From the Pastor’s Desk,

This past weekend we celebrated the great birthday of our country.  A “three-four-day” weekend filled with fireworks, good food and summer fun.  Even in our troubled pandemic times, we have much to be thankful for as Americans.  We still live in the greatest nation on earth.  Yes, we can complain about high taxes, governmental waste, and all the goofy politics.  We can complain about the cost of utilities, the rising food costs and items that used to be on the store shelves where the shelves are now empty.  While we have the freedom to complain, we must count our blessings, and remember that in so many other nations, as we have seen across the Middle East or the far east, to complain could mean arrest or even death.

I have traveled to many “unique” places of the world–places not usually on the tourist map–I have experienced the lack of the freedoms that we in the United States take for granted.  Even China, with all of its growth and moving toward capitalism, is not free as I discovered when I was there years ago.  Christians are not free to worship openly outside the government-sponsored churches and I was told to make sure that I did not wear any clerics.

Regardless of how bad we believe our problems to be, look around and you can always find those whose problems are greater.  During World War II, between the Nazis and the Communist government, Christianity was to be destroyed in much of Eastern Europe.  From Poland to the Baltic nations, priests, bishops, brothers, and nuns were put in camps from which most never returned.  Only through the power of God did the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches survive.  Slowly those churches are rebuilding their congregations, their schools and their hospitals.  Two of the greatest evangelization tools the Catholic Church has are our schools and hospitals.  These institutions are open to anyone of any faith.  Back then, these places were the first that were attacked and closed when the Nazis and Communists took control of Eastern Europe.

So, as we had fun this past weekend, I hope you thanked God for all the freedoms we enjoy.  Thank God that we live in a land that can feed itself and provide jobs for her people.  The food may not always be what we like, but it’s better than what two thirds of the people of the world could even dream about.  There are jobs here, even if they aren’t what we would like to do, or for the salary we want.  On average, we spend more money on entertainment (movies, vacations, cable, internet, and sports) during the year than the great majority of people in the world even make.  So if we complain about the cost of internet or rising food costs, remember the majority of the world population is walking or riding public transportation this weekend if it is even available.  Give thanks to God and ask Him for His guidance, for His love, for His protection as we continue to deal with Covid 19.

~Rev. Lewis Hejna

Fr. Joseph Stoverink’s going away celebration will be on July 19th 6:30-8:30pm outside on the shady grassy area between the Cathedral and the Catholic Center. Stop by, enjoy some Andy’s frozen custard and thank him for his 3 years of ministry here at St. Agnes.

Fr. Joseph Stoverink’s going away

Fr. Joseph Stoverink’s going away celebration will be on July 19th 6:30-8:30pm outside on the shady grassy area between the Cathedral and the Catholic Center. Stop by, enjoy some Andy’s frozen custard and thank him for his 3 years of ministry here at St. Agnes.

Change is coming. Bishop Rice has asked me to take a new assignment. On Aug. 4, I will go to Doniphan and serve there as parochial vicar, (read: “associate pastor”) with pastor Fr. Daniel Robles. He lives in Poplar Bluff and we’ll serve both parishes together. I’ll miss St. Agnes. Thank you for the happy memories and thank you for your well wishes and prayers. If at times I haven’t acted well as Christ, please forgive me. Fr (Allen) Kirchner of Jackson, ordained June 12, will replace me as your new parochial vicar.

From The Desk of the Associate Pastor

May God bless you richly,  Father Joseph

July Work Day at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri/LifeHouse

Our wonderful garden friends from area parishes will continue to maintain the grounds and harvest crops in the raised vegetable beds at Catholic Charities/LifeHouse located at 424 E. Monastery Street in Springfield on Thursday, July 23 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. We always have plenty of work to go around, and we would love for you to join us! Bring your favorite gardening tools and gloves. Wearing masks and social distancing are encouraged. Please call Jana Hukriede@ 417-840-4109 or email janahukriede@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer. Our August work day will be Thursday, August 27, from 8:30-10:30.

