JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE
The two cathedrals of the diocese, St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, and St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, are the designated locations for the Jubilee Year of Hope. In St. Mary Cathedral, to the front left, pilgrims may find an actual relic of the True Cross. In St. Agnes Cathedral, near the Blessed Sacrament, pilgrims will find a crucifix on display. As part of the Jubilee Year, those who participate in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation and attend Holy Mass along with the reception of Holy Communion within a 20-day period of visiting the cathedral—praying the Nicene or Apostles Creed, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father—may receive a plenary indulgence. Additional information can be found on the diocesan Website at https://dioscg.org/year-of-jubilee-2025/
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Margaret & Samuel Moore whose son, Charles David was Baptized at the 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday, June 7th. Fr Lewis Hejna officiated at the Baptism. Please keep the family in prayer as they grow in faith!
Attention Seniors!
Mark your calendars to join us for an Indoor Picnic!
It will be held in the Dining Room on Thursday, June 19th, from 12:00 – 2:00. A variety of small sandwiches will be provided, along with baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, fresh fruit, iced tea and lemonade. Feel free to bring a side dish or dessert, but it is not necessary! After our luncheon, we will be creating small succulent gardens in teacups, along with a variety of other types of containers. Plan on taking these home to enjoy or share with a friend! Hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Yvonne Heath (417) 414-7320.
From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
The Ascension of Our Lord occurred 40 days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter. It is the final act of our redemption that Christ began at His birth and continued through the Triduum. On this day, the risen Christ, in the sight of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven. The reality of Christ's Ascension is so important that the different Christian creeds all affirm, in the words of the Apostles' Creed; that "He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead." The denial of the Ascension is as grave a departure from Christian teaching as is denial of Christ's Resurrection.
Christ's bodily Ascension foreshadows our own entrance into Heaven not simply as souls, after our death, but as glorified bodies, after the resurrection of the dead at the Final Judgment. In redeeming mankind, Christ not only offered salvation to our souls but began the restoration of the material world itself to the glory that God intended before Adam's fall.
The Feast of the Ascension marks the beginning of nine days of prayer before the descent of the Holy Spirit. Before His Ascension, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to His apostles. Their prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit, which began on Ascension Thursday, ended with the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, ten days later.
In the 1990s The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops began to look at moving the celebration to the following Sunday. Many countries had already done so in the 70s and 80s. Several reasons were given, the two most important being: 1) Ascension is so important to our Christian Faith; 2) celebrating it on Sunday meant more people would truly celebrate it.
As of Friday May 23, summer began. The school year, 2024–2025, has finished. What a glorious season of the year, but then I enjoy all seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. As we enter the summer months, I always take a look at our prayer life, especially regarding weekend Mass. Can’t we just pray at home, or on the lake, or on the mountain top and do just as well in our relationship with God?
The Mass is the best expression of what it is to be a Catholic. It is the very first thing that the early Christians felt they needed to do. After Pentecost, they recalled that Jesus had instructed them to gather for the “breaking of the bread” (their way of speaking about the Mass). In this way, they believed they would experience the presence of the Risen Lord. Wherever you are during the summer, take the time to go to Sunday Mass, take the time to pray. Please do not take a vacation from God.
interested in being on parish council please contact me at 417-831-3565
Attention Seniors!
Mark your calendars to join us for an Indoor Picnic!
It will be held in the Dining Room on Thursday, June 19th, from 12:00 – 2:00. A variety of small sandwiches will be provided, along with baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, chips, fresh fruit, iced tea and lemonade. Feel free to bring a side dish or dessert, but it is not necessary! After our luncheon, we will be creating small succulent gardens in teacups, along with a variety of other types of containers. Plan on taking these home to enjoy or share with a friend! Hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Yvonne Heath (417) 414-7320.
BABY DIAPERS WANTED!
Please help St. Vincent de Paul gather diapers to donate to the needy. We will be collecting them from May 25th through June 8th. Bring unopened packs of diapers of any size to the parish office. Call the front office at (417) 831-3565 with any questions.
