Dear Parishioners,
Our Christian morality comes from several sources—the New Testament, especially St. Paul, Church teachings and traditions,
and the Old Testament. Within the Old Testament are found the Ten Commandments and God doesn’t mince words. When I hear the confessions of children, I can almost always tell them what they are going to say, especially if they are young people. “Bless me,
Father, for I have sinned. I talked back to my parents, hit my brother/sister, and I lied.” These are the basic sins that small children
commit. Our Christian morality is to teach and guide them that they are offending God and others.
I can no longer be silent as lies are told by government leaders. How can we teach that it is a sin to lie if lies are openly told
on the news by government leaders? On Mon., Oct. 6, it was said that Portland, Oregon, was burning! My niece and family live in
Portland, and she didn’t know that her home city was burning—because it wasn’t. A small example, but lies are constant. Lies and
exaggeration hurt people, and reputations are ruined, as we have seen here in Springfield in recent weeks. There is a reason God gave us the eighth Commandment. When you break it once and then again, it becomes easier, until it becomes such a habit that you can no longer know the difference. I stress that over and over with our young people.
Since I have studied so much of history, there is a quote that I often use from George Santayana, a Spanish-American
philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist: “People who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.” He suggests that by studying
the past (history), individuals and societies can avoid repeating the same errors, make more informed decisions in the present
age, and avoid repetition of past mistakes.
Over the past weeks, the Holy Father has been calling for the humane treatment of immigrants. In speaking with journalists on Sept. 30, Pope Leo XIV said, “Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhumane treatment of
immigrants, I don’t know if that’s prolife.”
Maybe I am too old fashioned or too much of a student of history, but nighttime raids into homes of people by masked men
carrying guns, breaking down doors, and taking people away while leaving children crying for their parents seems inhumane to me.
I close with a quote from St. Mother Teresa: “The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn’t learn to love, but kills to solve her own problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.”
Her prophecy has come true. In the last ten years, there have been 431 school shootings, most did not result in death, but the intent was present when you aim a gun. Students, teachers, and administrators have been shot and killed.
Mark Your Calendar!
Saturday, Nov. 1 - 9 am - 4 pm
Sunday, Nov. 2 - 8:30 am - 1pm
Catholic Center Gym
• Wide Variety of Vendors
• Fr. Lewis and parishioners will also have
some beautiful items for sale!
• Raffle Baskets
• Senior Bake Sale
• Sunday Morning Coffee & Donuts
• St. Agnes students who attend will receive
an Out-of-Uniform pass!
______________________________________________
¨ Seeking Donations of Baked Goods
The Senior Bake Sale will offer lots of
sweet-tooth satisfying treats!
We do hope that many of you will bake something
to donate and then come buy someone else’s goodies!
OCIA for Children!
Our Faith formation program will be offering an OCIA program for young people in grades 4-7. We will help our young people who may need the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist. This will be an
age-appropriate class using a special curriculum and resources geared to help these students as they learn about the Catholic faith and study to prepare for receiving the sacraments.
The class will meet every other Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in St. Agnes School.
For more information, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.
Springfield Catholic Cemetery Board
has announced a capital campaign to address drainage issues, road repair and regular maintenance with a goal of $165,000. Anyone who has a loved one at the cemetery or those planning to use Resurrection or St. Mary's in the future are encouraged to support the Capital Campaign with a donation, which can be made at https://dioscg.org/springfield-catholic-cemetery/ or by calling Russ Koeneman at 417-866-6720 or
catholiccemeteriesofspringfield@outlook.com.
Dear Parishioners,
Our faith teaches that when God chose to be born of the Virgin Mary, the physical Incarnation event changed and uplifted our human nature forever. Jesus from the beginning of his life took to himself everything we experience about being
human. This means that Jesus experienced and felt all the emotions and desires, except sin, that you and I experience. The other side is that we are able to love and experience on a higher human level than those who lived before the Incarnation.
