10 AND 60 YEAR Anniversary

10 AND 60 YEARS October 24th marks the completion of my 10th year in my ministry here at St. Agnes Cathedral Parish. When I started here in 2010 I had no expectation of how long I would stay. And as noted previously on St. Agnes Facebook page and in The Mirror, 2020 is also the 60th anniversary of my vows as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ. Because we were unable to celebrate with a Mass at our convent in Ruma, IL, I have scheduled the Mass Intention for the Saturday evening Mass to be one of Thanksgiving both for 10 years and 60 years. At that time, God willing, I will renew my vows to give witness to my commitment. Sr. Elizabeth Ann

103rd ANNIVERSARY of FATIMA

- Message from Bishop Rice In honor of the 103rd Anniversary of the Blessed Mother's appearance to the children in Fatima and her continued plea for everyone to recite the Rosary every day, I am asking every parish to publicly recite the Rosary on Tue., Oct. 13, for unity and the needs of our nation. Many of our parishes have the tradition of praying the Rosary daily during the months of May and October. Please keep in your intentions divine guidance for the upcoming election, racial harmony, and an increased respect for life.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

This week we are celebrating the three great Archangels: Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. To begin with, angels are pure spirits created by God. The belief in angels is found in the Old Testament theology. They are employed by God as the ministers of God’s will. St. Augustine speaks of angels: “Angel is the name of their office, not of their nature, it is ‘spirit’; if you seek the name of their office, it is ’angel’: from what they are, ‘spirit,’ from what they do, ‘angel.’” The whole being of angels are servants and messengers of God. According to Jesus in Matthew 18:10, angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven they are the “mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word.” God's mightiest angels, the most powerful spiritual beings, are the archangels whom we are honoring and celebrating this coming Tuesday. While the exact amount of archangels is debated among different faiths, this Tuesday we are celebrating the three archangels who specialize in different types of work helping humanity, and they are considered by many believers to be the most important archangels. They are: ♦ Michael, who leads all of the holy angels, often works on missions that involve fighting evil, proclaiming God's truth, and strengthening people's faith. ♦ Gabriel, who communicates God's most important announcements to humans, specializes in helping people understand God's messages and apply them to their lives well. ♦ Raphael, who serves as God's main healing angel, cares for the health of people, animals, and every other part of God's creation. Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation. In the scriptures they are seen closing the earthly paradise, protecting Lot, saving Hagar and her son, stopped Abraham from scarifying his son, announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. The list from the scriptures could go on. In our liturgies we join with the angels and saints to adore and praise God. As we pray at the end of a funeral, “May the angels lead you into Paradise..” Here on earth we children of God share our faith in the blessed company of angels united in God.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

St. Agnes Parish Living Rosary will be Sunday, Oct. 11. Please check the bulletin next week for further details. Confirmation sessions continue on Sunday mornings from 10-11:00 AM. We will either meet outside under the tent or will meet in the school library depending upon the weather. If you have any questions about Confirmation and have not yet registered, please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-catherdral.org Reconciliation Families who plan to have their children receive the sacraments of Reconciliation or Eucharist in second grade need to complete a registration form for their child. These forms are available on our parish website or can be sent to you. These children should also be enrolled either in a Catholic school or in our parish PSR program.

TENTATIVELY...PLANNING FOR A ST. AGNES PARISH BAZAAR

WANTED...Vendors for our annual bazaar which will be Nov. 7 & 8. If you have a craft or business or know of anyone who does, we would love to have you spend the weekend with us. Please spread the word. The more, the merrier. All information can be obtained from Judy Hauschildt at judyhauschildt@gmail.com, or 1 (641) 751-6632.

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

: As we continue in the new normal. Things really do feel better as we begin our fourth week in the classrooms, person to person teaching both here in our grade school and at the high school. I have had auditions for the theater. There will not be a musical, but short plays with a limited number of students in each of them. We will be working on character, and what I call speaking quality. Here in the parish we are beginning sacramental preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation. When I was growing up, we had very little or no preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Depending upon the size of our parishes, the bishop may have only come every three years, thus Confirmation was given at all different ages. I personally received the sacrament when I was in the eighth grade. The Sacrament of Confirmation is a special event in the life of an individual Catholic and the entire parish family. Its’ call and grace confirm discipleship. The gifts of the Holy Spirit help to form the Christian more fully in the image of Jesus Christ. We use the term, an adult Catholic, within the Church with all the responsibilities that parents had accepted when they asked to have their son or daughter baptized. Thus Vatican II decreed that the rite of the sacrament be revised, that those receiving the sacrament be fully educated so that its’ connection with the whole church and the rite of Christian Initiation be understood. As early as the 7th Century, the post baptismal anointing with Sacred Chrism by the bishop became the regular practice in the Western Roman Catholic Church. Medieval theologians saw Confirmation as a gift of the Holy Spirit for the strengthening of the candidate’s inner life and social witness. By the 16th Century, the general practice after the Tridentine reforms was to confirm, as an affirmation or public profession, the baptismal commitment that had been made by parents and godparents at the time of Baptism. Following Vatican II, two major understandings and approaches to the sacrament of Confirmation became accepted. The importance of Confirmation as a part of the RCIA with the Easter Vigil, and the maturity model as a person becomes more active within the Church, using their gifts and talents for the building up of God’s Kingdom. Over the past three years our Diocese has been working with the parishes to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in the eighth grade and here at St. Agnes Cathedral we are now at that point. Last Sunday Iris Bounds met with young people and their parents as we have begun the prayer/study/spiritual growth for the celebration of the Sacrament in February, 2021. Please keep all our young people in prayer as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation.

TENTATIVELY...PLANNING FOR A ST. AGNES PARISH BAZAAR WANTED

...Vendors for our annual bazaar which will be Nov. 7 & 8. If you have a craft or business or know of anyone who does, we would love to have you spend the weekend with us. Please spread the word. The more, the merrier. All information can be obtained from Judy Hauschildt at judyhauschildt@gmail.com, or 1 (641) 751 -6632.

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.