UPDATING CHURCH MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

It is time to update our database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in your family over the past year. If you have not already informed our office of phone number changes, address changes, and e-mail address changes (will not be published in the book), please do so by June 15, 2021. You may call 417-831-3565 or send any e-mail to eschatz@sta-cathedral.org. We would also like to know about children who are no longer living at home.

Also, if you have been coming to church here and have not registered in the parish, please call the office for a registration form. Or you may complete a request on-line at www.sta-cathedral.org and we will send you a registration form. There is also a small form on the inside cover of the bulletin that can be used to update our parish database or request a registration form.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

This weekend, but especially Monday we celebrate Memorial Day. To many it means a 3 day weekend at the lake or the beginning of the summer season. Memorial Day was born out of the Civil War a desire to honor our dead of both the North and the South

Today we hold in special memory all who have died in all our wars to keep our country free; in the Civil war, the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Let us also hold in memory all who have met death through senseless violence both on streets and in their homes.

We hold in memory the millions whose lives have been snuffed out through willful abortions.

We hold in memory all whose lives have been offered up on the altars of prejudice, hunger, neglect and hatred.

We hold in memory all who have been slaughtered on the highways and streets of our country.

We hold in memory all whose lives have been terminated through the lethal effects of drugs, of all types and descriptions.

We hold in memory the martyrs’ blood of the past and now the martyrs today whose blood has been shed so that others might know the love and mercy of God the Father and our Redemption through his Son, Jesus.

We hold in memory all our dear loved ones, who now share the eternal vision of glory with the Father and the joy and peace of Christ’s resurrection.

I will celebrate an 8:30 Mass in the Cathedral on Memorial Day, since the Bishop will be at Immaculate Conception and not at Resurrection Cemetery.

The second collection this week is for the Catholic Cemeteries. It is very expensive to maintain our two cemeteries. Keeping everything mowed and trimmed, trees trimmed, dead trees removed, new trees planted, etc. The concrete sidewalk/platform at the altar area near the new cross at St. Mary’s was just replaced. This collection helps to keep our Catholic Cemeteries beautiful.

Garage Sale News:

Garage Sale Updates! You may drop off your items for the garage sale beginning this weekend after weekend Masses. Please bring your items to the St. Agnes gym next to the Pallotti center. You may also drop off items in the evenings beginning Wed, June 2nd from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM through June 9th. If you need to make alternative arrangements, please call the parish office. Please remember, we are not taking clothing this year due to space concerns. We also cannot take tires, tv's or computer monitors.

We also need volunteers: Wed evening June 2nd, 6:30 PM, we will set up additional tables so we will need help with setup. Beginning June 3rd, we will have a morning shift which begins at 7:00 AM and ends at 10:00 AM. Our evening shift will begin at 6:30 PM and go until 9:00 PM. You can call the parish office to sign up or you can feel free to join us on any day that works for you. You can work one hour or an entire shift. Volunteers are needed to setup, sort and price items. This is a great opportunity for students to get service hours for school, scouting, Confirmation or other organizations. Please call the parish office at 831-3565 if you have specific questions.

SENIORS UNLIMITED GAMES

We will begin with games at 1 p.m. on June 7th in the dining room. Since school will be out, please park behind the school and come in the hall from the west side. That way I only have to have one person at the door to let you in. Again, I ask that you come only if you are vaccinated.

-Sr. Elizabeth Ann

THANK YOU!

Dear St. Agnes Community- Thank you for all the prayers and support in my recent ordination to the Diaconate. Many thanks to Fr. Lewis, Mr. Kevin Otradovec, the Saint Agnes Bell Choir, musicians and volunteers who took time out of their normal schedules to prepare and present a beautiful Ordination ceremony. Sincerely, Jesse Hiett 1000 E Maple Drive. Mundelein, IL 60060

From the Pastor’s Desk:

This weekend in the Roman Catholic Church we celebrate one of the greatest feast days in our Liturgical calendar. Easter is at the top of the list followed by Christmas and right there is Pentecost Sunday. It comes 50 days after Easter and less than two weeks after the Ascension of Christ into the heavens. Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. For that reason, it is often called “the birthday of the Church.”

Pentecost Sunday is one of the most ancient feasts of the Church, celebrated early enough to be mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 20 and Saint Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 20. It supplants the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which took place 50 days after the Passover and which celebrated the sealing of the Old Covenant on Mount Sinai.

Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter (if we count both Easter and Pentecost). That means that it is a moveable feast—a feast whose date changes every year, based on the date of Easter in that year. The earliest possible date for Pentecost Sunday is May 10; the latest is June 13.

After Christ's Ascension into Heaven, the Apostles knew that He had promised to send His Spirit, but they didn't know exactly what that would mean. Between Ascension and Pentecost, the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary spent 9 days in prayer, waiting for the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to send His Spirit. This was the origin of the novena (nine-day prayer) that became one of the most popular forms of Christian intercessory prayer asking God for something.

On Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, they were granted the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those gifts helped them to fulfill their mission to preach the Gospel to all nations. On that first Pentecost over 3,000 people were converted and baptized. For us, too, those gifts, granted when we are infused with sanctifying grace the life of God in our souls, help us to live a Christian life. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are: WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNSEL, FORTITUDE, KNOWLEDGE, PIETY AND FEAR OF THE LORD.

Annual Memorial Day Mass To Be Celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church

The board of the Catholic Cemeteries of Springfield made the difficult decision not to celebrate the annual Memorial Day Mass at Resurrection Cemetery this year due to Covid concerns and the limited amount of space under the tent—making social distancing too challenging. Instead, Bishop Rice will celebrate the Memorial Day Mass at 9:00 a.m. on May 31, at Immaculate Conception Church. The Mass will also be live streamed on Immaculate Conception Church’s Facebook page. Everyone is invited to attend.

Garage Sale News:

We will have drop-offs for garage sale items after weekend Masses May 29th & May 30th. Drop off items at the gym after the Sat 5:00 PM Mass, Sunday, 8:00 AM Mass or the Sunday 11:30 AM Mass. We will also have drop off Tues June 1st and Thurs, June 3rd from 5:00-7:00 PM. Please remember, this year, we will not be accepting clothing, tv's, tires or computer monitors as well as car seats or cribs.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We will begin working morning and evening shifts Wed, June 2nd through the garage sale sorting, pricing and arranging items. Please call the parish office to sign up and Pat or Iris will call you back. Please leave your number with the parish office. We will need lots of volunteers. Remember this is a great opportunity for youth to get service hours. Proceeds from the sale will benefit PCCW functions and our parish building fund to build a parish center. Thank you for your help!

SENIORS UNLIMITED GAMES

We will begin with games at 1 p.m. on June 7th in the dining room. Since school will be out, please park behind the school and come in the hall from the west side. That way I only have to have one person at the door to let you in. Again, I ask that you come only if you are vaccinated.

-Sr. Elizabeth Ann

From the Pastor’s Desk:

Springfield Catholic High’s graduation took place on Friday evening of last week. They will truly never be the same after Friday evening. They will be attending colleges and universities all over the country, from California to Ohio. Some may even study abroad to get a much larger view of life. Some may enter the armed forces of the United States. Regardless of where they end up for the next years of their lives, their lives will never be the same. They are moving into the adult world with adult consequences for their actions. For myself it was a solemn celebration. Several of the students I had baptized, and others have been on the theater stage since their fourth or fifth grade.

On Tuesday evening we will celebrate the 8th grade St. Agnes Graduation Mass. As those young people walk into the Church for the last time as a class, they will never be the same. A few will transfer to public high schools, while the majority will enter Springfield Catholic High. Wherever they go, they will be beginning a new life. They will be making new friends, having new teachers, studying new subjects, or subjects much more in depth, all the while struggling to figure out who they are and what they are really all about. It is an exciting time and a scary time. A time of discovery and a time of growth on a more adult level with more adult consequences for their actions. My prayers are with them as they begin this new life.

On Friday of this week, May 21st Jesse Hiett will be ordained to the Diaconate here at the Cathedral. I have known Jesse for years as he has been on his faith journey. I believe he would agree with me that it has been an interesting journey. We work and grow at the Lord’s pace. His ordination Mass will be at 7 pm and you are invited, masks required.

On Monday May 24th I will celebrate my anniversary to the priesthood at a 7pm Mass. It has been 40 years since I knelt before Bishop Law and placed my hands inside of his hands and promised Obedience, Prayer Life, A Spirit of Poverty and Celibacy to him and to his successors. I am working under my fourth bishop. These 40 years of my faith journey have been filled with joy, happiness, sadness and frustration. There have been days when I said, “Why did I ever answer the call to priesthood?” and then there are days when I say, “Thank you Lord for the vocation of my priesthood and for my parents who encouraged me.”

My life as a priest has been rewarding. I have always chosen to work in Catholic Schools and with young people. I have approached my ministry as all the people of my parish are a part of my family. I believe that is why I have never been homesick and I believe for the great majority of the time, always been happy. Whether it is daily Mass, funerals, weddings, baptisms, planning for something in the parish, teaching in the school, directing the musicals at the high school; I feel the presence of God here at St. Agnes every day. I want to thank each of you for your accepting of this strange Christmas over the top, musical director, singing, and traveling priest. I must admit, I have wondered where the years have gone. It seems like I have awakened to find that 40 years have all of sudden disappeared.

Garage Sale News:

We will have drop-offs for garage sale items after weekend Masses May 29th & May 30th. Drop off items at the gym after the Sat 5:00 PM Mass, Sunday, 8:00 AM Mass or the Sunday 11:30 AM Mass. We will also have drop off Tues June 1st and Thurs, June 3rd from 5:00- 7:00 PM. Please remember, this year, we will not be accepting clothing, tv's, tires or computer monitors as well as car seats or cribs. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We will begin working morning and evening shifts Wed, June 2nd through the garage sale sorting, pricing and arranging items. Please call the parish office to sign up and Pat or Iris will call you back. Please leave your number with the parish office. We will need lots of volunteers. Remember this is a great opportunity for youth to get service hours. Proceeds from the sale will benefit PCCW functions and our parish building fund to build a parish center.

Thank you for your help!

Annual Memorial Day Mass To Be Celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church

The board of the Catholic Cemeteries of Springfield made the difficult decision not to celebrate the annual Memorial Day Mass at Resurrection Cemetery this year due to Covid concerns and the limited amount of space under the tent—making social distancing too challenging. Instead, Bishop Rice will celebrate the Memorial Day Mass at 9:00 a.m. on May 31, at Immaculate Conception Church. The Mass will also be live streamed on Immaculate Conception Church’s Facebook page. Everyone is invited to attend.

CONGRATULATIONS!

St. Agnes Cathedral parish celebrated First Eucharist with 15 young people on Sunday, May 9th at a special 2:30 PM Mass. The children who received their First Eucharist include LeAnn Bruce, Brooklyn Cooper, Fionn Dalton, Josiah Dalton, Brynley Eck, Cecilia Herbster, Clare Jones, Henry Leas, Alex McLaughlin, Mary Ellen Meek, Sophia Mowry, Elisabella Palazzolo, Kennedy Paulsell, Luca Renda and Bryce Richards. Please continue to pray for these young people as they continue to grow in their faith. We would like to acknowledge and thank all of our parents and family members who helped to prepare their children for the sacrament. We also thank their teachers: Kayla Weskamp, Jen Velten and Genevieve Vallentine. Thanks to Ryan Villapiano and Kevin Otradovec for providing the music. A special word of thanks to St. Ann's Group; especially Melissa Palazzolo & Elizabeth Hicks for decorating and serving at the reception immediately following Mass.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, let us pray for all mothers who have answered God’s call to participate with Him in bearing and raising her children.

Mothers have a very hard task of not only saying yes to their children, but also saying no. Just because something is popular, does not make it right or good for children, even if other parents say yes to their children. Movies with graphic violence, mild or suggestive sexuality, song lyrics that demean women or other races contradict the message of Jesus Christ. It is the job of parents to say yes or no and not to simply be their child’s friend. Young people have friends, they need good strong mothers and fathers. I say this every year and throughout the year. Parenting is not easy, it is a job, but it has great rewards.

It is also a bitter sweet time of the year when students are graduating from middle school and high school. Perhaps one of the hardest task for a mother is letting their child go. As I was growing up, it was called cutting the apron strings. The goal of motherhood is not to control children, but to prepare them to be happy, healthy, faith-filled adults. And at times this may mean stepping back and allowing young people to face the consequences of their actions. This is so hard for a loving mother, but sometimes letting go is the best love one can give. As we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May, we see that great example in her life as she watched her son mature, become a great rabbi and then die on the cross.