Sadly, society is choosing to no longer follow the teachings of Christ. We have seen before in history what happens when modern, educated societies begin to turn inwardly, thinking only of themselves, excluding all those who do not think the same, or those who look different, or pray differently. Within just two decades Germany, which was an enlightened,
technological country of the time, turned to an individual who became their messiah and promised the people the world.
Our country has been given so much by God, which also means we have a God-given duty to look out for others. If we want our country to go back into isolation of the early 1900s, the world will be a much more dangerous and evil place.
Our own country will no longer be a beacon of God’s love to the world.
Today in our country, on the streets of our own city, we see people speeding and driving recklessly with little regard for others. Almost weekly there is some type of shooting in our country because someone does not agree with the religious
practices or with the politics of a particular individual.
Prayer, whether in schools, government meetings, even in churches, means nothing if we do not practice the love and
mercy that Jesus teaches. St. Paul, in his letters to the Christian communities he founded, constantly wrote about caring
for others. In Luke’s Gospel on this past Thursday, Jesus presented the principles of Godly conduct: mercy and
forgiveness, unconditional giving, and to avoid judgment and condemnation.
CONFIRMATION UPDATE
Families: If you have a student who will be entering 8th grade and above and who is planning to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in February 2026, and if you missed the informational session on Sunday, Sept. 14, please contact the parish office to make certain your young person will be signed up. The session included information on curriculum, class schedule, choosing a sponsor, retreat information, and much more. The current Confirmation session will be held Sunday, Sept. 21, at 12:30 p.m. in the school library. If you have questions about Confirmation, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
ST. AGNES ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKET
St. Agnes Annual Holiday Market will be held Nov. 1-2 at the Catholic Center Gym. Wide variety of vendors. Hope to see you there!
Reconciliation/First Eucharist Family Session!
If you have a child or children who would like to receive the sacraments this year, please make plans to attend an informational session Sunday, Sept. 28, at 10:15 a.m. in the dining room! We will discuss the curriculum, schedule, and ways families can prepare their children for these special sacraments. Please call the parish office or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org if you have specific questions or want to make certain your young person is on our list for this year. We are also working with families who may have older children who will need preparation for these special sacraments.
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. For many it is about boating one last time before fall turns the water cold, or perhaps a 3 day weekend to get away, picnics and fun. Labor day is to honor and celebrate all the different workers who have made and make our country strong. Immigrants both legally and illegally have come to our country to find work, to find shelter to find safety and to find freedom to find a better life for themselves and their children. As the waves of immigrants have come to our country they brought their skills and a willingness to work.
Most people do not know the role of the Catholic Church in the labor movements here in our country. The Church has a long standing tradition of advocating for labor rights and social justice here in the United States. This tradition is rooted in the teachings of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum. It emphasizes the rights of workers to organize and the im-portance of just labor conditions. The Catholic Church has played a major role in shaping the labor movement in the U.S., influencing the formation of unions and advocating for workers’ rights. The Church’s teachings have been influential in the development of labor protections, fair labor standards and collective bargaining rights. The Catholic Church continues to support workers’ rights and the dignity of work.
Pope Francis stated: “Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one’s family, and to contribute to the growth of one’s own nation.” Unfortunately, millions of workers today are denied this hon-or and respect as a result of unemployment, underemployment, unjust wages, wage theft, abuse, and exploitation throughout the world, as well as here in our own country.
To all those who are retired, I thank each of you for your many years of hard work. For all who are working today, I thank you also. In one way or another you are making my world/our world, a better place in which to live. We also want to thank all the members of our armed forces who are stationed all over the world fighting, or on some type of border patrol to keep our nation free and safe.
Annual Holiday Market
ARE YOU A CRAFTER? WE NEED YOU!
The annual Holiday Market will be held on Nov. 1st & 2nd in the Catholic Center Gym. We are looking for vendors to participate in this event. If you are a crafter or
have a business, we need you! Cost is $35 ($40 if you do not have a business license) Please contact Judy at 1-641-751-6632 or judyhauschildt@gmail.com
Hope to see you there!
