Down the river with a Paddle
Two men, two kayaks, and $250,000 in debt -- A 2,500 mile trip down the Mighty MO begins in Montana and ends in St. Louis -- all for St. Francis Xavier School in Kansas City.
What do you do if you need $250,000 to pay off a debt for a parish school that you were forced to close at the beginning of the school year due to low enrollment?
When Father Matthew Ruhl of St. Francis Xavier School and Church contemplated the answer to that question in the year of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial, the answer was clear. Go down the river. In a kayak. Get people to sponsor the 2,500 mile float trip--hopefully at a dollar a mile.
There’s a first time for everything . . . at least Father Ruhl knows his paddle helps for kayaking . . . and to raise aware-ness and needed funds for St. Francis Xavier.
So he and fellow riverman Allan Burroughs, a retired TWA pilot who, unlike Ruhl, actually has been in a kayak before, are starting out in Three Forks, Montana, where the Missouri River begins. On August 1st, they'll push off in the grand semi-unknown, paddling about 50 miles a day, portaging around reservoirs and dams as necessary, sleeping on sand bars and in an occasional motel at night. Along the way, they'll commune with nature, stop to talk to visitors, hopefully get a little publicity. They're on both a grand 50 day adventure and a mission.
The mission for which they seek the PR is, of course, the debt.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, located at 52nd and Troost, "fell victim to urban realities," says Fr. Matt. "Charter schools opened up around us. Tuition for each child is about $2,000 and the support was not there. At the same time, our costs were going up. If we had opened with our 83 kids who had registered, our debt would have been $700,000 by the end of the year. So we did the painful thing--but the right thing, and placed our children in other schools. It broke my heart to close St. Francis Xavier School."
It's a tough time for Father Matt and parishioners at St. Francis alike. Father Ruhl has served St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish for nearly 3 years. Most recently he served as pastor of St. Matthew's in north St. Louis city and in east St. Louis prior to that--neighborhoods far more dangerous than where he is today. Born in Kirkwood and raised in Kansas City, Fr. Matt attended St. Thomas More grade school and Rockhurst High School in south Kansas City before graduating from Regis College in Denver and becoming a Jesuit priest.
So far, while the pledges are small, the two men are not discouraged. In hand, they have about $30,000 with another $100,000 pledged, so they're nearing half-way. A website will soon be launched which will follow their voyage; there's a series of lectures already begun (Father Dan White will speak at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 19th at Rockhurst University about the role of Jesuit missions on the river). They will invite people to join them along the way, either canoeing or at the campfire, and they're hoping to give talks about the experience when they complete their voyage. "It's grass roots kind of fund raising," says Ruhl. "We've yet to receive a sizeable gift from an individual, but we're thrilled with every dol-lar and the awareness we raise."The Jesuit parish, known to be liberal, academic, and oriented towards social justice, has been growing--and after talking with Father Matt, you can see why. It continues to serve the Troost corridor with its food pantry, Ignatian spirituality programs, and spirited liturgies. He promises, "This will turn the page in this church's history. We will be able to go forth and continue doing good, once this debt is taken care of." And he still needs 125,000 more dollars. Soon.
The team at Ingram's and Show-Me Publishing encourage you and your organization to pledge financial support to Father Matt Ruhl and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Fr. Ruhl and Allan Burroughs exemplify giving selflessly for the betterment of mankind and community. You may reach Fr. Matt Ruhl at 816. 523.5115 Ext. 203 or by email at ruhlsj@sfx-kc.org. Donations may be sent to St. Francis Xavier Church at 1001 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.