms. One is ordained to give the sacraments and I have been most blessed to do so.”
Working collaboratively with both the Capuchin friars and priests, as well as diocesan priests has been a fruitful ministry.
“I deeply appreciate the many friendships I have made,” Father Befort said. “It has been and often is hard work, but the rewards have been great.”
Father James Dallen
Dallen
Also celebrating 50 years is Father Dallen, who resides in Spokane, Wash. Another young vocation, he was a high school student at St. Francis Seminary in Victoria and St. Mary’s College High School in St. Mary, Ky. “I really never gave serious thought to anything other than priesthood,” he said. “I was drawn to it very young: I built a chapel in the hayloft of the barn and played (prayed?) Mass there.”
He was the parochial vicar at St. Andrew Parish in Abilene for several years before embarking on an academic path. “I’ve been especially interested in the interplay between faith and culture and the Church’s role in society and thus in the Church’s social teaching,” he said. “Many of my publications, papers and workshops have involved the sacrament of penance because of my dissertation on its post-Vatican II reform. The two vocations of priest and theologian have been closely related for me.”
He initially began his teaching career at Rosemont College in suburban Philadelphia from 1975-82. “Bishop Kucera, who had been a college president, encouraged me to find a position where I could teach on the graduate level and I interviewed in several places,” Father Dallen said. He taught at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. from 1982-2007. “Coincidentally, I was ordained to the priesthood on the feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, June 21,” Father Dallen said. “I especially enjoyed working with grad students preparing for ministry, directing the Master of Divinity and the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry programs, and that was my primary focus.”
In addition to his academic work at the university, he served as a sacramental minister at nearby parishes. “My motto on my ordination invitation was ‘I am in your midst as one who serves,’ ” he said. “I have tried to remain faithful to that, whatever the ministry I’ve been involved in. I always maintained pastoral involvement while teaching. I have been involved with campus ministry, parish ministry and adult education/formation and Hospice. “I continue to lead Sunday Mass at a retirement facility in Spokane and to serve as a volunteer chaplain for Hospice (regular clients and on-call for sacramental ministry). That sometimes leads to other involvements with families, including even jail visits!”
In addition to teaching, Father Dallen is the author of 14 books. “My favorites are ‘The Reconciling Community’ (on the sacrament of penance, often used as a university and seminary textbook and in print since 1986) and ‘The Dilemma of Priestless Sundays’ (on the problem of parishes and facilities without regular Eucharist because of the current ordination discipline and the consequent priest shortage),” he said. “What will probably be my last scholarly publication is an essay in a book coming out from Brill (The Netherlands), a paper I was invited to give at a conference in Germany two years ago. Titled “The Reconciling Community: The Rite of Penance, Past and Present,” it looks into the sacrament’s possibilities for flexibility and compassion to support Pope Francis’ call for accompaniment and discernment for couples in irregular situations.”
While he retired from full-time teaching at the beginning of 2008, Father Dallen teaches alternate summers in the masters in Pastoral Ministry Program at the University of Portland. “I had been involved with that program since it was in the planning stages,” he added. When not immersed in academics, he said he enjoys gardening, carpentry, cooking, reading science fiction and traveling. “I love to travel!” Father Dallen said. “I’ve visited 43 states and over 40 countries. The most recent was in February: Egypt.”
Father Henry Saw Lone
Lone
The final anniversary is Father Henry Saw Lone, who celebrated his 25th anniversary March 20. He is a missionary priest from the Diocese of Taungngu (Taungoo), Myanmar. Father Lone entered the seminary at the age of 14. “The philosophy behind it is that the younger you are formed the better the outcome is achieved,” he said. He studied with The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, who were an order of Italian Missionary priests. “They were respected, well-educated gentlemen, mentors, very cultured, remarkable role models who also played soccer very well!” he said. “As a young man deciding within myself what path to embark upon, they represented everything I wanted to become and I credit my vocation to them.”
As a seminarian, one focus was to build the missionary spirit. In 2003, he was invited by the late Bishop George Fitzsimons to become a missionary priest in Northwest Kansas. While his grade school education was in British English, Father Saw Lone said he learned American English upon his arrival in the United States.
“When the people see you as an approachable person, they welcome you and care for you as their priest,” he said of his decade in the Salina Diocese. “Living in rural Kansas came very natural to me as I myself was raised on a small farm in a village in Myanmar. The people here are wonderful. Since the beginning of my stay they have been warm and friendly. Many times they have brought me vegetables, invited me out fishing, to the rodeos and even to ride the combine during wheat, soy bean and sunflower harvests then into their homes for dinners and fellowship to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Yes, I feel at home and have comfortably grown to know and appreciate both parish communities during my priestly ministry over the last 10 years.”
Even with full life in Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Hill City and St. Joseph Parish in Damar, Father Saw Lone said he tries to enjoy some of his hobbies, including golf and tennis. “On my day off, I play golf and tennis with my friend-priests and parishioners amid whenever possible,” he said. During his seminary years, he enjoyed playing guitar, drums and keyboard, but said those hobbies have waned during his years as a priest. Although, “I composed a song that was sung by a national celebrity and as a result, I became quite well known due to that,” he said of his musical interests.
Father Saw Lone said there are many surprises throughout his years as a priest, including being called for emergencies and the ever-changing Kansas weather. “I am often surprised when I witness and realize the growth and strength of spirit and camaraderie in parishioners during the simplest and greater holy functions through their fellowship and in collaboration during events as one body of Christ,” he said. “For example during the Jubilee celebration … it was beyond my expectation. It is rewarding and heartfelt and in turn it strengthens my purpose and brings me great joy.”
He said his motto is “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you (1 Thessalonians 5:8),” and he said it’s served him well over the last 25 years. “The past 25 years have been joyful indeed,” Father Saw Lone said. “I thank God for the priesthood and the people I serve who are so wonderful. The life of a priest isn’t always easy, but in general it is a wonderful life, a joyful commitment. During these 25 years as a priest, I have found happiness, sadness, successes and failures. There are challenges and bumps, doubts and fears, but I will always remember what God is at my side and I don’t need to fear.”
In order to attempt to preserve a bit of history often overlooked, the Ellis High School Alumni Association Cookbook Committee is working on a special project.
Today