From the Pastor’s Desk,

From the great Cathedrals of Europe, to the private chapels in some of the most beautiful
castles, one of the most prayerful is that of Assisi and the story of Francis. The
small town of Assis on the hill top has a different feel about it, to me there is a presence,
not found in some of those other places. Francis having left behind his way of
life that his father had planned for him when he was somewhere around 24 years of
age had a mystical summons while praying. He had not quite figured out what God
wanted him to do.
He was in prayer in the church of San Damiano which was on the verge of collapsing
from age. The mysterious voice from the Byzantine crucifix gave him a sense of direction,
“Francis, go and repair my house. You see it is all falling down.” Over the next
two years Francis struggled to rebuild the broken down church, begging stones and
mortar from the amused townspeople of Assisi. This was the beginning of his public ministry and it seemed ludicrous to nearly everyone.
We understand as did Francis later on in life that God was really telling St. Francis to rebuild the corruption-riddled Church, not the poor little collapsing San Damiano chapel. Lugging stones and propping up the walls of an old, collapsing chapel was only practice for strengthening the spiritual foundations of the Catholic Church. So often we focus only on the standard interpretation on an important message, God’s will for us always surpasses our power of comprehension. “Repair my house,” was more than a little brick and mortar. What God really intends comes only with time, prayer and discernment.
Years later, Francis stood before Pope Innocent III and challenged him to step down from the Papal Throne and take off his elaborate robes and serve the people. He did not have the strength to walk away from the power, but sent Francis out into the world to change the Church from within. He commissioned Francis and his followers as the Franciscans to serve the poor, to teach and to preach. Eight hundred years later they are still at work.
Many people have asked me, “Why doesn’t God just tell me, it would be so much easier?” When God whispers in our heart, in our ear we are hearing only the topmost layer of what God wishes to impress upon us. Take the time to mull the message over, to explore its depths and to make sure that you/we really hear what God has to say, not what you/we think God ought to say, or what we want God to tell us. As we go through these strange times listen to God and be open to what He is whispering to you in your heart and soul.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna
Fr. Joseph Stoverink’s going away celebration will be on July 19th at 6:30 pm. Stop by and thank him for his 3 years of ministry here at St. Agnes.

From The Desk of the Associate Pastor

Change is coming. Bishop Rice has asked me to take a new assignment. On
Aug. 4, I will go to Doniphan and serve there as parochial vicar, (read:
“associate pastor”) with pastor Fr. Daniel Robles. He lives in Poplar Bluff
and we’ll serve both parishes together. I’ll miss St. Agnes. Thank you for
the happy memories and thank you for your well wishes and prayers. If at
times I haven’t acted well as Christ, please forgive me. Fr (Allen) Kirchner
of Jackson, ordained June 12, will replace me as your new parochial vicar.
May God bless you richly, Father Joseph

BAPTISM CLASSES

Parishioners who would like to schedule a Baptism class to prepare for the Baptism of an infant or for an older child who has not yet been Baptized, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org or by calling the parish office at 831-3565. We realize some may have special circumstances and we are here to work with you and your family.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Parishioners who may have special sewing skills and may like to make face masks for use here at St. Agnes, we would love to have your donations. Those masks can be brought to the parish office. Please call ahead when bringing in those face masks 831-3565.