Welcome to St Agnes Cathedral
We welcome the following to St. Agnes parish:
Colton, Katelyn and Adalyn Witt
Heather Allison
Rhonda Thacker
Joshua, Sarah, Kaya, and Ada McClanahan
Christopher Armon, Marie Stark and Candice Stark-Hernandez
Sean and Laura Whipple
Dear Parishioners,
I have waited until the dust has settled to write about our new pope elected on May 8. I must admit I did not think I would ever see an American Pope in my life time for many reasons which I will not write about since they are my reasons and thoughts. I want to spend my time looking at what being “pope” really is all about.
The pope is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Catholic Church which includes the Latin as well as many as 23-28 other rites. Our Latin Rite is the largest, but the Catechism of the Catholic Church lists the different rites which are equally valid with different liturgical traditions, with different forms of liturgy, often based on cultural and language differences, but all in UNION with the BISHOP OF ROME, the POPE. To give an example, is the Rite of SYRO MALABAR of which Fr. Jobi Joseph our associate pastor belongs.
The Holy Father is to be the father of all the churches, regardless of their culture or their country’s politics. For some who do not understand the spiritual role of the Holy Father, they may see Pope Leo XIV as a pope who will accept the Catholic Church in the United States to be his guide. What makes Pope Leo XIV a great choice is that he was born and raised here in the US, lived for over 20 years in Peru and then around 2 years in Rome. He has two passports, both American and Peruvian.
He has some of an understanding of the conservative as well as the liberal aspects of the Catholic Church in the US, along with our government. I personally believe that Pope Leo will be a Pope for the people caring especially for the poor and the immigrants.
In one of my short trips I went to Honduras on a mission trip. The poverty of the poor is beyond anything we can truly understand. I watched small children digging in the city dumps to find plastic bottles and aluminum cans to sell so they could buy something to eat. On one of my trips we were asked to bring tooth brushes, combs, pencils to give to the children so they could trade for food. Feeding and helping these forgotten peoples were what had made our country great, but no longer. Years ago we had wrist bands that had the phrase “What would Jesus Do?”, our country has for the most part, has forgotten that Jesus fed the hungry.
Whether people like Pope Leo XIV or not, I believe that he will continue to speak for the poor, the homeless and the immigrants. Remember the Holy Family was poor, fled leaving their home behind as they became immigrants in a foreign land.
Anyone interested in being on parish council please contact me at 417-831-3565
NO COFFEE AND DONUTS ‘TIL FALL
Coffee & Donuts will take a summer break. St Agnes would like to thank Fran Overboe for her generosity in preparing the coffee almost every Sunday so that fellow parishioners could come together after the 8:00 AM Mass! We will resume coffee & donuts in August. We are also looking for a few more volunteers who might be able to sub to help prepare the coffee! Please call the office if you would like to volunteer!
Volunteers needed:
St. Agnes Cathedral is looking for a few more faith filled people who might be willing to help with Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) on a substitute basis. Individuals do need to be Virtus trained. Contact the parish office if interested.
BABY DIAPERS WANTED!
Please help St. Vincent de Paul gather diapers to donate to the needy. We will be collecting them from May 25th through June 8th. Bring unopened packs of diapers of any size to the parish office. Call the front office at (417) 831-3565 with any questions.
Dear Parishioners,
Here is what happens upon the death of the ruling pope. Before the election of a new pope, most of the cardinals who lead the Vatican’s
administration called the Roman Curia, will leave their offices so a new pope can appoint his own staff. There are three exceptions:
the camerlengo, who takes charge of property and money matters; the vicar of Rome, who continues to provide for the pastoral
needs of the people of Rome; and the major penitentiary, the official who grants absolutions and dispensations.
Until a conclave to elect the new pope opens, cardinals in Rome will meet daily in a “general congregation” presided over by the
dean of the college. Attendance is optional for cardinals age 80 and over, and they do not vote in the conclave. All cardinals under
the age of 80 are eligible to vote for a new pope. There are 138 cardinals eligible as I am writing, to vote in a conclave to elect a
new pope, however 14 Cardinal electors will lose their right to vote this year due to age.
