Saint Agnes 5/8/20 Saint Agnes 5/8/20

Graduate Spotlight

Our parish Facebook page will be featuring 8th grade graduates and high school graduates of our parish throughout the month of May. We would like to recognize students from our Catholic Schools, public schools and those who are home-schooled. Please email information about your child & a photo to ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

Saint Agnes 5/8/20 Saint Agnes 5/8/20

Camp Re-New-All

Camp Renewal is still accepting applications for one of its summer sessions, To register online go to dioscg.formstack.com/forms/camp_re_new_all_2020. You can also call 417-866-0841. You will have the option to pay online or to send a check.

Saint Agnes 5/8/20 Saint Agnes 5/8/20

Vacation Bible School Postponed

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton has informed us that the Vacation Bible School which was originally scheduled for June 14-18th at SEAS has been postponed. SEAS, along with the other local parishes who partici-pate in this annual event will be considering options about rescheduling later this summer. We will inform you as we receive new information about Vacation Bible School this summer.

Saint Agnes 5/1/20 Saint Agnes 5/1/20

From the Associate Pastor’s Desk,

Happy Sunday Everyone,

Father Joseph here. Father Lewis invited me to substitute for him in the weekly bulletin page this week. I asked him the other day for project ideas I could work on, and he suggested this. So, here goes! I decided to give you a glimpse into life as a priest during the covid times and tell you what my days have looked like.

Happy Sunday Everyone,

To start with, Father Lewis and I agreed early on, even before Greene County set stay-at-home restrictions, that we would take the most precautions. Because he falls just inside the age bracket for the vulnerable group we didn’t want to take any chances of bringing it into the rectory. Bishop Rice reaffirmed this in a letter to the priests of the diocese, encouraging us to make this a time of retreat, for prayer and reading. He emphasized protecting the health of our priests. Cancelling public masses isn’t just for your safety. It’s for ours. So, all of that is in the back of my mind as I have settled in for the extended stay-cation, as I like to call it.

I have also been named chaplain to Cox for emergency calls. I have been a few times for last rites, but none virus related so far. I wear my mask, use my disinfectant wipes on my book and equipment each time, and burn my cotton ball of oil then get a fresh one; it’s a little extra work than usual. Usually Father Lewis takes night calls and I take them during the day, but now my phone is on 24/7. Thankfully, that continues to be infrequent, but if a second wave hits Springfield hard I may be a regular in the covid ward. Prayers there please.

So what has this young priest done to live this “time of retreat?” The staples have been prayer, reading, and exercise. I give thanks to God that He has prepared me in self-discipline for this unstructured time. After all, much of the priest’s work is unstructured. He always works from home, so to speak. I rise about the same time, eat my typical meals, drink lots of hot tea and coffee, and take my dog Chip for about four walks a day (“ruff-ly” 3-4 mi). I’ve also done a lot of video calling with friends and family to stay connected. Easy peasy.

But let’s be honest. It’s all been a little crazy in between the structure. I reorganized all of my drawers and closets in the beginning week, followed by a redoing of the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. Before long I was out of chores. I’ve also read a few books off my list (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jesus of Nazareth: Baptism to the Transfiguration, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, working on Dante’s The Divine Comedy). I keep multiple going at once for variety. Just last week I started learning Vietnamese on my phone. Finally, I’ve played a new video game called Animal Crossing in which you move to a deserted island and develop it into a thriving community of talking animals. Think Christopher Robin and the 100-Acre Wood, but Oceanside. It’s a poor substitute for reality, but when reality is shut down it’s nice to be able to go to the store, visit your neighbors, go fishing, bug collecting, and gardening. I can only walk so far and read and pray so much at this stage of life.

I miss all of you very much, and I pray for you constantly in the divine office, rosary, holy hour, and mass each day. If we are in God we are with one another, so I hope you’re praying too. Jesus Our Lord who is risen from the dead taught us not to be anxious. Our Father in Heaven looks after the smallest sparrow and the grass of the field, so much more so does he care for his sons and daughters. See you when the doors reopen!

~Fr. Joseph Stoverink

Saint Agnes 5/1/20 Saint Agnes 5/1/20

Welcome to the Springfield Catholic Schools System!

