Seniors Luncheon

Seniors of St. Agnes will have a catered luncheon on Monday, July 15 at 11:30am in the Dining Room. Come and meet someone new to you. Please sign up at the office, 831-3565, so there will be enough food.

                                                                       S. Elizabeth Ann

Join us for Mass at CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI

Wednesday, July 3 at Noon - St. Anne Monastery

(CCSOMO Headquarters)

424 E. Monastery Street

Springfield, MO 65807

Please join us for Mass in the Chapel at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri on the first Wednesday of each month followed by a potluck lunch.

Msgr. Thomas Reidy will be saying Mass and ALL are welcome!

From The Pastor’s Desk

In May I celebrated 38 years as a priest. I almost forgot about the day. What does astound me is that five of those years have been here at St. Agnes Cathedral. It does not seem possible that five years have gone by since I moved from the south side of Springfield. They have been good years. As a parish we have accomplished much in brick and mortar, in spiritual growth and in helping the poor. I am not going into all the different programs and areas which have been happening these five years, but to simply say thank you to all of you who have worked in any of the ministries here at St. Agnes.

A man goes into the seminary, not stating he is going to be a priest, but as any person entering college with a possible idea of a major. Only if a man studies what it is to be a priest, can a man make that decision clearly. My whole idea of priesthood was shattered the first few months I was in the seminary. I found out that priests were human beings and did not spend all day in prayer or in church. Even the Benedictine monks whom I studied under for seven and half years worked in the schools, in the flower beds, at the Printing House, in the cafeteria, all different types of jobs. They then came together for prayer and meals.

My life as a priest is anything but boring. Each day brings its’ own successes and failures, joys and sorrows. All of that depends upon the needs of the people. Priesthood has been and is an exciting life. But it is just like any other life, married or single. Priesthood is what you make of it. I know that I am not perfect and my style of ministry is not the same as all other priests. That was one important thing that St. Meinrad taught us, be the person you are and use what God has given you to be the best priest you can.

Enjoying the different liturgies, my love of music, my love of plants and building things, different types of art and decorating, the musicals, my love of teaching and even my travels are all unique ways that I try to use to enhance my ministry. Some of my fellow priests say that I over do, others just think that I am “nuts”. Regardless, all of these areas of my life are what makes me who I am, and why I am never bored.

Youth Gathering: Sunday June 23rd: 3:30-5:00pm.

Meet in cafeteria. We will have a Sundae discussion: ice

cream provided: bring & share your favorite sundae

topping! Be prepared to share your favorite saint & why!

Steubenville updates too! All are welcome!

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED

We would like to thank the outgoing members who have served on the Parish Council for their time and effort:

-Karen Dobson

-Mike Pittman

-Judy Hauschildt (PCCW Representative)

Regina Nixon will be replacing Judy as PCCW Rep.

Thank you Regina for taking on this responsibility.

NEW ST AGNES STEWARDSHIP GROUP

St. Agnes is looking for parishioners who are passionate about their catholic faith and the growth of the parish. Anyone who is interested in researching and discussing ways we can increase our parish community is asked to join the St. Agnes stewardship group. We will have an informational meeting Sunday June 30th at 9:45am in the school dining room. Please contact Gary Herman at herms10210@gmail.com or text/call 314-808 -1165 with any questions

From The Pastor’s Desk

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day. It is a day set aside to honor and show respect to our dads or to any man who has guided and cared for us as a father, whether they are here or no longer with us. Father’s Day was first proposed in 1909 by a Mrs. Dodd who wanted a special day to honor her father, a Civil War veteran. He was a widower who raised his newborn and five other children on a rural farm in the state of Washington.

The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The special day grew across our country so much that, by 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national day dedicated to dads. It was, however, President Lyndon Johnson who signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

Being a father means facing many struggles and difficulties. It means going to work, even when you prefer to stay in bed, because you know that your family depends on you. It means disciplining your children so that they might grow up to be mature men and women. It means constantly looking out for your family, making every effort to ensure that they are protected.

Thank God we have a Heavenly Father who does all this and helps the fathers here on earth to do the same. Not a single sparrow falls to the earth without the Heavenly Father’s consent, says the Gospel; thus, our earthly fathers are under our Heavenly Father’s care and support. God our Father protects and nurtures His children, and makes His family a house of love.

Take some time this weekend to remember your dad, whether living or deceased. Thank him for all that he has done for you–for all the time he spent on your projects, being with you in many of your school activities, and for providing the examples of faith and love.

Also I ask you to remember in prayer all the different priests and parishes which will be affected because of the priest changes this next month. I have been asked, “Why does the Bishop transfer pastors around?” There are several reasons, but one of strongest is that it is healthy for parishes and priests as we each have our gifts and talents and they may not be the best in one parish, whereas they would be good in another parish.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is for non- Catholics interested in becoming Catholic. We also welcome baptized Catholics needing to be confirmed. Our classes begin in mid-August. All needed materials for our classes will be provided by the parish. If you know of anyone interested in becoming Catholic or needing to be confirmed, please have them call Sabrina at the parish office to set up an interview before classes start. This year promises to be a very blessed one for the RCIA!

