The Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann was installed as the 4th Archbishop and the 11th Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on January 15, 2005.
His chosen episcopal motto is, “Vitae Victoria Erit” (Life will be Victorious). Archbishop Naumann has championed the cause for the right to life throughout his ministry. He seeks to lead his flock in upholding and promoting the immense dignity of every human person from conception to natural death.
Through education and evangelization, Archbishop Naumann seeks to facilitate opportunities for encounters with the person of Jesus Christ, winning disciples that will live the Joy of the Gospel and lead others to Christ by the fruit of their lives.
Archbishop Naumann was born on June 4, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1975, and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis/Titular Bishop of Caput Cilla on September 3, 1997. He was appointed as Coadjutor Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas on January 7, 2004, and assumed responsibilities as Archbishop on January 15, 2005.
Archbishop Naumann's Coat of Arms
For his personal arms, Archbishop Naumann has selected a design that reflects his service as priest and bishop.
On a single blue field, the design is composed of two main sections reflecting the two most significant aspects of Archbishop Naumann's life. In the lower portion of the design are displayed two stalks of wheat coming forth from three loaves of golden bread. This symbol is employed first to acknowledge the primacy of the Eucharist in the life of the Church and in the ministry of the priest, and secondly because Archbishop's great-grandfather, two great-uncles and a grandfather were all bakers. This charge is placed above a silver carpenter's square to honor his baptismal patron, St. Joseph, and in combining the square with the loaves, His Excellency honors the heritage of his parents, Fred and Louise (Lukens) Naumann.
In the upper portion of the design known as the "chief" is seen a cross fleuretty, a cross with arms that end in fleur-de-lis. This symbol of the faith is taken from the arms of the Archdiocese of St. Louis which His Excellency has served as a priest and an auxiliary bishop. On this cross is placed a red rose, representing Mary, Mother of the Church as well as model and guardian for priests, and the symbol of the Pro-Life movement to which Archbishop Naumann has dedicated a good part of his life and ministry.
This theme of life is carried forward in the choice of Archbishop Naumann's motto, taken from the encyclical of Pope John Paul II, Evangelium vitae—The Gospel of Life. The Latin Motto, VITAE VICTORIA ERIT translates LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS. By use of this phrase, His Excellency expresses the conviction that Jesus' triumph over death is absolute, and that, despite the trials and challenges faced by the Christian, the victory is assured.
The arms are completed with the external ornaments which include a gold processional cross placed behind the shield which extends above and below the shield, and the pontifical hat, the gallero, with its ten tassels in four rows on either side of the shield, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of archbishop. The coat of arms was designed and created by Deacon Paul J. Sullivan.
Coat of Arms — Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
This coat of arms was established shortly after the Diocese of Kansas became an Archdiocese. Originally the Diocese of Kansas City was known as the Diocese of Leavenworth. The heraldic tower, the heraldic equivalent of a fortress, refers to the fact that Leavenworth was originally a fort. The crescent, the symbol of the Blessed Virgin under the title of the Immaculate Conception, expresses the title of the Cathedral when the see city was Leavenworth. Under this same title Our Lady is Patroness of the United States.
The "wavy chevron couched" emanates from the left side of the shield and represents the junction of the Kansas and Missouri rivers in the See City of Kansas City in Kansas. The Missouri river forms the northeastern boundary of Kansas and of the Archdiocese, while the Kansas river comes from the west and traverses the center of the Archdiocese.
The reversed cross is the instrument of the martyrdom of St. Peter and it is appropriately placed on a field of red, the liturgical color for the spilling of one's blood for Christ; the martyr Peter is also indicated by the crossed keys, the symbol of the Power of the Keys: "And I will give to thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven: (Matthew 16:19). The Petrine chief (upper compartment) designates St. Peter the Apostle as the titular of the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
Prayer Intentions
January
- For God’s blessing upon the staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities and upon the men, women and children they serve
- For the staff and faculty of our Catholic Schools, that the Lord will empower them to be great witnesses of our Catholic Faith, and bless their efforts to help each student develop the gifts and talents that God has entrusted to them
- For a renewed respect in our nation for the sanctity of every human and the dignity of the human person
February
- For couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony, that they may grow in their love for each other and grow also in their faith in God’s love.
- For married couples, that they strive to seek the good and the holiness of their spouse before their own wants and desires.
- For Christian parents, that they embrace their vocation to be the first and most influential teachers and witnesses of the Gospel and our Catholic Faith to their children!
January Prayers
Prayers are offered for the staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities and the individuals they serve. There is a call for prayers of support for Catholic School staff to help them effectively witness their faith and nurture the talents of students. Finally, prayers are offered for a renewed respect in our nation for the sanctity of every human life.
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Dobbs Ushers in a New Abortion Landscape
June 24, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs ushers in a new abortion landscape. Voters urged to pass VALUE THEM BOTH Amendment to help Kansas escape a dark future as abortion destination of the Midwest.
“Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord.” Isaiah 1:18
Today the United States Supreme Court issued its widely anticipated ruling in the case Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning the infamous Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion throughout America.
“Along with all of the Kansas Catholic Bishops, I am grateful for the United States Supreme Court Dobbs for the decision,” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
“This ruling rectifies the error the Supreme Court made almost 50 years ago when it usurped the right of the people to protect preborn babies and their mothers from the tragedy that results from each and every abortion.
Today’s decision restores the power of citizens, through their duly elected members of State legislatures, to determine public policy regarding the protection of human life.
For Kansans, the decision underscores the urgency and necessity of passing the Value Them Both Amendment on August 2 that will allow the people of Kansas to better protect women and preborn babies from the predatory abortion industry.
The Value Them Both amendment is necessary after the Kansas Supreme Court declared abortion to be a virtually unlimited and unregulated right. This legal reality—no matter how welcome today’s decision might be—cannot be overturned by the United States Supreme Court.
In a cruel and ironic twist, Kansans now find themselves in the unenviable position of facing an even more ominous future with the specter of unlimited, late-term, and taxpayer-funded abortions.”
The Kansas Catholic Bishops noted that elements of that dark future are already emerging. Just three years after the Kansas Supreme Court’s shocking 2019 ruling in Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt, abortions in Kansas are surging. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas has experienced a:
- 13% increase in the overall annual number of abortions.
- 17% increase in live dismemberment abortions.
- 16% increasein abortions performed on out-of-state residents.
Despite today’s welcome U.S. Supreme court ruling, Kansas will be unable to adequately provide protections to women or preborn babies unless the Value Them Both amendment is approved.
“Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision further sets up a potential nightmare scenario for Kansas,” declared Lucrecia Nold, Public Policy Specialist for the Kansas Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Kansas.
“By overturning Roe, Kansas is now first in line among all the states in this new abortion landscape. We are positioned directly in the path of a horrific cultural storm threatening to usher in a dark and deadly future with Kansas growing as an abortion destination.”
“Kansas Catholics do not want our state to become the abortion factory of the Midwest,” continued Ms. Nold. “We want to protect women and their preborn children. We urge all Kansans who value both women and babies to vote YES on August 2.”
Archbishop Naumann concluded: “The Catholic community is resolute in our commitment to build a culture of life and a civilization of love, where every human life is cherished and those experiencing a difficult pregnancy are surrounded by a loving community that provides encouragement and practical support.”
Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas
Most Reverend John B. Brungardt
Bishop of Dodge City, Kansas
Most Reverend Carl A. Kemme
Bishop of Wichita, Kansas
Most Reverend Gerald L. Vincke
Bishop of Salina, Kansas