First Reconciliation/Ecucharist
Reconciliation/ First Eucharist Family Session is scheduled! If a family has a child or children who would like to receive the sacraments this year, please make plans to attend an informational session on Sunday, Sept 28th at 10:15 in the dining room! We will discuss the curriculum, schedule & ways families can prepare their children for these special sacraments. Please call the parish office or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org if you have specific questions or want to make certain your young person is on our list for this year. We are also working with families that may have older children who will need preparation for these special sacraments.
PSR
Parish School of Religion (PSR) is beginning a new year! Classes are held on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in St. Agnes School. We offer classes for students in K-8. We also offer classes for students who may have special needs. We welcome all students in Public, Catholic and those who may be homeschooled. We also prepare students for the reception of the sacraments. If a family has any special circumstances, we will work with each individual family to meet those needs. All of the teachers and assistants are Virtus trained. Please use the QR code to register online. You can also contact Iris at the parish office for details or email ibounds@sta-cathedral.org
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear Parishioners,
May 23, 2025, school was out. Summer began with all its fun, relaxation, and perhaps even vacation. August 14, 2025 school start-ed and this past week public schools are back in session. Where did the summer go? It seems like only yesterday that school was let-ting out for the summer, and now we have begun the 2025-2026 school year. Where does the time go? As I get older it seems to go even faster. As I have said before, this year is going to take patience on the part of each of us with the construction happening on our doorstep. That area of life which will effect each of us, myself included are the carline and parking for masses.
Each grade level comes with its own challenges for parents, students, and teachers. The Second grade is the year of preparation and reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Please work with your children at home and the St. Agnes grade school and PSR will do our part. In the eighth grade and above we will prepare our young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Thus these two class levels are extremely important years of our young people’s faith growth.
I urge parents to not forget their children’s spiritual life–the most important part of educating a child. All outside activities need to be balanced. The best way to keep families together and our young people strong, is to keep God in the picture always. Do not wait until a crisis comes into your family’s life. Come to church regularly on Sunday, and pray together as a family. Work your spiritual life and language into everyday conversation. School whether parochial or public brings new opportunities for parents to teach their young people respect, service, and to take responsibility for their actions.
Parents who always come running to straighten situations out for their children are missing good teachable moments. Don’t pass up an opportunity to give your young people practice in figuring things out for themselves while they are still young. Many times in our fast-paced world it is tempting to do things that kids should do for themselves. It’s quicker and we are pressed for time. No parent wants to see their child in trouble, but children need to learn that poor choices bring consequences that sometimes are not pleasant. There are many ordinary opportunities to explain to young people that just because their friends are allowed to do something, doesn’t mean that they should also. The sooner parents become parents, rather than their child’s best friend, the more respect their child will have for them. They have best friends. They need parents who will teach, guide, set limits, and provide discipline. All of this will help them deal with peer pressure today. To say no to different types of addictive behaviors, hard-to-deal-with bosses in the future, and to be able to follow rules and laws.
I pray for all administrators, teachers and students as we begin this new school year.
CONFIRMATION UPDATE
Families if you have a student who will be entering 8th grade and above and is planning to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Feb, 2026, there will be an informational session on Sunday, Sept 14th at 12:30 PM in the dining room of the cafeteria. The session will include information on curriculum, class schedule, choosing a sponsor, retreat information and much more. You will also get a chance to meet the instructors for the class. If you have specific questions about Confirmation, please call the parish office or contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org
FRIENDS OF THE POOR WALK
WHAT: Friends of the Poor Walk - Benefitting Springfield Area Societies of St. Vincent de Paul
DATE: Saturday, September 27, 2025 - The Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul
TIME: Registration and refreshments at 8:30 AM; walk at 9:00 AM
WHERE: Saint Agnes Cathedral in Springfield
1-mile walk for the Relaxed and Fun-Loving Walker
3-mile walk for the Serious and Experienced Walker
Start and finish in parking lot, rear of building
For more information and to register, visit: www.fopwalk.org
"Why we walk: The Friends of the Poor Walk is a unique fundraising effort organized nationally and locally by the Counsels and Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul. It allows community members from all walks of life across the country to participate in a simultaneous, nationwide event to raise national awareness of the challenges faced by the nation's people in need and to raise funds for use in direct service to people in poverty. Funds raised locally will be used locally."
