WOMEN OF FAITH

This group offers an opportunity for women of the parish to pray and socialize together on a monthly basis. If you are looking for this type of opportunity, come join us at the 8:30 am Mass in the chapel on Friday, June 3. Please bring a breakfast or brunch food to share in the pavilion

Ordination

Dear St. Agnes Parishioners - Thank you for your prayers and support over these past several years in my preparation for the priesthood. In gratitude, I would like to invite all of you to attend the following upcoming events:

Ordination Mass 

Celebrated by Bishop Edward M. Rice

Friday, May 27, 2022, 5:30 PM

At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

2200 West Republic Road Springfield, MO

Mass of Thanksgiving

Saturday, May 28, 2022, 4:00 PM

Immaculate Conception 

3555 South Fremont Springfield, MO 

Reception to Follow - Please RSVP to jhiett@usml.edu. 

Thank you and please know you remain in my prayers. 

-Rev. Mr. Jesse Hiett

From the Pastor’s Desk:

On Friday morning we celebrated the Graduation Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish for all of our graduating seniors from Springfield Catholic High School.  As those young people walked into the Church for the last time as a class, they will never be the same.  A few will enter the military, the great majority will continue their education attending colleges and universities all over the country, from California to New York. 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.   Regardless of where they end up for the next years of their lives, their lives will never be the same.  My prayers are with them as they begin this new life.

On Tuesday evening here at St. Agnes Cathedral, our eighth grade class will walk through the doors of the Cathedral, for their last trip down the isle as a class.  In the fall they will begin a new life, as high school students.  Most will continue their education at Springfield Catholic High School.  They will meet new friends, while continuing old friendships, new teachers, new freedoms which come with new responsibilities.

It is interesting that the graduation ceremony is referred to as a commencement ceremony.   Graduation is both the end of something and the beginning of something.  Being in education as a teacher for 17 years, director of the theater for 12 years and once again as chaplain for years; young people are not really completing something as much as setting the table for themselves to accomplish something great in their lives.  I believe it can be summed up in 3 words:  unselfishness, servanthood and love.  All three are found in the life of Jesus Christ who is our brother, friend, example and God.

UNSELFISHNESS – is the key to real success.  So often people think only of themselves and at the cost of hurting others or neglecting others. In the long-term they will find themselves empty and always wanting more because they were selfish.  Christ is our example in giving and sharing.

SERVANTHOOD – is the 2nd key to real success.  Serving others is what enables a person to experience gratitude, appreciation and a sense of community.  Christ is our example.

LOVE – is the 3rd key to real success.   You don’t have to like everybody.  For that matter you can like just a few people.  But we’re commanded to love everyone.  Regardless of color, ethnicity, language, etc.  Each of us is made in the image and likeness of our God, each of us have been given the opportunity to be loved and it begins by us loving ourselves, others and Christ.

These are why we have Catholic Schools, to put Jesus Christ as the reason for all we do, the example to follow.  My prayer for all these young people is they will live these three words in their lives.

St. Agnes is looking for a full time (M-F) maintenance employee. Please call Fr. Lewis 831-3565 ext 102.

MEMORIAL DAY MASS AT SPRINGFIELD’S RESURRECTION CEMETERY

Bishop Edward M. Rice will celebrate a Mass at 9:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 30, on the grounds at Resurrection Cemetery, 4528 W. Division St.  Seating will be available under a large tent, and refreshments will be served afterward.

Please prayerfully consider a donation to the upkeep of the Catholic Cemeteries May 28-29. This is when most of the money to keep everything running and beautiful is collected for the year!

Steubenville Info session

There will be an informational session for youth and volunteers who will be attending Steubenville on Sunday, May 22nd at 6:15.  We will be planning for t-shirts, room assignments and more.  We are also creating a waiting list for Steubenville in case any high school student who did not sign up may wish to sign up.  Contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org if you have questions about Steubenville.

From the Pastor’s Desk:

Last week end we viewed the Diocesan Development Fund Drive address from our Bishop.  Each year our Bishop comes to us seeking our financial help in running the Diocese and providing for the spiritual needs of the people of the Diocese.

         The DDF pays for many areas of ministry across our diocese.  I do not like lists, but perhaps this is the best way to show how our monies from the DDF are spent to help us and our Diocese.  1) Family Life Ministries, helping those preparing for marriage, 2) Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, those coming into the Church, 3) Social Ministry, all different aspects of reaching out to those who have no voice, or need a stronger voice in our society, 4)Campus Ministry, helping to staff priests on 2 of our public college campus’, 5) Tribunal, those who are seeking annulments for their broken marriages, 6) Vocations/Seminarians, continuing to reach out to young men and women searching a religious vocation, 7) Youth Ministry, which includes Camp Re-New-All, Catholic Scouting, 8) Office Of Worship, providing for all the Diocesan Liturgies, 9) The Mirror, our Diocesan Newspaper keeping us informed with all that is happening in our Diocese, 10) Catholic Schools, guided by our superintendent, 11) Finance Office, overseeing the monies of the Diocese as well as guiding parishes.

This weekend we are also celebrating and honoring all mothers, both those living and those who have returned to the Lord.  Whether our mothers are living or deceased, remember them in prayer.  The flowers are nice, taking them out to lunch or dinner is great, but remember them in prayer.  Our mothers spent countless hours in prayer for each of us.  The nights they stayed awake until we walked in the back door.  All the chauffeuring to music events, sporting events, to the pool, to the movies, you name it, our mothers did it out of love.  So spend some time in prayer for them, because God knows how much prayer our mothers have sent heavenward for us, their sons and daughters.

               As Catholic Christians, we have for almost 2000 years been showing respect and honor to the Mother of Jesus Christ.  In giving Mary that special love and respect, hopefully we see our own mothers right there beside her.  Mary in saying yes to the Archangel Gabriel, changed her whole life around.  That is also the case of our own mother, when she said yes to us the moment we were conceived.  Motherhood is not something to be taken lightly by anyone.  Also I urge everyone to spend some time, the most special gift we can give to another person, especially our mother, the gift of time and love.

Dear St. Agnes Parishioners -

Dear St. Agnes Parishioners - Thank you for your prayers and support over these past several years in my preparation for the priesthood. In gratitude, I would like to invite all of you to attend the following upcoming events:

Ordination Mass 

Celebrated by Bishop Edward M. Rice

Friday, May 27, 2022, 5:30 PM

At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

2200 West Republic Road Springfield, MO

Mass of Thanksgiving

Saturday, May 28, 2022, 4:00 PM

Immaculate Conception 

3555 South Fremont Springfield, MO 

Reception to Follow - Please RSVP to jhiett@usml.edu. 

Thank you and please know you remain in my prayers. 

-Rev. Mr. Jesse Hiett

Childcare Volunteers Needed at Rancho Shelter

Childcare Volunteers Needed at Rancho Shelter

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri operates Rancho Emergency Shelter and Housing Program, which currently houses more than 50 formerly homeless adults and kids. The children range in age from infants to teenagers, and we want to start offering childcare for the little ones while their parents attend much-needed classes. Rancho is at 1720 E. Kearney, and the times for childcare are Tuesdays from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm and 6:00 pm-7:00 pm (same day). If you can help these families on their journey to self-sufficiency by spending a few hours with their children, please get in touch with Jill Bryant at jbryant@ccsomo.org or call 417-720-4213.

Garage Sale Information:

Garage Sale Information:

Our annual St. Agnes Garage Sale will be June16th-18th in our St. Agnes Gym.  This is an excellent opportunity for you to donate all of those items from your garage, basement and attic! We will again need volunteers to help price, sort and set up. We cannot take computers, tv's or monitors, baby beds or infant seats. If you have questions please call the parish office at 831-3565 or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

Garage Sale Drop Off Dates:

SAT May 28th after 5:00 pm Mass

SUN May 29th after 8 am & 11:30 am Masses

SAT June 4 after 5 pm Mass

SUN June 5th after 8 am & 11:30 am Masses

SAT June 11th after 5 pm Mass

SUN June 12th after 8 am & 11:30 am Masses

From the Pastor’s Desk:

On May the eighth the Church celebrates Mother’s Day and World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I’m not sure why the church placed Vocations Day on this particular Sunday, so I am going to write my letter for this weekend on vocations, a look at discerning the priesthood. There are two areas or things that I hear from young guys thinking about the priesthood; lifelong commitment and celibacy. Our world and society offers so many choices to young people in the area of jobs. So many people change jobs or careers after only a few years, due to money or simply, “I don’t like it.” How can a young person make a lifelong commitment to be a priest or religious? In my almost 41 years of priesthood. I do not get bored, I simply move to a different ministry that day or week. When a young man enters the seminary, he is not saying “I’m going to be a priest, but rather, “I’m going to study what it means to be a priest.” It is also extremely important to understand that entering a seminary does not erase the desire for marriage. Through years of study and a process of formation, the church invites men to freely choose the gift of celibacy, not as a burdensome obligation, but happily, as a pathway to conforming their lives to Christ. After years of study and discernment a seminarian must have discovered a “celibate heart,” a joy of serving the Lord above all else, leaving behind the beauty of family life for an even greater spiritual good. There as long been a debate on the Church’s teaching that her priests be unmarried, that they have the Church as their spouse. St Paul wrote in I Cor. Chapter 7, “An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.” It is important to understand that the choice between priesthood and marriage is not a choice between sacrifice and bliss. In celibacy the joys of family life is a true sacrifice, but family life also brings many burdens and crosses. As a person feels an intense natural desire for love, sex and family, these require a substantial sacrifice and a dying to self for the good of the marriage. A good marriage takes a great amount of sacrifice and work. The main point is that both marriage and priesthood have their own unique joys and require their own unique sacrifices.

EASTER FLOWERS

In memory of: Erwin & Agnes Wagstaff Bernice Holstein ‘Don & Judy Rippee Darlene Rapp Procop & Mary Francka Jake & Rosie Francka Bill Horton Maksin-Keller Lee & Angie Viorel Lee Viorell, Jr. Vernon & Ida Hanson Mac & Mary Hummock Susan Jurgensmeyer Barb Mc Million Joan Bean Sandra Kingsolver In Honor of: Fr. Lewis Hejna Fr. Allen Kirchner Sr. Elizabeth Ann Weiler

MEMORIAL DAY MASS AT SPRINGFIELD’S RESURRECTION CEMETERY

MEMORIAL DAY MASS AT SPRINGFIELD’S RESURRECTION CEMETERY Bishop Edward M. Rice will celebrate a Mass at 9:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 30, on the grounds at Resurrection Cemetery, 4528 W. Division St. Seating will be available under a large tent, and refreshments will be served afterward. Please prayerfully consider a donation to the upkeep of the Catholic Cemeteries May 28-29. This is when most of the money to keep everything running and beautiful is collected for the year

DONATIONS NEEDED

Please bring any used but clean tee-shirts and jeans/shorts that you no longer want to the office. I will see that they are taken to Grace United Methodist church and Connecting Grounds for the homeless. These particular items will NOT be sold at the garage sale in June.

From the Pastor’s Desk::

As the joyous season of Easter has come, let us celebrate Christ breaking the bonds of death and coming back from the dead.  In celebrating and living the fifty days of Easter I want to challenge each of us to a stronger prayer life.  All of us, myself included need to spend more time in prayer, in communicating with our God.  We need to shut off the televisions, radios, computers, tablets, cell phones and simply talk with God and not just at Easter or Christmas. Our God  sent His Son to die for us, how often do we spend time in prayer?

The entire Season of Lent for the Ukrainian people was a time of true penance, sacrifice and death.  They are experiencing the total destruction of their country: schools, homes, churches, businesses, factories, infrastructure and people.  Our Lent was simple in comparison and our Easter is a time of joy and thankfulness.  So be careful that you/we do not complain about the high cost of gasoline, food in the stores, or waiting for weeks for something we have ordered.  With the destruction of the Ukraine, the wheat supply especially along with other grains are going to be affected for the world.  Steel production is going to be affected.  The Ukraine was a modern, industrial and agricultural country and all of that is gone, plus millions being made homeless along with thousands killed.

The world that we have been living in since the fall of the Soviet Union 31 years ago has changed in the last 55 days.  It may never be the same.  St. Paul wrote to the Romans almost 2,000 years ago that as disciples of Jesus we must “not be conformed to this world,” “but be transformed by the renewal of our minds”.  In order to be citizens of heaven, we must be detached from the noise and chaos of the world, but we need to participate fully in cultural, political and public life.  In other words I believe St. Paul was/is telling us to detach ourselves from the news cycles, social media arguments which inflame our anger, or provoke our anxiety and shift our focus from God to the temporal.  At the same time we are not to “bury” our heads in the sand.  We have the responsibility to know and understand what is happening in our world and work to make the world a better place to live.

During this Easter Season let us truly become a people of prayer, thanking God for the gift of His Son and asking God that peace be restored in Eastern Europe. This is not a onetime prayer that we say or ask and then move on to the next thing. Our God is an unchanging and ever-loving God who moves in His time not ours. Silent prayer and contemplation for only a few minutes each week/day before the Blessed Sacrament can calm our hearts and renew our minds and place our troubled world before our God.

Just a note

Robbie Pentecost has asked for a Memorial Mass for her mother Rose Pentecost-- prior to the burial of her cremains on May 7th--- at 10 a.m. with visitation preceding.  It has not yet been determined whether the Mass will be in the chapel or the Cathedral.  Sister Robbie is inviting friends of her mother to attend.

Once again I am looking for a second person to help clean church  on the 4th weekend of each  month. It helps that there are 9 volunteers so far, so that no one has to do it too often.   Please call me for details if you are interested. I can get a substitute for you if you have to be out of town on your weekend-- or you can trade with someone.      Sister Elizabeth Ann 417-831-3565, ext 103

Youth Activities

Our First Eucharist will be held Sunday, May 1st at a special Mass at 2:30 PM in the cathedral.  21 of our young people will receive their First Eucharist.  Please keep these young people in your prayers as they continue to prepare for First Eucharist.

A huge “thank you” to all the youth of our PSR and St. Agnes school. Together, through all of Lent, they collected $1, 899.88 for the Bishop’s Youth Mission of Mercy Project. This year’s beneficiary of this project will be Mother’s House located in Hayti, Missouri.

Thank You! Thank You!

Thanks to all of you who may have brought in candy or plastic eggs for our parish Easter Egg hunt held on Easter Sunday.  We love to see the little ones have such a good time finding the eggs.  We could not do this without the generosity of our parishioners.  We also thank all of those who helped on Easter morning!!!

From the Pastor’s Desk::

We find ourselves in the glow of the Easter Candle for the 50 days after Easter.  Lent has ended, 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, lets’ go to Church, out to eat and get on with the next thing.

     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, 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 lit during the Easter Season, during each baptism, and the celebration of a funeral liturgy.  During the Easter Season I try to keep fresh flowers in the sanctuary as another symbol of life.  I want to thank everyone who helped in the purchasing of our Easter flowers.

       Please welcome all those who have joined with us at the Eucharistic Table for the first time at the Easter Vigil.  Also plan on attending our Synod next Sunday 9:00-11:00 in the cafeteria.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Our First Eucharist will be held Sunday, May 1st at a special Mass at 2:30 PM in the cathedral.  21 of our young people will receive their First Eucharist.  Please keep these young people in your prayers as they continue to prepare for First Eucharist.

We will have our PSR Mass on Sunday, April 24th at the 11:30 Mass.  We hope that many of our families will attend.  Please put this on your calendar.

Garage Sale Information:

Our annual St. Agnes Garage Sale will be June 9th-11th in our St. Agnes Gym.  This is an excellent opportunity for you to donate all of those items from your garage, basement and attic.  We will have plenty of drop off opportunities available as we get closer to the dates of the garage sale.  We will again need volunteers to help price, sort and set up. Just an FYI, we cannot take computers, tv's or monitors, baby beds or infant seats. If you have specific questions about the sale or want to sign up to help, please call the parish office at 831-3565 or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

DDF

The annual Diocesan Development Fund appeal will be held on April 30 and May 1. This effort is conducted in every parish of the diocese to help finance the activities and ministries of the Catholic Church in southern Missouri. Our parish goal is $101,608.00.  We ask you to keep the DDF campaign in your prayers.