From the Pastor’s Desk,

I am not sure that we as Catholic Christians really understand how blessed
we truly are with all of our liturgies. We belong to God’s “church” which
can trace itself back to the founding apostles. We celebrate God’s love in
a ritual enactment of the Eucharist, in fact in all the sacraments. At Sunday
Mass we can experience God’s outpouring of grace and He in turn calls
us to overflow with life in response. Through regular participation in the
Sunday Eucharist, celebrated well, we set our hearts to worship and place
our lives in God’s hands. To do this, we need to celebrate the liturgy with
the attention and intensity that the liturgy deserves. We cannot hide from
the mystery of God’s love when ritual is celebrated well.
When people tell me that Mass is “boring”, it is the same old thing, they
are showing how programmed they are by our culture. Our culture fosters
a, “be entertained” attitude. It seems as if every waking minute, we must
be stimulated. There are headphones, cell phones, stereos, televisions,
computers, ipads, and text messaging; we cannot simply be still and silent.
Liturgy within the context of Mass, involves us in worship, which means us
actually praying, singing, listening, and being open to God speaking in the
silence of our hearts. It does not mean that we come to Mass to be entertained.
As baptized believers, we are each called to draw others to holiness, to a life filled with God’s grace. As members of
God’s family, we are to celebrate God’s love in community, receiving God in the Eucharist. This is the supreme act of
worship on our part as God’s children, and the supreme act of God’s love to us.
Catholic Liturgy celebrated well, moves us back in time to the Last Supper. Yes liturgy takes on a little personality of
the parish in which it is celebrated, but the content, the structure is always to be the same. As we travel, whether in
this country or abroad, we are able to worship at Mass even though we may not know the language because the liturgy
is the same. If you come to Mass to be entertained you will be disappointed. Come to worship in God’s house
and be a part of God’s family in prayer, a prayer that can be traced back to the apostles.
Yes our liturgies are different. We are social distancing in the pews, face masks for everyone, less music and shorter
homilies so our liturgies are not as long. This may be the new norm for months to come. Fr. Joseph and I remember
all of St. Agnes parishioners daily in our prayers.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna

From The Associate Pastor’s Desk,

As you may have heard from my announcement at mass, Bishop Rice has asked me to take a new assignment. He is sending me to live in Doniphan and serve there as “parochial vicar,” which is another name for “associate pastor,” to work alongside pastor Fr. Daniel Robles who lives in Poplar Bluff. Together we will serve the needs of both places. I will miss St. Agnes. Thank you for all the happy memories here and thank you to all those who have already told me how much I will be missed. But if you’re reading this and remember a
time when I didn’t represent Christ well to you, please forgive me. Let’s pray for one another during this time of change. I need to continue growing as a priest so I can be a pastor one day. My new assignment starts Tuesday, August 4(not Aug 1, as I said at mass). As I leave, a new “parochial vicar” will
begin here: Fr Allen Kirchner of Jackson, MO who was just ordained on June 12.
May God bless you richly,
Father Joseph

DDF

To date our parish has received $43,560.00 from 133 families towards our goal of $77,227 (216 families). We realize some of you would like to contribute but do not have the ability to do so. If you have the ability to help, please add your gift, whatever is affordable, in unity with those who have already given by returning a pledge card. If you are able to give a little more this year, it could be used to make up for those parishioners who are unable to contribute. Please return your card even if you cannot make a pledge this year. Thank you!
Across the Diocese, $1,223,722 has been pledged towards the $2,650,000 goal. The Diocese and Church in southern Missouri sincerely appreciates your participation.

BUZZ BOOK UPDATE

It is time for us to update our database with any changes, additions or deletions that may have occurred
in your family over the past year, i.e. new phone number, address or changes in your children. Are all
your children listed in the current Buzz Book and still at home or away at college? Do you want your record
published?
If you have not already informed the Church Office about changes to your record, please let us know by
July 15 by e-mailing eschatz@sta-cathedral.org or calling 831-3565.

From the Pastor’s Desk,

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day. It is important to remember the origin of things, especially holidays. Father’s day 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. However, like so many other special days, it has become a day for retailers to entice you to purchase something to show your love and gratitude.
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. Take some time this weekend to remember your father, whether living or deceased. 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.
Also as Fr. Joseph announced last weekend that he was going to be moved to a new assignment, I ask you to remember in prayer all the different priests and parishes which will be effected because of the priest changes at the end of July. I have been asked, “Why does the Bishop transfer priests 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.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna

YOUTH & FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENT:

St. Agnes parish will be hosting a special youth event to be held on Friday, July 17th. This will be an all day event open to those entering high school in the fall through students who are recent graduates of high school. This event will be open to high school students in the city of Springfield. The day will include Celebration of the Mass by Bishop Rice, sessions hosted by area religious leaders, Adoration and the availability of Reconciliation. In addition, food and games will be provided. We are working with our diocese and other parishes to make this a safe, rewarding and fun day for our young people. If you would like to receive more information on this event, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