This weekend here at St. Agnes Cathedral fifteen of our young people will receive Holy Communion for the first time. From this time until the Lord calls them home, the Eucharist will be available to them, as well as to all practicing Catholics. The Eucharist is that special gift from God in which He can come into each of us individually to give us the grace and the guidance we need; Christ coming into us in that most special and intimate way. We become one with Christ, as Christ becomes one with us. May the Lord bless these young people.

2021 GRADUATE RECOGNITION

Graduates and Parents of high school and 8th grade graduates: During the month of May, we will be featuring profiles of our 8th grade and high school graduates. These profiles and pictures will be placed on our parish website and on our Facebook page. Our goal is to acknowledge the accomplishments of our graduates whether they attend Catholic, public or are home schooled. If you would like to have your graduate recognized, please contact the parish office for forms or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org. Thanks so much and we cannot wait to share the accomplishments of our graduates.

YOUTH: ADORATION UNDER THE STARS

Sunday, May 16th: 6:15-8:30 PM. Join us for an evening of food, outdoor games and Adoration Under the Stars. We will begin with a cookout, outdoor dodgeball, and Adoration. All are welcome; Please bring a lawn chair or blanket. All are welcome! Please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org for more information.

HERE YE, HEAR YE, SENIORS UNLIMITED OF ST. AGNES!

We need to get back together, don’t we? I am hoping, after school is out, to begin using the dining room for lunches each month and games weekly. I am asking that you come only if you have had the COVID vaccine since the virus is still out there making people sick. There will not be as many seated at the tables and we will wear masks except when eating.

I will give you specific dates in a couple of weeks and you will have to sign up for the luncheons. Let me know if you are interested. If you have any questions, call me.

Sr. Elizabeth Ann 831-3565, ext 103

From the Pastor’s Desk:

On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis issued the apostolic letter Patris Corde proclaiming a Holy Year in honor of St. Joseph. He called upon the Church to follow Joseph’s powerful example of quiet obedience, courage and tenderness and to pray to him for the “grace of graces: our conversion”.

In the life of the Church, the devotion to St. Joseph did not truly begin until the 16th century, and his title as Patron of the Universal Church. There is not much to be seen of St. Joseph in the Gospels. They do not record a single sentence or word spoken by him. Mark’s Gospel does not even mention St. Joseph. In John’s Gospel he gets two little lines. In the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke he is seen only briefly. Perhaps the reason is that so much emphasis was placed upon the virginity of Mary. It was with Joseph that Christ grew into a boy, a teenager, a man. Joseph played an important part in the raising of Jesus.

In the 5th century, St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom emphasized Joseph’s role in God’s plan and expanded upon the Gospels few lines concerning him. St. Joseph began to be seen in prayer books beginning in the 9th century. In the late Middle Ages, St. Bernardine of Siena and others began to propose Joseph as a model for men to imitate, especially husbands and fathers.

It was here in the new world that the devotion to St. Joseph began to take root and spread. Perhaps one of the reasons for the spread of the devotion was European diseases. They ravaged the native populations, and conquistadores of South and Central America, along with the Southwestern area of our country had children with native women, but took little care of their offspring. The Franciscan missionaries introduced devotion to St. Joseph in order to give these thousands of children a fatherly presence in their lives. By the late 16th century, images of St. Joseph was found in the art all through the areas where Spanish Franciscan missionaries built missions.

St Joseph was the man chosen by God to guide and protect the beginnings of the history of redemption. It was through the actions of Joseph that God saved His Son and the Blessed Virgin Mary from King Herod. Jesus the God of all creation came into this world as a tiny, baby boy. Joseph defended, protected and cared for the Son of God. During this Holy Year, place yourself in the loving hands that provided for the Son of God.

2021 GRADUATE RECOGNITION

Graduates and Parents of high school and 8th grade graduates: During the month of May, we will be featuring profiles of our 8th grade and high school graduates. These profiles and pictures will be placed on our parish website and on our Facebook page. Our goal is to acknowledge the accomplishments of our graduates whether they attend Catholic, public or are home schooled. If you would like to have your graduate recognized, please contact the parish office for forms or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org. Thanks so much and we cannot wait to share the accomplishments of our graduates.

MINISTRY SCHEDULES

Copies of the Ministry Schedule for May and June are available in the vestibule of the church for you to pick up. Please call the office, 831-3565 if you would like to be added to the schedule for July, Aug., and Sept or send an e-mail to eschatz@sta-cathedral.org.