WE ARE CALLED

We finally had a meeting and it was great to be together again. We have new events on our calendar, so buckle up and hold on tight because we’re raring to go. But first things first. Thank you, wonderful people of God, for your prayers and kind thoughts. They are working and I am most grateful to all of you.

Sunday, June 23, after the 8:30 Mass we will have coffee and donuts for new parishioners. We want to meet you. If by chance our phone calls miss you, please call the office, 831-3565, and tell them you want to come. Your children are welcome also; we just need to know how many donuts to purchase.

On Monday, July 1, at 6:15pm in the Upper Room, we’ll present Bishop Barron’s CD featuring Michelangelo. Think Sistine Chapel, the David, The Pieta, and other unbelievably beautiful works of art. He’s one of the individuals that Bishop Barron chose in his Pivotal Players series. He’s not a saint (hmm) but I’ll bet that God has a special title for him. By the way, movies are better with popcorn and we’ll have some waiting for you.

Ginny

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School will be June 23-27 from 6-8:30pm at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. If you have a child in kindergarten through sixth grade in the upcoming school year, have them join us. Grade seven through adults may register to help with the program. The registration form for both attendees and volunteers are in the trifold in the vestibule of the church. When they are filled out, they come back to Sabrina Schmidt at the parish office. If you have any questions give her a call. We look forward to a fun, faith-filled week. Come and join us!

From The Pastor’s Desk

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.

This past Friday, May 31, Daniel Belken and Allen Kirchner were ordained to the Diaconate at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. They were ordained as transitional deacons and will be ordained to the priesthood after serving as deacons in a parish and with completion of all their studies this coming school year.

Deacons exercise various roles within the Roman Catholic Church. They are to proclaim the Gospel and may give the homily at Mass. They are extra ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. As ordained ministers, they may celebrate baptisms and marriages at the permission of the pastor. The deacon also assists the celebrant at the Eucharist.

The history of Deacons begins in the Acts of The Apostles. Seven men were chosen to assist the Apostles in ministering to Greek widows and orphans. They also took Holy Communion to the homebound and went into the prisons to visit the Christians condemned to death. The first Christian martyr was St. Stephen. He was one of the original seven deacons who was stoned to death for preaching the Gospel to the Jews and died at the feet of Saul (St. Paul).

As we celebrate Deacon Daniel and Deacon Allen’s ordinations, let us also keep all of our seminarians in prayer as they study, work, and discern if the Lord is calling them to minister as priests at the altar.

DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?

We would like to thank the parishioners who help with funeral dinners by providing food and help in the kitchen the day of a funeral. We couldn’t manage without you and the families truly appreciate it. We can always use more volunteers to help provide food and help for funeral dinners. If this is a something you are interested in doing, please call the parish office, 831 -3565, ext 103, to sign up. Thanks so much for considering this ministry. Janet & Mary

DDF REPORT

To date our parish has $47,753.00 toward our

$78,958.00 goal. Thank you! If you have not yet made

your pledge, please add your gift, whatever the amount,

in unity with those who have already given by returning a

pledge card. Across the Diocese, $955,074 has been

pledged towards the $2,600,000 goal.

The diocese and Church in southern Missouri needs and

thanks you for your participation.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School will be June 23-27 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. If you have a child in kindergarten through sixth grade in the upcoming school year, have them join us. Grade seven through adults can help in some way with the program. The registration forms for both attendees and volunteers are in the trifold in the vestibule of the church. When they are filled out, they come back to Sabrina Schmidt at the parish office. If you have any questions give her a call. We look forward to a fun, faith-filled week. Come and join us!

From The Pastor’s Desk

This weekend, but especially Monday we celebrate Memorial Day.  To many it means a 3 day weekend at the lake or the beginning of the summer season.  Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead of both the North and the South.  It was officially proclaimed o May 5, 1868 by General John Logan.  In his General Order No. 11.  “The 30th of May, 1868, designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.  The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. 

Today we hold in special memory all who have died in all our wars to keep our country free; in the Civil war, the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Let us also hold in memory all who have met death through senseless violence both on streets and in their homes.

We hold in memory the millions whose lives have been snuffed out through willful abortions.

We hold in memory all whose lives have been offered up on the altars of prejudice, hunger, neglect and hatred.

We hold in memory all who have been slaughtered on the highways and streets of our country.

We hold in memory all whose lives have been terminated through the lethal effects of drugs, of all types and descriptions.

We hold in memory the martyrs’ blood of the past and now the martyrs today whose blood has been shed so that others might know the love and mercy of God the Father and our Redemption through his Son, Jesus.

We hold in memory all our dear loved ones, who now share the eternal vision of glory with the Father and the joy and peace of Christ’s resurrection.

May each of you have a blessed and safe Memorial Day Weekend.  There will not be any masses on Monday 27th here at the Cathedral.  Join our Bishop in the Memorial Day Mass at 9:00am at Resurrection Cemetery.  I will celebrate Mass in Bolivar at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery where my parents are buried. 

ARE YOU READY FOR A BUS TRIP?

In the past few years, several people have expressed an interest in visiting our convent at Ruma, IL.  While I was on retreat I chose Sept 17-18 for a time when a group of 20 or less can spend an overnight there.  What we do will probably depend somewhat on the number who go.  However, there are plenty of grounds to walk about and learn the history of the place.  The Sisters there enjoy visitors.  And, of course, since it is a 4 hour trip one way, we probably will want to car pool.  At any rate, let me know if you have any interest at all.  You will not be making a “commitment” until later, and even that will only be to let the convent staff know how to plan meals.  I thought if I let you know in advance, you could put it on your calendar.                     

Sr. Elizabeth Ann

Parish Garage Sale update!

We hope many of you have been gathering items to bring to our St. Agnes Parish Annual Garage Sale! Please note the following dates:       Drop off items at the gym door on May 25th &26th, June 1st & 2nd after all Sunday Masses. We will also have pickup available if you have larger items that you need help with. Please call Pat Rues at 833-4109 if you need help with pickup.

June 5th: 6:30pm: Set Up for Sale: We will need lots of help to set up tables & bring items to the floor. June 6th-June 13th: We will begin sorting, & pricing for the sale: We will have a morning shift from 7:30-10:00am and evening shifts from 6:30-8:30pm.

We will need lots of volunteers for our set up & marking of items. This is also a great opportunity for young people to help out and get their service hours for the upcoming school year. Please call Iris Bounds at 890-7423 if you would like to volunteer.

Parishioner only sale begins at 6:30pm on June 13th.

Everyone is welcome on June 14th:  7:00am-4:00pm and June 15th:  7:00-11:00am

CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our graduating seniors of 2019!!  For those of you who are headed to college outside the Springfield area, we invite you to join a Catholic ministry in the area that you will be attending college.  The Newman Center or Catholic Campus ministry is here to help you find a Catholic home while away from home.  To locate your center nearest your college go to newmanconnection.com for assistance.  You can also find forms on the youth bulletin board in the vestibule of the Cathedral. You can also email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

Our next youth gathering will take place on Sunday afternoon June 2nd.  More details to follow.  If you would like to receive direct messages about our youth gatherings via text messages or emails, contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

All are welcome.

From The Pastor’s Desk

This coming Friday May 24, summer began—maybe not on the calendar, but the school year, 2018–2019, 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.

Within the Mass people of all walks of life sit together: the well-to-do sit next to the unemployed; children sit with their parents; people who don’t even like each other during the week are there at the Lord’s table; many times people of different races, ethnic groups, and even of different languages are united in prayer and song. There are college graduates alongside those who didn’t finish high school; factory workers alongside business people...the list goes on. All are there because they share one thing in common: their faith in Jesus Christ and their identity as Catholics. It’s a “uniting of everybody” Church, and you belong there also.

In our prayers, singing, and silence we can experience the presence of Jesus in others around us and within our own hearts and minds. More than in any other way, we believe that at Mass He is in our midst. Never forget the promise that Jesus made, that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Last Sunday I concelebrated with Fr. Mac the 10:00 am Vietnamese Mass as 10 young people received First Holy Communion. Even though it was in Vietnamese and I didn’t know the words, I knew what we were doing, “we were gathered around the altar of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist”.

When I pray the Eucharistic prayer, we believe it to be the prayer of Jesus making present here and now the very sacrifice He offered on the cross and offered to God the Father in the name of all of us. We share in that offering. This is why we attend (or “bother”) with Mass every Sunday, or do you???

PARISH GARAGE SALE UPDATE!

We hope many of you have been gathering items to bring to our St. Agnes Parish Annual Garage Sale! Please note the following dates: Drop off items at the gym door on May 25th &26th, June 1st & 2nd after all Sunday Masses. We will also have pickup available if you have larger items that you need help with. Please call Pat Rues at 833-4109 if you need help with pickup.

June 5th: 6:30pm: Set Up for Sale: We will need lots of help to set up tables & bring items to the floor.

June 6th-June 13th: We will begin sorting, & pricing for the sale: We will have a morning shift from 7:30 -10:00am and evening shifts from 6:30-8:30pm. We will need lots of volunteers for our set up & marking of items. This is also a great opportunity for young people to help out and get their service hours for the upcoming school year. Please call Iris Bounds at 890-7423 if you would like to volunteer.

Parishioner only sale begins at 6:30pm on June 13th.

Everyone is welcome on June 14th: 7:00am-4:00pm and June 15th: 7:00-11:00am.