To ensure that electors in a papal conclave are sequestered, away from any outside influences, all voting cardinals are housed in the
Domus Sancta Martha (St. Martha’s House), a plain but capable $20 million hotel built just for this purpose by Pope John Paul II in
1996. Once the conclave begins, a cardinal-elector may leave only because of illness or other serious reason accepted by a majority
of his fellow cardinals. Everyone associated with a conclave—doctors, nurses, confessors, masters of liturgical ceremonies, sacristans
and various priest assistants, and housekeeping and catering staff—must swear never to tell anything they learn about the election.
A conclave opens in the morning with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In the afternoon, the cardinals, vested in scarlet robes, walk in
procession in order of seniority from the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace to the Sistine Chapel, to the chant of the ninth-century
Latin hymn, “Veni, Creator Spiritus.” The cardinals take an oath of secrecy. They swear to accept no interference in the election and
to observe the rules set down in the Apostolic Constitution on the election of a pope.
Following a meditation by a priest, whom the cardinals have chosen earlier, voting can begin immediately or the next morning. The
cardinals walk to the altar, one by one, holding the ballot aloft. Each cardinal kneels briefly to pray and on rising declares, “I call as
my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge that my vote is given to the one whom, before God, I think should be elected.” He
then places the ballot on a plate which covers a receptacle, usually a chalice. Lifting the paten, he allows the ballot to drop into the
receptacle.
The ballots are counted and if the number of ballots is correct, the scrutineers begin the count seated at a table in front of the altar.
The first scrutineer unfolds each ballot, silently notes the name written on it, and hands it to the second scrutineer who does the same,
and hands it on to the third scrutineer who reads the name aloud and records it. At the end of the count, the scrutineers announce the
total number of votes each candidate has received. The candidate who has received two-thirds of the votes of those present is elected
pope.
Thank you to all the ministers, choirs, musicians, decorators and everyone else who helped make our Lenten and
Easter celebrations beautiful.
THE MIRROR SUBSCRIPTION
It’s that time of the year again! The Diocese will send us a bill in the coming weeks for each St. Agnes parishioner to receive the weekly newspaper. Each subscription is $14.00. This year’s bill was $8,370.00 and parishioner envelope contributions are at 2,065.00 so far . Please be sure to use your Mirror envelope and if possible include gift subscriptions for parishioners who may not be able to afford theirs.
DDF 2025
The 2025 Diocesan Development Fund appeal will be held the weekend of May 3-4, at all Masses. Please be generous.
This effort is conducted in every parish of the diocese to help finance the activities and ministries of the Catholic Church in southern Missouri. Our parish goal is $150,528. We ask you to keep the DDF campaign in your prayers.
Garage Sale Updates!
Were you wondering if St. Agnes will be having its annual Garage Sale? Yes, we will! The dates have been set for June 12th-14th in our gym. Of course, that means that we will need your help! Start cleaning out those closets, basements, garages and storage sheds! As in past years, we cannot take computers or computer monitors or tv's. We also ask you to make certain that you do not send non-working appliances, small or large. Please no clothing at garage sale: we will accept shoes, hats & backpacks. We also need lots of volunteers to make this huge event happen. We are particularly looking for individuals who may be able to pick up large items. This is a great opportunity for high school students to earn service hours for the following school year. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please call the parish office at 831-3565. Our proceeds will benefit the building of our new parish center.
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Change and believe the good news. The New Testament Greek word for conversion is Metanoia, which means “a change
of heart”, or “an act of repentance”. You might be surprised at how infrequently conversion is used in the Gospels. John’s
Gospel never mentions it. Mark uses the word only three times, and Matthew seven times. Only Luke uses the word with
frequency, some fourteen times. Yet the concept of conversion certainly lies at the heart of Jesus’ message in all the Gospels.
“This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the good news! That is a challenge
that Jesus puts before each of us.
It is the theme of the Lenten season. At the root of any act of conversion is change. Heeding the message of Jesus involves
a change of mind, a change of heart and a change of behavior. Christian conversion always moves a person beyond
their present state and into a new and vital relationship with God. Conversion cannot be limited to a dramatic, once
-in-a-lifetime, “born again” experience. Christian conversion is more often the gradual process of God’s grace transforming
our lives. It entails being born again and again and again… Here are some of the basic features of Christian conversion.
*Conversion is an act of God’s grace. God initiates the process and we are invited to respond.
*Conversion is a movement from sin, darkness and blindness toward God, light and sight.
*Conversion is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ which radically transforms the way we think, speak and live.
*Conversion is an ongoing process which begins with Baptism but which requires constant surrender to God’s will.
*Conversion changes the whole person, with an internal (attitudinal) and external (behavioral) change in life.
*Conversion results in tremendous joy and a desire to share the good news with others.
This weekend is Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is meant to be a day of celebration within the austere Season
of Lent. Thus the celebrant wears rose colored vestments and the theme is Rejoice Jerusalem. It is twenty one days
before Easter.
Easter Egg Time!
Hard to believe it is that time of
year again when we are asking
for donations of eggs for our
Annual Easter Egg
Hunt. Please bring wrapped candy to fill eggs
or already filled eggs to the
parish office. We will also
recycle those previously used
plastic eggs.
First Eucharist Retreat
Families with children who will be making their First Eucharist in
May need to mark their calendars for Saturday, April 12th. We will
meet in the cathedral at 9:30 for rehearsal for First Eucharist. We
will then go to the cafeteria where children will make banners,
write petitions & make other preparations for First Eucharist. All
supplies for the banners will be provided, but families are
encouraged to bring glue guns and special materials that they
wish to use for the banners. If you have questions, please contact
Iris at the parish office or at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Santiago Barron who was baptized on
March 13th after the 5:30 PM Mass. Santiago is the son of
Salvador and Bethany Barron. Please continue to keep
Santiago in your prayers.
Congratulations to Catalina Inez Allen who was Baptized on
March 13th after the 5:30 PM Mass. Catalina is the
daughter of Christopher Allen and Clarissa Barron. Please
prayer for Catalina as she grows in faith.
Congratulations to Isaiah Dorsett who was Baptized
during the 5:00 PM Mass on Sat, March 15th. Isaiah is the son
of Heather and Jacob Dorsett. As a parish, please continue to
keep Isaiah and his family in your prayers.
Dear Parishioners,
Grow up! That is a normal reaction from someone who thinks that someone else is acting irresponsibly. Grow Up! Act your age! As we go through the Lenten Season, I have never read that Jesus used those words, but he got really close. As Jesus confronted the temple priests, the Pharisees and Sadducees, even his own disciples, he wanted to help move them forward in their spirituality, but they were rooted in the Jewish Laws of food and animal sacrifices.
Lent is a time of conversion. To grow up and become responsible, mature human beings in our Christian Faith. Most of us mature in all other areas of life, physically, intellectually and emotionally. Our spiritual life falls behind, our ideas of God, prayer, worship and the living out of our Christian faith.
Repentance is the first step on our way to fulfillment as a human person. That is one of the reasons we need to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent, because sin causes a lack of unity in our lives, jealousy, greed, and arrogance takes us away from God and destroys relationships. Lents’ call to conversion challenges the lack of unity in our lives, and the need for wholeness, the need to put together the scattered pieces of our lives.
In Jesus we see what our own life is called to be. Within Jesus is seen what it mean to be a whole human being. As human beings what are we really searching for? We are searching whether we realize it or not, to complete our lives in Jesus. Many people seek completeness in a sexual free lifestyle, or in vast sums of money, or in power over others, all those temptations from Satan.
God created us, chosen us to be responsible members of his Church. That means that there is a divine purpose for each of us. Each of us need to do better, to think better, pray better, share better, love better. We need to become more mature in our faith life with Jesus as Lent calls for conversion. In our gospel this weekend, Jesus is talking to us, it is a time for Him to fertilize us, to hoe the hard ground around our hearts so that he can bring us to new life.
Please Join us for our Lenten Penance Service March 24 at 7 pm