School Begins!
Coffee & donuts will resume this Sunday, August 24th after the 8:00 AM Mass. Join other parishioners in the dining room for donuts and fellowship. Coffee and donuts will not be held on holiday weekends.
Parish School of Religion (PSR) is beginning a new year! Classes are held on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in St. Agnes School. We offer classes for students in K-8. We also offer classes for students who may have special needs. We welcome all students in Public, Catholic and those who may be homeschooled. We also prepare students for the reception of the sacraments. If a family has any special circumstances, we will work with each individual family to meet those needs. All of the teachers and assistants are Virtus trained. Please use the QR code to register online. You can also contact Iris at the parish office for details or email ibounds@sta-cathedral.org
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) will resume at the 11:30 AM Masses. Children preschool through 2nd grade are encouraged to attend. Children will study the readings for Sunday at an age appropriate level. All of our teachers are Virtus trained. We will not offer CLOW on holiday weekends.
Dear Parishioners,
One of my favorite liturgies to celebrate is that of the baptism of a baby or a young child. To begin the child on their spiritual road through the waters of Baptism is a great celebration. I know that some people moan and groan a little, “Oh, a baptism at Mass today. We will be here forever.” However if you notice it adds very little time to the celebration of the Mass. If the baptism is worked into the liturgy as it is meant to be: parts of the Mass are omitted because of the baptism itself.
It is so important for baptisms to take place within the Sunday Liturgy, because a person, young or old is being brought into God’s family and we are that family. Baptism is not a “biological family” thing, or a “personal” thing; it is a “God” thing, and it makes us a “parish family.” All the sacraments are parish celebrations, taking place within the parish community is important for the parish.
Baptism is a great responsibility for the parents, as well as for the parish family. The parents are asked a series of questions: You are asking to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him/her in the practice of the faith. (Do you understand what you are asking?) It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. ( Do you clearly understand what you are undertak-ing?) Then later in the rite: Is it your will that (child’s name) should be baptized in the faith of the Church, which we have all professed with you?
Baptism is the beginning on the spiritual journey to Heaven, and it is the responsibility of the parents and the parish community to help that young person along the road. Parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of the Faith and the re-sponsibility of the parish community is to provide added religious education in our Faith. It is much easier to provide the reli-gious education in a Catholic School setting, but that does not mean that those who do not go to a parochial school are left along the side of the road without religious instruction. On Sundays we have are PSR, Parish School of Religion. It is an im-portant ministry within our parish, since all of our young people do not attend a Catholic grade school or high school.
All of this letter explains why Baptisms within the context of the Mass are so important and why these celebrations are among my favorites.
CONGRATULATIONS!
CONGRATULATIONS!
St. Agnes Cathedral Parish congratulates Harper and Grayson Brown who were Baptized on Sunday, July 27th during the 11:30 AM Mass. Grayson and Harper are the children of Adam and Miranda Brown. Please keep the Brown family in prayer as they continue to grow in faith and in grace.
BACK TO PSR PARTY!!
AUGUST 17, 2025 –12:30 pm
We will have a Taco Fiesta and celebrate Young Saints
GRADES K-8
Families are busy and may often ask “Why should I enroll my child in the Parish School of Religion?”
Children are welcome and appreciated as Children of God with small class sizes to enhance learning.
Families have special needs and circumstances –we consider those: we have a special needs class.
We prepare children for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.
We feature special parish activities for families: all teachers are Virtus-trained faithful Catholics.
Even if your family may not have participated recently, you will be warmly welcomed!
For more info: call Iris at 417 831-3565 or email at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org
CLOW
Children's Liturgy of the Word will begin on Sunday, August 24th during the 11:30 AM Mass. CLOW is open to children preschool through 2nd grade. Virtus trained leaders share the Sunday readings with these children at a level that they can understand. All children are welcome and there is no need to register. We can still use volunteers who may serve as substitutes for our regular teachers. All teachers need to be Virtus trained. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please call the parish office.