STRENGTHENING AND HEALING CONFERENCE AT SEAS

STRENGTHENING AND HEALING CONFERENCE AT SEAS
You are invited to join us at “For Such Times as These” conference/mission at St Elizabeth Ann Seton
Parish, on June 28th – 30th (Sunday through Tuesday) from 6 – 9 pm each evening. Amid all the ongoing
uncertainty, even fear, Jesus has been with us through it all – always has, always is, and always will
be. Please join with brothers and sisters in our Southern Missouri community as we explore the way forward
in our faith and through this crisis – indeed any crisis.
Father Philip Scott, FJ, a particularly dynamic evangelist and speaker, as well as Father Mark Bozada of
St. Louis, a leader in healing ministry, will present different thought-provoking and inspirational talks each
night. Each session will begin with Mass, and the mission will close with a healing service.
In addition to in-person attendance, the sessions will be livestreamed from seaschurch.org website or the
St Elizabeth Ann Seton facebook page. Please contact either Jan Dills (417) 763-1579 or Shelly Pichler
(417) 838-2730 with any questions you have. Conference/Mission is sponsored by the Strengthening and
Healing Ministry

DIOCESAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

To date our parish has received $41,149.00 from 123 families towards
our goal of $77,227 (216 families). We realize some of you
would like to contribute but do not have the ability to do so. If
you have the ability to help, please add your gift, whatever is
affordable, in unity with those who have already given by returning
a pledge card. If you are able to give a little more this year, it
could be used to make up for those parishioners who are unable
to contribute. Please return your card even if you cannot make a
pledge this year. Thank you!
The Diocese and Church in southern Missouri sincerely
appreciates your participation.

From the Pastor’s Desk,

The Feast of Corpus Christi which we are celebrating this weekend had been celebrated on
the Thursday after Trinity Sunday to solemnly commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist. In
some countries it is a Holy Day of obligation, but not here in the United States.
St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon, Belgium, from her early youth, had a great veneration for the
Blessed Sacrament, and always longed for a special feast in its honor. This desire is said to have been
increased by a vision of the Church under the appearance of the full moon having one dark spot,
which signified the absence of such a solemnity. She made known her ideas to Robert de Thourotte,
the Bishop of Liège, to the learned Dominican Hugh, later Cardinal Legate in the Netherlands, and to
Jacques Pantaléon, at that time Archdeacon of Liège, afterwards Bishop of Verdun, Patriarch of Jerusalem,
and finally Pope Urban IV. St. Juliana would not take no for an answer. Bishop Robert after
some study was impressed, and at this time in history individual bishops had the right of ordering
feasts for their dioceses, in 1246 he ordered the celebration to be held in the following year.
Bishop Robert died on October 16, 1246 before the feast was first celebrated but the feast
was celebrated by the canons of St. Martin at Liège. The new bishop of Liège, requested the pope
to extend the celebration to the entire world. Pope Urban IV, was an admirer of the feast and published
the Bull "Transiturus" on September 8th, 1264. The Pope extolled the love of Our Saviour as
expressed in the Holy Eucharist, and ordered the annual celebration of Corpus Christi on the Thursday
after Trinity Sunday. The early decree does not call for a procession as a feature of the celebration.
The Corpus Christi procession, already held in some places, was added by Popes Martin V and
Eugene IV.
What a perfect weekend to also celebrate as a Diocese the ordination to the priesthood of Fr.
Daniel Belken and Fr. Allen Kirchner. They were ordained on Friday evening in Cape Girardeau.
Please keep them in prayer as they begin their priestly ministry to the people of God here in our Diocese.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna

ANNUAL GARAGE SALE CANCELLED

We want to inform everyone that our annual parish garage sale for 2020 has been cancelled. After consulting with the diocese and reviewing city guidelines, it was determined that having such a large indoor event might put our dedicated volunteers & loyal customers at risk. A huge thank you goes out to parishioners who have helped in the past to set up, who have donated items for the sale and to those who have shopped at the sale. We are disappointed and we plan to come back bigger and better in 2021.

DIOCESAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

To date our parish has received $39,699.00 from 112 families towards
our goal of $77,227 (216 families). We realize some of you
would like to contribute but do not have the ability to do so. If
you have the ability to help, please add your gift, whatever is
affordable, in unity with those who have already given by returning
a pledge card. If you are able to give a little more this year, it
could be used to make up for those parishioners who are unable
to contribute. Please return your card even if you cannot make a
pledge this year. Thank you!
The Diocese and Church in southern Missouri sincerely
appreciates your participation.

YOUTH & FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENT:

St. Agnes is working to provide our youth with some safe and fun opportunities to join together. Please stay tuned! We would love the input of families and those who might wish to volunteer to help us in planning and to assist in activities. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org. We would love your input!!
St. Agnes parish will be hosting a special youth event to be held on Friday, July 17th. This will be an all day event open to those entering high school in the fall through students who are recent graduates of high school. This event will be open to high school students in the city of Springfield. The day will include Celebration of the Mass by Bishop Rice, sessions hosted by area religious leaders, Adoration and the availability of Reconciliation. In addition, food and games will be provided. We are working with our diocese and other parishes to make this a safe, rewarding and fun day for our young people. If you would like to receive more information on this event, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.
FIRST COMMUNION
First Eucharist for our children has been set for Sunday, August 9th at a special 2:30 PM Mass. The original date for First Eucharist was postponed due to the virus. This will be a special Mass for the children and their family mem-bers and will not be open to the parish. Please keep these young children in your prayer as they continue to prepare for the reception of this sacrament. If anyone has any questions about the reception of the sacraments, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

From the Pastor’s Desk,

Over the past two and half months we have walked through a very strange time in history. We have
watched as our entire country was shut down. I did not know what all the outcome would be and even
now things are being effected in ways I did not think about. In the business world we are so interdependent
upon the restaurant next door, to the factory across the street. As our school went to online learning,
to our churches with no public Masses and the loss of all our summer programs. In my mind I keep asking,
did we over react? I do not think so. Our city area of 160,000 people has had very few deaths and no major
outbreak. I cannot say enough good things about the medical leadership here in our city. I want to
thank everyone who has contributed to the parish during these months so that we are able to pay our bills
on time.
As we look at the “Diocese” and our needs as a whole, we have now begun our Diocesan Development
Fund Drive. The funds which are collected enables our Diocese to offer our parishes and parishioners many
different areas of ministry that parishes would not be able to provide on their own.
The DDF provides for: 1) Family Life Ministries, helping those preparing for marriage, 2) Rite of Christian Initiation
of Adults, those coming into the Church, 3) Social Ministry, all different aspects of reaching out to
those who have no voice, or need a stronger voice in our society, 4)Campus Ministry, helping to staff priests
on 2 of our public college campuses, 5) Tribunal, those who are seeking annulments for their broken marriages,
6) Vocations/Seminarians, continuing to reach out to young men and women searching a religious
vocation, 7) Youth Ministry, which includes Camp Re-New-All, Catholic Scouting, 8) Office Of Worship,
providing for all the Diocesan Liturgies, 9) The Mirror, our Diocesan Newspaper keeping us informed with
all that is happening in our Diocese, 10) Catholic Schools, guided by our superintendent, 11) Finance Office,
overseeing the monies of the Diocese as well as guiding parishes.
I ask that everyone study the above paragraph to see how many different areas of ministry affect your life,
or the life of your family. There are more areas, but for the most part
these are the major areas of ministry that are supported by our gift to
the Diocesan Development Fund. Please be as generous as you have
in the past years, or make a first time gift this year if you have not given
in previous years.
To date 88 families have pledged $30,059.00 towards our $77,227.00
goal. Please complete and return your DDF pledge card by next Sunday
if possible. If you need a pledge card, please contact the parish
office and we can mail one to you.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna