Their faces had seen neither soap nor razor in quite some time.

Our ultimate goal as followers of Jesus Christ and members of the Catholic Church is to get to heaven and to help others reach eternal salvation as well.

Call them the Lucky Thirteen, but it is the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph that benefits.

This past Monday, June 16, was the Feast day of St. John Francis Regis, and I enjoyed being at the parish in South Kansas City for the celebration of Holy Mass and a reception.

When I came to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph ten years ago and was ordained a bishop, I received a very special gift from the priests.

No priests, no Mass, no Eucharist.

Prepare for a bonanza of priests.

Fifteen days after ordaining eight men to the transitional diaconate, eight days after ordaining four men to the priesthood, six days before ordaining 13 men to the permanent diaconate, Bishop Robert W. Finn led the annual celebration of the foundation vocation — God’s call to married life and family.

Time to get into the game. The walls of St. Michael the Archangel High School will soon be going up.

Following are comments made by Bishop Robert W. Finn at the groundbreaking ceremony for St. Michael the Archangel High School on May 3 in Lee’s Summit: