SPRING/SUMMER CLOTHES NEEDED

As noted in the bulletin, because of Covid and limited space this year, the garage sale WILL NOT BE accepting clothing. However, you may bring your clean tee shirts, jeans and shorts for women and men to the office any time this spring and I will see they are given to Grace Methodist Church or to the Connecting Grounds ministry. No winter clothes at this time please. Sr. Elizabeth Weiler 417-831-3565, ext 103

From the Pastor’s Desk:

The Covid Virus took many things from us over the past 14 months, beginning with over 500,000 American lives. It has destroyed businesses, jobs and hurt education on every level. Governments across the world have sometimes acted together and at other times separately to protect their countries and peoples. But we have also learned from the pandemic. We have learned how to clean and sanitize, and how to work together for the good of all by wearing a mask. I bring all of this together today to say thank you for your support during this past year. Your notes, your e-mails, your financial support for the parish have all been encouraging to both Fr. Allen and myself.

I want us to take a look at a major project for the future. We have a great need for space. We NEED a parish center. A parish center would give us space for parish functions. At the moment all we have is the school cafeteria, which has limited availability, due to the fact that for 9 months of the year it is in use by the school. Through the pandemic we have been able to pay all of our bills on time and I believe that it is now time to move forward.

We began the ground work over two years ago when the Loretto House, whose roof was rotting and walls bowing outward, was taken down. Next a topographical survey was undertaken for the entire city block, including school, rectory, cathedral, Catholic Center and convent (Catholic Center helped with the cost). A survey had not been done in the over 100 years since the founding of the parish. Finally, working with the city, we needed to show the correct easement and waterline of what was Cherry street and to know where our property begins. All of this was behind the scenes before we could imagine and plan.

Now we come to the fun part, but also the hard part. What to build and how much money will we need to raise if we are to build? When we build, we will need to build a large enough parish center to have a variety of functions. If we are to serve meals, we will need a kitchen. What kind of meeting space will be needed for different organizations to meet during the school days. Should we include new parish offices? Do we hire a firm to help us raise money, or can we have a capital campaign on our own? I do not like giving money away, especially in the amounts that fundraising organizations charge. If we as a parish want a parish center then I believe that we are capable of raising the money ourselves without paying 4-6% of the fundraising goal for a company to tell us how to have a capital campaign. In the coming months we will be reaching out for your input. I place all of this before you the parishioners of St. Agnes Cathedral. Do we stand still? Or begin to move forward?

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Owen Robert Harrop who was baptized on Wed, April 7th after the 5:30 Mass at St. Agnes. Owen is the son of Brad & Andrea Harrop. Owen is also the grandson of Jeanne & Mike Skahan. The minister of Baptism was Rev. Allen Kirchner. Welcome to Owen! Many blessings along your faith journey!

Special Congratulations go to James Marlon Burroughs son of Levi and Tiffany Burroughs who was baptized on Sunday. April 11th here at St. Agnes Cathedral. We welcome James into our St. Agnes Cathedral family and look forward to watching you grow in faith.

PROJECT GRADUATION

On May 14, 2021, 96 seniors will graduate from Springfield Catholic High School. Following graduation, parents will host an all night drug and alcohol free celebration known as Project Graduation. Funding for this event is solely from parents and the community. Please consider making a contribution for the success of the evening. Checks may be made payable to SCHS Project Graduation 2021 and mailed to SCHS attn: Project Graduation, 2340 S Eastgate, Springfield, MO 65809. You may also donate online by credit card at https://scs.revtrak.net/springfield-catholic-high-school/pg/ . The Class of 2021 sincerely appreciates your financial and prayerful support for Project Graduation and the graduates.

PCCW

Parish Council of Catholic Women invite all women of the parish to join us on Sat, May 1st for a morning of prayer and fellowship. We will begin our morning with the 8:30 AM Mass in the Cathedral. The Mass will be offered for deceased members of PCCW. Mass will be followed by the rosary as we begin the month of Mary. After the rosary, we ask the ladies to join us for a simple brunch. Weather permitting, we will meet under the tent. If weather does not permit, we will meet in the dining room. Please remember that all ladies of the parish are invited, no matter your age. We do ask that you continue to wear masks and that you call the parish office to sign up to make certain we have enough food. Hope to see many of you who can join us.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

Why do we go to Church? Why do we give money in the collection basket? Why did I choose to be a priest, giving up the choice to have a family? The answers to these questions are found in Jesus and the Resurrection. That is the key central event, Jesus rising from the dead. We find ourselves in the glow of the Easter Candle during the Easter season reminding us of that key central event.

The Church exists to go and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Anything we do that does not fit into that purpose is outside our mission and is a waste of time and money. If people are in a relationship with Jesus, the church’s mission is to help them grow closer to Him. If people do not know Jesus or have grown away from Him, it is the Church’s mission to introduce or reintroduce them to Jesus Christ. For people who already are on the discipleship path, it means helping them to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Acts of the Apostles describes the church as a movement that “turned the world upside down.” The Church exists to be a movement establishing the kingdom of God in people’s minds and hearts and to manifest itself concretely in our world. To be a movement, the church must move, never to be satisfied. When we think of church we so often think of buildings, but church is the people of God. St. Agnes Cathedral can be destroyed in a tornado, but unless every single member of parish was inside and were killed, the church of St. Agnes would continue. Since we are the church, the people of God, it means that the people have to move into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

When we read the Gospels, we find people coming to Jesus because they wanted something from Him: they came to hear him speak, they came to be healed, and they came because family or friends needed his help. They were simply consumers, focused on their needs. Even the apostles didn’t follow Jesus because they liked him or believed in his mission. He was a rabbi who taught with authority and they felt good about themselves and he was popular. They were focused on being on Jesus’s left and right when he was made king. Even at the Last Supper the Apostles were arguing about who was the greatest.

Today the church many times may seem to be stagnant and the reason for that is that people are still so often in the consumer mode. Our parishes do not exist to help people with guilt relief or to make sure people fulfill their obligation to worship God. Our parishes exist to help move people to develop their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ, taking ownership of their own faith, and then, out of that relationship, taking ownership of the mission of the church to go and make disciples. And all of this is strengthened by uniting around the Eucharistic table on Sundays and being fed with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

SCHS SPRING MUSICAL

Springfield Catholic High School invites you to the production of Little Women the Musical. Performance dates are Friday, April 30th at 7 pm, Saturday, May 1st at 7 pm and Sunday, May 2nd at 2 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students.

Youth Activities

Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to join us for a Movie night; We will be showing the movie "Fatima" PIZZA, POPCORN and drink provided. NO cost. We will meet in the cafeteria on Sunday, April 18th from 6-8:30 PM. Come join us! All are welcome!

A huge thank you to everyone who donated eggs and candy for our recent Easter Egg Hunt. Not an egg was left standing after the hunt. A huge thank you goes out to our Easter Bunny and to all who helped "hide" the eggs on Easter Morning! St. Agnes parishioners are a truly generous parish!!

Scheduling Parish Ministers

We will begin scheduling Servers, Ushers, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for the Masses beginning in May. Eucharistic Ministers must be under the age of 60. If you wish to serve our parish in one of these ministries, please contact the parish office at 838-3565 or send an e-mail to eschatz@sta-cathedral.org and tell us your ministry and which Mass you want to serve at by Monday, April 19, 2021.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

We find ourselves in the glow of the Easter Candle for the 50 days after Easter. Lent has ended very quickly, perhaps before some even knew it had begun. Our secular society is rushing after whatever will sell next in the stores, but the Catholic Church continues to celebrate the Resurrection of our savior. 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.

As we celebrated the liturgies of the Triduum, each of those liturgies were a reliving of those most special events of Jesus’ life. Those liturgies use all of our senses to help us experience those events. From the washing of feet, to processions, to incense, music, candles, extra readings, darkness, fire; all the senses were engaged. Some may ask what is the importance of redoing these liturgies each year? Easter is Easter, let’s go to Church and get on with the next thing. This past year as Covid 19 has darkened our world, let us give thanks to God and celebrate our lives with true devotion to our Eucharistic Lord.

We as adults are no different than children, repetition is an important role in imprinting both our brains and our spirits. When I work with our young people in the musical, we practice the actions, the script and the music until it becomes a part of them. That is why they are so good up on the stage and are not nervous. Some students that are shy or reserved in person can become alive up on the stage. When we experience a stimulus over and over, the memories become a subconscious part of who we are. If that is true on the stage, it is true in liturgy.

Symbols and signs connect us to the universal church, through generations and across the world. Our Easter Candle is an essential part of our worship, as it proclaims Christ alive, shining in a world of darkness and sin. The Easter Candle is lite during the Easter Season, during each baptism, and the celebration of a funeral liturgy. Throughout the Easter Season our churches are decorated in flowers, white and gold altar clothes along with the Easter Candle all in celebration of the risen Christ.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION? WHAT IS THAT?

Sometimes individuals no longer find our prayer meaningful. Persons seeking spiritual direction bring whatever is in their hearts and minds to a person who is trained to listen to what they have to say and through their listening, help them find God in their lives and perhaps a different way to pray. If you think you may be interested, but don't want to make a commitment, call Sr. Charlotte Flarlong SSND for further information 417-231-5300. You may not think you need it now, but might want some information for later.

-Sr. Elizabeth Ann ASC

RCIA

Congratulations to those who were received into the Church at the Easter Vigil Celebration this year! Please keep these new Catholics in your prayers and make them feel welcome as a part of St. Agnes parish.

Catechumens

Kristen Evans

Warren Evans

Kathy Hon

Jessica Yount

Profession of Faith Candidates

Blake Beshore

Kathy Bock

Erick Bulla

Tiffany Burroughs

James Burroughs

Troy Carroll

John Cooper

Andrew Wheeler

Confirmation Candidates

Mary Cooper

Tyler McClean

Dante Valdez

THE MIRROR SUBSCRIPTION

Our invoice from the Diocese has arrived! We owe $7,980.00 for our St. Agnes parishioners to receive this newspaper. To date we have received $2,012.00 towards paying this invoice. St. Agnes will be responsible to pay the balance of $6,050.00 that has not yet been contributed by our parishioners. Consequently, it will have to be paid for out of weekly envelopes which is designated for other expenses. Please send us $14 for your family’s subscription and if possible include gift subscriptions for parishioners who may not be able to afford theirs. If you have already contributed, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

From the Pastor’s Desk:

Last year with the Covid lockdown we were not able to celebrate in person the holiest week of the Church year. Today, Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. This day 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 the exultant 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?

This year the Chrism Mass will be closed to the people to allow for all the priests and deacons to celebrate with our bishop. It is at this liturgy when the oils which are used in the different sacraments are blessed by the Bishop and the priests renew their commitment to serve another year as your pastors and associate pastors. The Chrism Mass will be live streamed on the diocesan Facebook page and archived on our diocesan youtube channel.

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 pastor is to serve the community and to direct and lead the liturgies. The washing of the feet of the disciples by Christ, is an example of the humbleness each Christian should possess. The service ends with the Blessed Sacrament being removed from the Church to a prepared place and the altar is stripped. All are invited to spend some time in prayer this night (8:30-12:00) before the Lord in the cathedral.

Good Friday is the most 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. Following the Passion we pray the solemn form of the General Intercessions. The second part of the Good Friday liturgy is unique to this day. A large wooden cross is brought into the sanctuary for us to reverence with a simple bow or genuflection 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. We have two services one at 12:00 p.m. and the second service in the evening at 7 p.m.

Holy Saturday with all of its readings, candles, profession of faith and blessings, is the vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection. and will begin at 8 p.m. It is arranged in four parts: the service of light, the liturgy of the word, when the Church meditates on all the wonderful things God has done for his people from the beginning. The third part is the liturgy of baptism, when new members of the Church are reborn in the waters of baptism, and the fourth part is the liturgy of the Eucharist, when the Church is called to the table which the Lord has prepared for His people through His death and resurrection.

The liturgies of the Triduum are the story of our redemption. This year walk in the footsteps of Christ from the Last Supper, to Calvary, to the Resurrection.

DCCW 62nd Annual Spring Assembly

April 16-17, 2021 at the Doubletree by Hilton

2431 N. Glenstone Springfield, MO 65803

Event is open to all PCCW members. If anyone from St. Agnes PCCW is interested in attending, please contact the Parish office 417-831-3565 and leave your name and telephone number.

Registration forms will be available at the Parish office.

PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY

Myth: The vaccines don’t really work that well – they don’t reduce virus transmission.

Fact: Most experts have been urging people to continue following public health guidelines, including masking and social distancing, even after they’ve been fully vaccinated. The reason for this recommendation is the clinical trials were not designed to test whether any of the trial participants contracted COVID-19 but showed no symptoms, but there is every biological reason in the world to believe that they will reduce asymptomatic transmission. In Israel, where more than 90% of those age 60 and over have been vaccinated, “cases have plummeted in this population.” “Not just hospitalizations, which was expected, but cases (asymptomatic infection) as well.”

Taken from American Association of American Medical Colleges website

ANNUAL ST. AGNES PARISH EASTER EGG HUNT IS BACK!!!

The Hunt will be held Easter Sunday morning (outdoors) on the soccer field beginning at 9:45 AM. We are requesting plastic eggs and wrapped candy. This year, we ask that perhaps you bring your plastic eggs already filled! We are also looking for a team who may be willing to help stuff and "hide" the eggs. This would be a great family project. You can bring your wrapped candy and plastic eggs to the parish office weekdays. between 9:00 AM & 4:00 PM. Pray for a sunny Easter morning!!

From the Pastor’s Desk:

Last week in my homily I built my homily around a word game of opposites. Using the first reading and the Gospel. For many people the opposite of love is hate, but that is not true. The opposite of love is apathy. Think about it. When a teenager comes home an hour past curfew with no text or phone call, what is the reaction of the parent? FEAR followed by anger. Is that a sign that parent does not love their teenager? No, it is the proof that the parent loves him/her very much. The job of a parent seems to never end and much of that time is in silence.

In the Lenten Season we focus much of our prayer and meditation upon Christ, but today I want to reflect upon Mary at the foot of the cross. As Jesus was dying, the Gospels say that Mary, his mother, stood under the cross. From all outward appearances, she wasn’t doing anything at all. She is not recorded as saying anything, wasn’t trying to stop the crucifixion, nor was she trying to protest its unfairness or to plead Jesus’ innocence. She was silent. At a deeper spiritual level, Mary was doing all that she could do in that type of situation, she was standing inside of it, in strength, refusing to give back anger, bitterness or violence.

Since common sense tells us that Mary could not have stopped the crucifixion, she by being passive was stopping some of the hatred, bitterness, jealousy, heartlessness, and anger that caused it and which surrounded it. Mary in her silence was radiating all the gentleness, understanding, forgiveness, peace, light and love that had flooded forth from her Son during His ministry.

All of this is a bitter pill to swallow. What mother, what father, would only stand by and silently watch as their son was nailed to a cross to suffer and die. But sometimes it is our only choice. As the Book of Lamentations says, there are times when the best we can do is “put our mouths to the dust and wait!” We cannot be afraid to suffer, because this world is imperfect. This is not passivity, resignation, or weakness, but genuine, rare strength. It is standing under the cross with Mary, so that the Lord of all love may help to take away some of the world’s hatred, chaos, bitterness and violence.

Diocesan Regional Youth Conferences Updates & Changes for 2021

The diocese has made several changes to the Diocesan Youth Conference for 2021;

 One day event

 All 7th-12th graders are invited

 Event will be held at Carthage at Congregations of the Mother of Redeemer Monastery on Sat, April 10th from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM

 Nationally known Keynote Speaker Steve Angrisano

 Lunch is provided

 Registration deadline will be March 26th.

Please email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org for more registration information. We are also looking for parents who may be willing to drive to the event. This is a great opportunity for our junior high students to get involved.

PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY

MYTH: Getting the COVID-19 vaccination means I can stop wearing my mask and taking coronavirus precautions.

FACT: Individuals who get the COVID-19 vaccination still need to practice infection prevention precautions. Keep your mask on, and continue staying at least 6 feet from people outside your household, until further notice. Vaccines do not stop the coronavirus from entering your body; they only prevent you from developing moderate to severe COVID-19. It’s not yet clear if people vaccinated for COVID-19 can still carry and transmit the virus, even when they themselves don’t get sick.

From Johns Hopkins website at hopkinsmedicine.org