ST. VINCENT DE PAUL WALK FOR THE POOR

The St. Agnes St. Vincent De Paul will sponsor the annual walk for the Poor on Sat, Sept 26th on the St. Agnes parking lot. Registration will begin at 8:30 and the walk will begin at 9:15 AM. Participants can choose a 1 mile walk or a 3 mile walk. SVDP will follow all safety guidelines established by the city and the diocese. If you would rather do a virtual walk that is available too. The annual walk is the major fundraiser for SVDP and helps in the ministry of helping people in the Springfield area with utility assistance, bus passes & gas vouchers. There will be donuts, coffee, water and free t-shirts for all participants. Bring your family and support the walk with your pledge. You can also go online to register by using the following link: http://www.fopwalk.org/

PCCW

Women of the Parish! PCCW invites you to the 8:30 Mass on Sat. Oct .10th. The Mass intention will be for the deceased members of our PCCW. After the Mass, we will join together to say the rosary as a group in the Cathedral. At the completion of the Mass, we will join together outside under the tent for a light breakfast where we can socially distance & enjoy each other's company.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

This coming Monday, Sept 14 we will celebrate the feast day of the Triumph of the Cross. This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena the mother of Constantine the Great and preserved in Jerusalem. It had fallen into the hands of Chosroes, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius in 629. This day is also called the Exaltation of the Cross, or the Elevation of the Cross. The liturgy of the Cross is a triumphant liturgy. When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people, it was a foreshadowing of the salvation through Jesus when He was lifted up on the Cross. The Church proclaims the triumph of the Cross, as the instrument of our redemption. To follow Christ we must take up His cross, follow Him and become obedient until death, even if it means death on the cross. We identify with Christ on the Cross through our pains and sufferings, thus share in His cross. We make the Sign of the Cross before prayer which is to help us to fix our minds and hearts on God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently, and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts. Monday is the first evening for RCIA. Fr. Allen will be leading our RCIA this year. The RCIA can also serve as a focus for ongoing conversion for all members of the Catholic Church. As Catholics see new candidates learning doctrine, they are encouraged to study their faith. The whole parish community is invited to participate in the liturgical ceremonies welcoming new members. Those rites include RCIA Dismissal from the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Sending & Election, The Holy Saturday service, and Mystagogia. As “old” parishioners see the newly baptized begin ministries of service, they are encouraged to serve more generously. Those who act as sponsors and teachers for the candidates have abundant opportunities for personal growth. Please pray for all those who are continuing their faith journey through our RCIA.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the Catholic Church, learning more about the Church and our beliefs, or getting a “booster dose” in the faith, RCIA may be for you. Classes will start September 14 at 6:30 pm. Please contact Fr. Kirchner at akirchner@stacathedral. org or 831-3565 for more information and to be added to the contact list. Fr. Allen Kirchner

Sacramental Preparation

Confirmation sessions begin with a parent and candidate meeting on Sunday, Sept 13th at 10:00 AM in the school library.

Reconciliation meeting for parents who have a child who will be receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation will be held Tuesday, Sept 15th at 7:00 PM in the dining room. If your child was not baptized at St. Agnes, please bring a copy of their baptismal certificate. If you have questions about the reception of any of the sacraments, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta

ATTENTION Youth of the Parish:

Join us for "Adoration Under the Stars" Sunday, Sept 20 6:30-8:30 PM Food, games, music and adoration. Families welcome too! Bring lawn chairs or blankets as we pray under the stars. Feel free to invite others! All are welcome!

From the Pastor’s Desk:

As we celebrate Labor Day weekend, we are celebrating all people who work, making this country the greatest nation on earth. It matters not if they are factory workers, professionals, farmers, housewives; county, state, or federal workers. All people who work to earn their way in life have made this a stronger nation. This is why we celebrate Labor Day. We have a high quality of life by the standards of most of the world’s population. We can open our refrigerators and find foods in season and out of season. Foods grown here in the Midwest, on the east coast, the west coast, or from South America all find their way to our grocery store shelves. The products we purchase in our stores come from all over the world. However, the pandemic has shown us one thing, that most nations experience all the time, store shelves were empty of many items. The supply chain faltered. Businesses closed as we sheltered in our homes. In the months that followed some businesses never reopened. Today many people are still looking for work. In the midst of rebuilding our lives we are celebrating all people who work—both in the past and today—who have contributed to making our country the great nation it is. As the new norm continues and people feel safe wearing our masks and sanitizing we will overcome this hard period of time for our country. Every day in every corner of our world, there are men, women, and children walking across national borders to find work, to find shelter, to find safety, to find food, and to find the freedom to make their lives better. We might understand those who are fleeing from violence and war, but do we understand that many countries don’t have jobs, or any way to make a living to buy food and medicine for their families? As we celebrate this weekend, please remember to thank God for all He has given you and me. Regardless of how hard our lives may be, I do not believe that we have people going through the city dumps collecting bottles or aluminum cans to sell so they can buy food that day. As I have traveled through some of the developing nations of the world, I have seen adults as well as children digging in the city dumps so they could eat that day. Pope Francis stated: “Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one’s family, to contribute to the growth of one’s own nation.” Unfortunately, millions of workers today are denied this honor and respect as a result of unemployment, underemployment, unjust wages, wage theft, abuse, and exploitation. 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. I 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. Have a Blessed and safe holiday weekend.

PARISH HEALTHCARE MINISTRY 2020

It is a critical time for all of us to keep our immunizations up-to-date, especially flu shots. The CDC recommends that we all stay current on immunizations in order to help protect ourselves and others from vaccine-preventable illnesses. Maintaining routine vaccinations can help prevent illnesses, reduce the stress on the healthcare system, and protect at risk, vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will not be hosting a flu shot clinic at St. Agnes this year. Please schedule your family (everyone over the age of six months) for a flu shot this fall at your pharmacy of choice or at your doctor's office (can be done on-line). The Pharmacies also take walk-ins. HyVee has a Drive-Up Clinic. Check their website for days and times. Watch our bulletin for further updates.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL WALK FOR THE POOR

The St. Agnes St. Vincent De Paul will sponsor the annual walk for the Poor on Sat, Sept 26th on the St. Agnes parking lot. Registration will begin at 8:30 and the walk will begin at 9:15 AM. Participants can choose a 1 mile walk or a 3 mile walk. SVDP will follow all safety guidelines established by the city and the diocese. If you would rather do a virtual walk that is available too. The annual walk is the major fundraiser for SVDP and helps in the ministry of helping people in the Springfield area with utility assistance, bus passes & gas vouchers. There will be donuts, coffee, water and free t-shirts for all participants. Bring your family and support the walk with your pledge. You can also go online to register by using the following link: http://www.fopwalk.org/

From the Pastor’s Desk:

When everything shut down in March due to Covid 19, our Bishop challenged the priests of our diocese to spend more time in prayer. Prayer is our communication with God. How do we make more time for prayer and find space for prayer? Perhaps the better question would be, do we make time for prayer in the midst of all the stuff we are doing? Is prayer in a priority place in our daily lives or at the bottom of the “to do list” and it never gets done. Priests and religious are through our vows, to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (the prayer of the church) each day. So why pray more? Our relationship with God should be at the heart of who we are and all that we do. Prayer cannot be taken for granted nor left to last place. We need that personal time to give God praise, worship, thanksgiving and petition. We need the Lord beside us every day, and throughout the entire day. We need to be in touch with our God and allow Him to touch our minds and hearts through Sacred Scripture and in the silence of our hearts. This is not a luxury, it is a necessity if we want a strong relationship with God. All of us have rituals, whether we are single, or married with children. Look over your daily schedule, and plan a few minutes at the beginning of your day with that first cup of coffee, thanking God for the day and offering Him all that you will do that day. Invite Him along on your daily journey. Ask for His guidance as you think of the events you know you will encounter. If you drive to work, put on a spiritual CD, or simply talk to God along the way. Find the brief moments that are apart of all of our days in which we can talk with God about what we are experiencing. What is important is making the effort to be with the Lord, even if it is only for a few minutes, and establishing a consistent pattern as part of your schedule. If you are like me, when I get away from my schedule things do not always get completed. Our whole purpose for being is to one day be with the Lord in His kingdom, in the place He has created for us. But there is a hard question to be answered, “If we don’t want the relationship with God now, why would He want us after death?” Prayer is so important in our relationship with God, since it is how we communicate with our God, that we cannot push it to the bottom of our “to do list” that never gets done. SECOND COLLECTION Aug. 29-30 benefits the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer- Carthage, MO Each year, a variety of religious communities involved in the missionary work of the Church around the world, are invited to send a priest to parishes of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to preach about the ministry of evangelization that brings the Gospel to many struggling people in other nations. This year we are invited to help support the ministry of our Vietnamese missionaries in Carthage that do so much both locally and around the world. Without the missionary work of the Church, we would not be able to bring to life the command of Christ before he ascended into heaven: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (MT 28:19). Thank you for contributing to the missionary labor of the Church by supporting the Mission Cooperative Plan. Simply write your check to your parish and note that it is for the Mission Cooperative Collection. All funds will be processed by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and then sent to the order for their work.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Makenzi Lynn Chandler who was baptized by Father Lewis on Sunday, Aug, 23rd here at St. Agnes Cathedral. Makenzi is the daughter of Cheryl Fletcher and Jason Chandler. Sheila and Bruce Bodine were the godparents for Makenzi. We welcome Makenzi into our St. Agnes family. Please keep her in your prayers.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

PSR classes will begin Sunday, Aug 30th between 10-11 AM in our parish school. Parents who have not yet registered their children for the program can still sign the children up. This year we are offering onsite classes and we are also offering parents the option of working at home with their children. We do ask that all families register so we can make certain that parents receive all of the resources they need to keep their children on track to receive all sacraments on a timely basis. We are also offering resources for parents who may need to catch up their children on any of the sacraments. Registration forms are available on our parish website or our facebook page or by emailing Iris at Ibounds@stacathedral. org. We also have a special needs class in our Parish School of Religion class which will also help to prepare our children for reception of the sacraments. Confirmation sessions for students in grades 8 and above will begin on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in the grade school. The first session will be one for candidates and a parent and will be held on Sunday, Sept 13th in the school library. Parents will need to complete paperwork and bring a copy of the students' Baptismal certificate if they were baptized in a church other than St. Agnes Cathedral. Our parent meeting for students who plan to receive Reconciliation and Eucharist in the coming year will be held Tues, Sept, 15th at 7:00 PM in the school cafeteria. Children should either be enrolled in our parish PSR program or in the Catholic School. Parents who may be home-schooling or an online program will also need to attend this meeting. If a child was not baptized at St. Agnes Cathedral, please bring a copy of their baptismal certificate. Iris B.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL WALK FOR THE POOR

The St. Agnes St. Vincent De Paul will sponsor the annual walk for the Poor on Sat, Sept 26th on the St. Agnes parking lot. Registration will begin at 8:30 and the walk will begin at 9:15 AM. Participants can choose a 1 mile walk or a 3 mile walk. SVDP will follow all safety guidelines established by the city and the diocese. If you would rather do a virtual walk that is available too. The annual walk is the major fundraiser for SVDP and helps in the ministry of helping people in the Springfield area with utility assistance, bus passes & gas vouchers. There will be donuts, coffee, water and free tshirts for all participants. Bring your family and support the walk with your pledge. You can also go online to register by using the following link: http://www.fopwalk.org/

From the Pastor’s Desk:

With all that is happening in country, our community and in our schools, I urge parents not to forget the most important part of educating our young people–their spiritual life. All outside activities need to be balanced. Perhaps the best way to keep our families together and our young people strong is to keep God in the picture always. Don’t wait until a crisis comes into your family’s life to come to church on a regular Sunday basis. Pray together as a family. Work your spiritual life and language into everyday conversation. Jesus lived by example His whole life. It was His great love that moved Him to work the great healing miracles. One of the most important things that we can teach our young people is to be patient, gentle, kind, and compassionate–totally loving as was Jesus. School also 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 students practice figuring things out for themselves while they are still young. It is many times tempting in our fast-paced world to do things that kids can do for themselves. It’s quicker, and we are pressed for time. No parent wants to see their kids in trouble, but they need to learn that poor choices bring consequences that sometimes are not pleasant. As I taught school my response to students was, “I will honor your choice of behavior,” but “that choice comes with consequences.” All of the choices we make effects the community in one way or another. There are many ordinary opportunities to explain to young people that just because their friends are allowed to do something does not mean that they should also. The sooner parents become parents, rather than their children’s best friends, the more respect their children 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, bosses and co-workers in the future, and following and respecting laws and rules in all areas of life. As I write this letter I pray for all our teachers, administrators, and students as they begin in person learning in the classrooms. These first days are going to be a learning experience of how well we have thought out our safety protocol, how safely we can be in school. I ask everyone to please be patient as we learn together.

Second Collection Aug. 29-20

benefits the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer- Carthage, MO Each year, a variety of religious communities involved in the missionary work of the Church around the world, are invited to send a priest to parishes of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to preach about the ministry of evangelization that brings the Gospel to many struggling people in other nations. This year we are invited to help support the ministry of our Vietnamese missionaries in Carthage that do so much both locally and around the world. Without the missionary work of the Church, we would not be able to bring to life the command of Christ before he ascended into heaven: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (MT 28:19). Thank you for contributing to the missionary labor of the Church by supporting the Mission Cooperative Plan. Simply write your check to your parish and note that it is for the Mission Cooperative Collection. All funds will be processed by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and then sent to the order for their work.

PSR INFORMATION

PSR Registration will take place Sunday, Aug 23rd from 10;00-11:00 AM outside the school entrance or by the outdoor picnic tables. We will discuss options for curriculum, calendar and the safety precautions we will be enacting due to COVID 19. Teachers will be available to parents and students to meet. Classes are available for students K-8. We also have a special needs class taught by a certified special needs instructor. We will also work with special needs students if they need to prepare for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation. Our PSR classes are open to all students whether they attend public, Catholic or are home schooled. We will also work with families who may have a student who may be behind in the reception of the sacraments. Confirmation sessions for students in grades 8 and above will begin on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in the grade school. The first session will be one for candidates and a parent and will be held on Sunday, Sept 13th in the school library. Parents will need to complete paperwork and bring a copy of the students' Baptismal certificate if they were baptized in a church other than St. Agnes Cathedral. Our parent meeting for students who plan to receive Reconciliation and Eucharist in the coming year will be held Tues, Sept, 15th at 7:00 PM in the school cafeteria. Children should either be enrolled in our parish PSR program or in the Catholic School. Parents who may be home-schooling or an online program will also need to attend this meeting. If a child was not baptized at St. Agnes Cathedral, please bring a copy of their baptismal certificate.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL WALK FOR THE POOR

The St. Agnes St. Vincent De Paul will sponsor the annual walk for the Poor on Sat, Sept 26th on the St. Agnes parking lot. Registration will begin at 8:30 and the walk will begin at 9:15 AM. Participants can choose a 1 mile walk or a 3 mile walk. SVDP will follow all safety guidelines established by the city and the diocese. If you would rather do a virtual walk that is available too. The annual walk is the major fundraiser for SVDP and helps in the ministry of helping people in the Springfield area with utility assistance, bus passes & gas vouchers. There will be donuts, coffee, water and free t-shirts for all participants. Bring your family and support the walk with your pledge. You can also go online to register by using the following link: http://www.fopwalk.org/

From the Pastor’s Desk:

As school begins in our Catholic Schools this week and the following week across the city of Springfield there are several issues I would like to address. First and foremost is the safety of our young people, whether it’s during carline or with people coming into the school. The administration of the school, as well as the parish, is always concerned with the safety of our students. This semester is going to be different in many ways and I assume so will the second semester. We talk about the new normal and whether you believe that the virus is real or not. We are working to keep everyone safe. The guidelines that have been put into place are for the good of all and I ask that everyone follow them. Many of the guidelines only pertain to inside the school itself, so they will not affect people coming to daily or weekend masses. Our meetings will take on safety measures and perhaps will not be inside the school. Face masks are required everywhere. When I had surgery I wanted my surgeon to wear one during surgery. When I have my teeth cleaned, I want the person doing so to wear a mask. Face masks make a difference in keeping the others around you healthy. While summer is meant to be carefree and fun, our nation has been rocked by Covid 19. I have listened to the evening news stating 165,000 deaths with about 1,000 Americans dying per day. Then to hear a lawyer on the evening news say that not enough people have died in Springfield to warrant face masks, and another person ask why he should have to wear a mask to keep other people safe. Has human life become so cheap, or has the “Me, Myself and I” become so dominant that we no longer care for our community and the good of others? I believe that St. Mother Teresa gave us the answer years ago when she said in one of her speeches, “The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion, because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.” I hope this is not too much of a downer, but I bring this before you because a lot of people are struggling with the issues. Some are just scared, others are angry and others simply do not care. It is true that we are living through many things right now: yes, we are in the middle of a pandemic; yes, unemployment is at 10%; yes, there have been strange storms on the east coast, but all you have to do is read history and these things are also a part of the past history of the United States. It is up to us to be Christ to our neighbors, to help each other. That is what Christ asks of us, to make a difference in our world, by following His examples: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless. This is what Christ asks of each of us, “Love one another as I have loved you.” People need to think about the good of others instead of their own wants and desires. I want to thank Joseph Nguyen and Ethan Barber for helping move the landscaping rock outside the Parish Office and side walk.

PSR INFORMATION

There will be a PSR Teacher's Meeting on Sunday, Aug 16th from 9:30-11:00 AM in the dining room of the cafeteria. We will discuss curriculum, the calendar and upcoming safety precautions needed for our upcoming PSR school year PSR Registration will take place Sunday, Aug. 23rd from 10:00 -11:00 AM under the canopy outside the school entrance. PSR on site classes will begin Sunday, Aug 30th from 10:00- 11:00 AM in the school. Classes are available for students in K -8th grade. We also have a special needs class for students. Our Parish School of Religion classes are open to all students whether or not they attend public schools, Catholic schools or are home schooled. We also have special classes for students as they prepare for the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. Teachers will be present for parents to meet. We will be going over all the safety precautions we will be following as we maneuver through COVID 19. We will have information about how parents can use online curriculum for the religious education of their children. If you cannot make the registration, we will have the registration form posted on our parish website. If you have specific questions about reception of the sacraments, registering your children or any special circumstances in your family please call the parish office at 831-3565 or ibounds@stacathedral. org.

WONDERFUL NEWS!

CLOW (Children's Liturgy of the Word) will begin again at the 8:30 AM Mass on Sunday, August 30th. Children, preschool through 2nd grade are invited to begin to learn about God's love for them through understanding the readings from our Sunday liturgies. We thank Tara Friga for her continued willingness to teach our young children. Children do not have to register and will be called out during Mass and go to the chapel for CLOW. Congratulations to Alivia Louise Wand who was baptized on Friday, Aug. 7th. Alivia is the daughter of Arthur Algiere and Kayle Wand. She is the granddaughter of Tim and Karen Wand who also served as her godparents. We welcome Alivia into the St. Agnes Parish Family. We pray for Alivia so that she will grow in her faith and love of God. A special First Eucharist Mass was held on Sunday, Aug 9th at 2:30 PM in the Cathedral. After waiting months, Father Lewis and Father Allen celebrated this special occasion with these young children and their families. We thank all those who helped to make this a special day for these children including their parents, godparents, grandparents, teachers & musicians. Please keep the following young children who received their First Eucharist in prayer: Parker Bailey, Juan David Berrios, Santiago Berrios, Forest Coletrain, Zion Hauschildt, Gabriella House, Jonathan Kuria, Avery Lassen, Alice Lock, Clare Luehr, Gibson Morris, Arianna Norris, Brian Nwodo, Maeve Peddicord, Marcus Renkoski, Georgia Verbarg & Vincent Wellever. We also pray for the following children who received their First Eucharist at the Vietnamese Mass on Sunday, July 26th: Noah Le, Thien Nguyen, Calvin Tran & Nicky Truong