The Springfield Catholic Schools System is made up of three (3) elementary schools (preschool thru 8th grade) and one (1) high school. For a tour, enrollment information or to check availability at various grade levels, please contact the school(s) in which you are interested: Immaculate Conception: (417) 881-7000; St. Agnes: (417) 866-5038; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: (417) 887-6056; and Springfield Catholic High School: (417) 887-8817. We have a strong Tradition of Faith, Service and Academic Excellence!

Saint Agnes 5/1/20 Saint Agnes 5/1/20

Steubenville 2020

For our high school students, as of today, Steubenville is still a go for July 17-19 on the campus of MSU. If we have anyone who has signed up and plans to opt out, please contact Iris by May 1st. In addition, if anyone would like to be placed on the substitute list for Steubenville, please contact Iris at Ibounds@sta-cathedral.org

Saint Agnes 5/1/20 Saint Agnes 5/1/20

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Area Wide Vacation Bible School to be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Springfield; Sunday, June 14-Thursday June 18th from 6:00-8:30 PM each evening. The theme for this year is "Climb Aboard for Rocky Railroad; Jesus Power Pull Us Through! Local parishes work together to create this adventure for students entering Grades K-6. We also are looking for adult volunteers and high school youth volunteers. The cost is $35 per student which will include snacks and a t-shirt. Parents will also have to fill out a registration form by May 31st. If you have questions or would like to apply for financial aid, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org. ( As of now, Vacation Bible School is a go! We will keep you updated on any changes.)

Saint Agnes 4/24/20 Saint Agnes 4/24/20

From the Pastor’s Desk,

We find ourselves in the glow of the Easter Candle for the 50 days after Easter, even though that glow is seen on line, through streaming and videos. Lent ended very quickly and strangely this year, perhaps before some even knew it had begun. Our secular society was rushing after whatever would sell next in the stores and then our economy shut down. Stay at Home and be safe was hard for all of us, young to old. For those who are so tied into a secular life only, it has been extremely hard, but so often in the news we hear of people talking about their faith and their strength coming from God. For those I believe they/we will come out stronger from the experience of the last month and half.

Christ walked the earth following His resurrection, appearing and strengthening the apostles and disciples for their mission ahead. Within the liturgy of the Catholic Church we relive those events of Jesus’ life. We do not know what the new norm will be in the months ahead as the restrictions are loosen, how we will work, how we will play, how we will worship.

This pause time has given me time to think about our parish and our needs now and into the future. Among those things I am looking at: will our fundraisers still happen? Will we be able to bring bingo back together? Will Fr. Joseph be transferred and a new priest be assigned? Do we need the number of Sunday masses we have had or should we restructure our schedules for the best use of our resources of people? Should we proceed with planning for a Parish Center? Will our school enrollment decline due to people losing their jobs? The need to restructure office/school personal due to people retiring or moving. Will the summer youth programs still happen? The list goes on and on.

All of this some days makes my head spin, and then I have to take a step back and remember this is God’s Church and He will help solve the problems. But one thing I am certain we will not return to life as usual. I want our Cathedral filled with people gathered about the Eucharistic Table, but safely. It may mean no books only printed music or screens, knowing that people using their phones at mass are reading the Scriptures, no communion chalices, it might mean we need to fog the Church with the special virus killing disinfectant after the masses, or only once a weekend. Please keep our Parish, Diocese, Church in your prayers as Fr. Joseph and myself remember you daily at the Altar.

Thank you for all your positive comments on our streaming of Masses, Vespers and Benediction and my class on Tuesday and Thursday. A big thank you to all of you who are mailing in your contributions or using on line donations.

~Rev. Lewis Hejna

Saint Agnes 4/24/20 Saint Agnes 4/24/20

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Saint Agnes 4/24/20 Saint Agnes 4/24/20

CAMP RE-NEW-ALL

Camp Re-new-all is still accepting applications for one of its summer sessions, To register online go to dioscg.formstack.com/forms/camp_re_new_all_2020. You can also call 417-866-0841. You will have the option to pay online or to send a check.

Saint Agnes 4/17/20 Saint Agnes 4/17/20

From the Pastor's Desk

Throughout the Octave of Easter we read the accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, His victory over death and the grave. Christians have been celebrating the Resurrection since the empty tomb was first discovered. That news of the risen Christ stood the ancient world of the first century on its head. In the centuries that followed the Christians carried the news of the risen Christ throughout the Roman Empire, even in the midst of terrible persecution.

Today, as there were then, there are skeptics who do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, or who do not believe there is an afterlife. To many this world is all they believe in. Why do we/I believe Jesus literally and bodily rose from the dead, breaking the bonds of the grave? I look to those who were there, the first hand testimony of those who experienced the event as it was recorded in the New Testament. Mark’s Gospel written within twenty years after the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, then there are St. Paul’s Epistles whom most Biblical scholars agree were written before the Gospels.

Mary Magdalene was the first to notify Jesus’s disciples of the empty tomb she had discovered earlier in the morning. She had entered the tomb in tears to take a closer look. After her eyes had adjusted she noticed two angels sitting at either end of the rock cut body bench with the burial cloths. Distracted, she answered the question of the angels of why she was weeping, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him”.

Without waiting for a reply, she turned to leave and came face-to-face with Jesus and was not able to recognize Him. He in turn asked her “Why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” When He spoke her name, Mary immediately recognized Him and her grief turn to great joy. Mary Magdalene became the first person to experience the reality that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. She heard His voice. She saw His face. She touched His glorified body. He was alive.

Continuing in the Gospels, we find the Apostle Thomas refusing to believe the other apostles until Jesus appeared again and challenged Thomas to feel His wounds, verifying He was alive. Time after time Jesus appeared to His followers. Later St. Paul recounted the events surrounding the resurrection, he reminded his readers, Jesus was seen by over five hundred brethren at once and that Jesus had also appeared to James, Jesus’s skeptical brother who finally believed and ultimately wrote his practical Epistle of James. ~Rev. Lewis Hejna

Saint Agnes 4/17/20 Saint Agnes 4/17/20

Evening Prayer (Vespers ) Behind the Scenes

Happy Easter, everybody! I am praying for you all. Thank you to all who are praying for Fr Lewis and me. I thought it’d be fun to share with you Vespers from our angle. I give Fr Lewis all the credit for learning a new skill. He really devoted himself to getting us connected with technology. Day to day we face connection or equipment problems, this or that, but he keeps at it. As priests we’re called to pray “with and for the people,” and through this we’re giving it all new meaning! We’ve come a long day now from the first video in our clerical shirts. First the Blessed Sacrament joined us, with incense, the albs, then the candles came, the cassocks, I found a new surplice, and now Easter adds in the Easter Candle and the many plants. For those sticking with us, our humble cell-phone videos have come far. Be on the look-out for more improvements! I enjoy praying the Vespers in community. I hope that through this some of you may find a new love for making it a part of your day. May the Risen Lord bless you all. ~Fr. Joseph Stoverink

Saint Agnes 4/17/20 Saint Agnes 4/17/20

Youth Activities

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Area Wide Vacation Bible School to be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Springfield; Sunday, June 14 Thursday June 18th from 6:00-8:30 PM each evening. The theme for this year is "Climb Aboard for Rocky Railroad; Jesus Power Pull Us Through! Local parishes work together to create this adventure for students entering Grades K-6. We also are looking for adult volunteers and high school youth volunteers. The cost is $35 per student which will include snacks and a t-shirt. Parents will also have to fill out a registration form by May 31st. If you have questions or would like to apply for financial aid, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org. ( As of now, Vacation Bible School is a go! We will keep up updated on any changes.)

Steubenville 2020 For our high school students, as of today, Steubenville is still a go for July 17-19 on the campus of MSU. If we have anyone who has signed up and plans to opt out, please contact Iris by May 1st. In addition, if anyone would like to be placed on the substitute list for Steubenville, please contact Iris at Ibounds@sta-cathedral.org

Saint Agnes 4/17/20 Saint Agnes 4/17/20

ONLINE VIRTUS OPTIONS

In light of the current health concerns, the most prudent and preventative measure we can take is to make the VIRTUS© Protecting God's Children training available Online as an option. This is a temporary precaution and we will still offer the live training sessions available as an option. If you have already preregistered for a live training, click this link to find out how to log into your account and change your registration to the Online version. If you have never created a VIRTUS© account or registered for a training session, click here for directions. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection, (417) 866-0841.

Saint Agnes 4/9/20 Saint Agnes 4/9/20

From the Pastor’s Desk,

The Resurrection is something that only God has done and therefore is not a part of our human experience. It did truly happen, but it is a trans-historical event—a divine intervention into human history. Thus an event that historians cannot prove or disprove. God’s actions are not the subject of historical proof. God’s actions are seen, understood and accepted through our faith. Perhaps the COVID 19 virus could almost be an example. We are told it is here, all around us, but we cannot see it, hear it, smell it or touch it. The sun is shining today and it is a beautiful day and people are out walking, mowing and riding our bicycles. We take it on faith in our medical community that the virus is here and it is deadly and we need to protect ourselves.

According to the Gospels, it took some time for Jesus’ family and friends to finally recognize Him. They knew his voice, they touched Him, they shared meals with him. He was not a ghost. The Gospels very definitely emphasized the physical characteristics of His appearance. However, the Gospels also made it clear that there was something different about the risen Christ. He was no longer subject to the limitations that mortality places upon us. Once risen, Jesus was present to his friends without them at first knowing Him. He could enter rooms where the doors were shut. He could appear suddenly and just as suddenly disappear, as he did with the two disciples when He broke bread at Emmaus.

Today begins the season of celebration and hope. In the eyes of the world, Good Friday had ended in a catastrophic event. But in the darkness of the night of Holy Saturday, it became quite clear that the devil had lost the fight—death no longer had power over us. Our faith and the hope that springs from it declares that, through the power of God, life will win in the end. Despite what this world throws against the followers of Christ, there is the hope of being with our loved ones once more, sharing paradise with them and with our loving God forever. Those four words spoken at the grave by the angel, “He has been raised,” are words that sent a shock through the entire universe. The impossible had happened—life from the grave. Our human story was no longer birth, life, and death. It had become birth, life, death, and eternal life. That first Easter was not just a happy ending to Jesus’ story; it was a radical new beginning for the human race. With the Easter Vigil, we began the great celebration of the Easter Season. The purple of Lent and the red of the Passion have been put away, and we celebrate Jesus breaking the bonds of death for us all. CHRIST HAS RISEN!

I look forward to being able to celebrate the Eucharist in the Cathedral filled with all of you around the altar of our Lord. Be safe and know that Fr. Joseph and I are praying daily for all of you. May our loving God protect each of us.

Saint Agnes 4/9/20 Saint Agnes 4/9/20

CATHOLIC RADIO

KWTO 93.3FM and 560AM *Coverage throughout most of the diocese.*

Celebrant Bishop Edward M. Rice- Immaculate Conception Church, Springfield

Good Friday - 6 pm (Good Friday liturgy -not Mass)

Easter Sunday - Noon Easter

KWTO 93.3FM and 560AM *Coverage throughout most of the diocese.*

Celebrant Bishop Edward M. Rice- Immaculate Conception Church, Springfield

Good Friday - 6 pm (Good Friday liturgy -not Mass)

Easter Sunday - Noon Easter

Sunday Replay - 3pm on Monday

Sunday, April 19 - Noon Sunday

April 26 - Noon Sunday May 3 - Noon

KQOH 91.9 FM Catholic Radio * Coverage from Marshfield/ North to Humansville/ East to Lebanon/ South to Ozark/West to Republic

EWTN Global Radio Network

Good Friday- 5:00 p.m.

Good Friday- Way of the Cross w/ Pope Francis - 8p.m.

Holy Saturday w/ Pope Francis- 2:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday - National Basilica- 11:00 a.m.

Saint Agnes 4/9/20 Saint Agnes 4/9/20

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Saint Agnes 4/2/20 Saint Agnes 4/2/20

From the Pastor's Desk - Holy Week

From the Pastor’s Desk,

This week is the holiest week of the Church year and it has become the saddest week. Not only are people dying due to COVID-19, but we are all sheltering in place away from each other. Instead of celebrations with palm branches, washing of feet, reverencing the cross, blessing the fire, holding lit candles and baptizing new Catholics we are celebrating behind locked doors away from the people. My thoughts over the past week have gone to the early Christians during the Roman persecutions; the Catholic persecutions of the first century here in our own country; the English persecutions of the Catholic Irish; the Nazis persecutions during WWII. Maybe we need this time to reflect on how blessed we have been to live in our great country.

Palm Sunday recalls the scene in Jerusalem when our Lord entered the city riding on a donkey, and the people spread their garments and palm branches before him so that even the hooves of the donkey didn’t touch the ground. However exultant the crowd becomes, the crowd that will curse him a few days later calling for His crucifixion. As the mood of the liturgy changes, we are challenged to ask ourselves, “What do I expect of Jesus?

The Triduum begins with the evening Liturgy on Holy Thursday with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The first reading gives the background for the Passover Meal. The second reading contains some of the earliest written accounts of the Lord’s Supper. The Gospel presents Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. The washing of the feet of the disciples by Christ, is an example of the humbleness each Christian should possess. This Thursday there will be no washing of feet, no stripping of the altar, nor procession, but I invite you to stay with us in prayer for an hour following Mass.

Good Friday will truly be a sober day of the entire Church year. There are no decorations and no Mass this day. It is a day of fasting. We simply prostrate in humble submission before the Word and the glorious cross of Christ. The first reading tells of the glory of the cross, the second reading speaks of the great high priest who has passed through the heavens; the Christian mystery. The climax of the readings is the proclamation of the Passion of Christ according to John’s Gospel. John’s Gospel allows the majesty of Jesus to shine forth as He carries his cross alone. He is victorious on the cross; Jesus reigns from the tree. Following the Passion we pray the solemn form of the General Intercessions, this year there is a special prayer due to the COVID 19. The second part of the Good Friday liturgy is unique to this day, a wooden cross is brought into the sanctuary to reverence with a touch or a kiss. This is a remembrance of the days when the early Christians reverenced a replica of the true cross. We reverence a reminder of that instrument of torture, cruelty and death; because through it Christ has given us our Salvation. The Good Friday service concludes with a simple Communion Service with the Eucharist from Holy Thursday’s Liturgy.

Holy Saturday will begin with the Paschal Candle which has been prepared ahead of time lit and the Easter Proclamation proclaimed. The Liturgy of the Word then takes place, followed by the Renewal of Baptismal Promises. The Liturgy of the Eucharist then Follows.

Easter Sunday I will use again the Renewal of Baptismal Promises during the Mass.

The formula of general confession: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.

Saint Agnes 3/24/20 Saint Agnes 3/24/20

From the Pastor's Desk

This past week was truly strange. With businesses downtown closed, with schools closed due to spring break, with the office on less hours, with rainy weather, few cars on Jefferson Street, it reminded me of the ice storm of 2007 without the ice and thankfully with electricity. Our world has changed in just a matter of a few weeks. If we were watching the international news, we should not have been surprised. Our world is so interconnected that we are not living isolated from our world neighbors. It was only a matter of time before the virus came to our country as Americans returned home from vacations or work overseas.

Over the weekend as I prayed and mediated, I tried to find the silver lining. For all of those infected, for those who have died and will die because of the virus I am saddened and place them before our loving God. For the rest of us I hope we learn to look at who and what is truly important in our lives. In my own life I have slowed down considerable, taking more time to walk around St. Agnes campus, more time to pray and reflect. For families I hope you spend the time together, eating meals together, talking with one another and not racing off to the next sporting event, theater or friends, because those things should not be happening.

My thoughts have been centering upon the love and mercy of God. God does not cause evil but He does allow it to happen since this is earth and not heaven. May we learn how to care for one another in our homes, within ourselves so that we can love others more like Christ. Time is the most precious thing we have and now we have hours, days of it to spend with those whom we should love the most. And in the use of all this time, I urge all of us to spend time in prayer as families. Parents as you were instructed at the baptism of your children you accepted the responsibility of the teaching of your children in the practice of our faith, to love God and to follow the Ten Commandments. Work with your children as they struggle to adapt to learning without a teacher present in the room, and without coming to Mass so that once the crisis is past we will all be stronger. As Fr. Joseph and I celebrate our daily mass, we are keeping all of you in prayer, in the loving hands of God.

Saint Agnes 3/22/20 Saint Agnes 3/22/20

In Memorial

St. Agnes Cathedral lost its beloved long time friend and employee, Judy Rippee, March 17th, 2020. Arrangements will be held in memorial as soon as it is possible. “The family of Judy sends out its sincere thanks to all who made Judy a priority with help, prayers and friendship during her illness. You are all in our prayers.”