PSR BEGINS NEXT WEEK!

SUNDAY AUGUST 27TH AT

10 AM

IF YOU MISSED

REGISTRATION, COME

FIND IRIS ON THE SECOND

FLOOR OF THE

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

From the Pastor’s Desk::

This Tuesday we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation.  As most Christians believe that death is a consequence of the first sin, and since the Catholic Church believes that Mary was conceived without original sin through the grace of God, theologians down through the centuries have wondered if Mary died or simply was assumed into heaven without dying.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church does not answer the question as an absolute, but says, “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven…” (#974; see also #966).

Holy Scripture tells us nothing of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.  However, in 1950, Pope Pius XII, after having consulted all bishops, proclaimed the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of the faith. This took place on November 1, 1950, the feast of All Saints. Faithful to the Pope and to his teaching, we thus firmly believe this truth to be a dogma of our faith: Mary was taken up into Heaven, both body and soul.  But Mary was not the first; Elijah was taken up into the heavens in a fiery chariot. (2 Kings: 2:1-12).

Catholic Christians from the earliest days of the Church have thought and believed that Mary was taken up into Heaven, not only her soul, but her body as well. So, wouldn't the unanimous belief of the Christian people be a testimony of Scripture itself, insofar as this testimony, like Scripture, goes all the way back to the Apostles themselves? Let us be sure of this: it is the Holy Spirit who guides both the Church and her Head, the Pope, who is truly the guarantor of this truth which, from now on, is proposed for our belief and teaches us that Mary was taken up into Heaven, both her body and her soul.

Through her body, Mary said "Yes!" to God.  Mary showed faith in the Angel who spoke in the name of God: "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord!" Through her body, Mary was elevated to a place so high that no creature would ever be able to displace her: she thus became the Mother of God and the Mother of Christ, the incarnate Word.  Mary became united to God through the Holy Spirit, becoming one with him in Christ. Lastly, Mary became the favored daughter of the Father, who had seen her in himself, in his Son, and in his Spirit for all eternity! Long before time began, the Father had loved Mary and had given her the Glory which she now possesses forever, in her body and her soul.

Mary is in Heaven. However, she is also still among us, singing the praises of God with us... Could a mother forget her children? Mary is the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus, but she is also the Mother of us all! Let us remember that Jesus gave her to us: "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!" (Jn. 19:26) Mary is still with us, because we are the Body of Christ, a Mystical Body, and a Body of Glory! In this communion of the Saints, all of us, with Mary, make up the one Body of Christ.  We look to Mary for the complete expression of total faith in God.  As we celebrate her feast of the Assumption on this Tuesday, August 15, we look forward to that day when we to can be in the eternal Kingdom in our glorified bodies.

Struggling with Life since being Widowed, Divorced or Separated?

Beginning Experience of Springfield is offering an eight-week support program, Coping With Life Alone, designed to help individuals work through the trauma of losing a spouse through death or divorce.  The program will begin Thursday September 14, 2023, at 6:30pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2200 W. Republic Rd., Springfield, MO.  Beginning Experience programs, offer strength and growth through a community of friendship, support and prayer.  The program’s trained facilitators have themselves experienced divorce or the death of a spouse.

The cost of the program is $30, but financial assistance is available for those in need. 

To pre-register, call Diane at (417) 859-0175 or cell (870) 688-8829 , Barb at (417) 827-3641, or Donna at 417-529-1085

CLOW

Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) will resume Sunday, Aug. 27th during the 11:30 AM Mass.  CLOW is open to children preschool through early elementary.  This is an opportunity for children to hear the word of God in a manner that they can more fully understand.  There is no signup required.  All children are welcome.  Visitors  are always welcome as well.  If you have any questions about CLOW, please call the parish office at 831-3565 ext 107 and ask for Iris.

SAVE THE DATE!

Catholic Women's Conference

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Doors open at 8 am and the conference begins promptly at 9 am

Conference fee of $25 includes lunch,

 t-shirt, and bag.

Use this link to register NOW to ensure your spot:

https://form.jotform.com/222586941597976

More details will come soon...

From the Pastor’s Desk:

This week beginning on August 3rd, many of the Vietnamese throughout the United State have come to Carthage Missouri to celebrate Marian Days at the Congregation of The Mother of The Redeemer.  As our Diocese became the welcoming Diocese for the Vietnamese people as they fled Vietnam following the Communist takeover of the country, St Agnes became the welcoming parish here in Springfield and our Vietnamese community has become a vibrant part of St. Agnes Cathedral. 

Roman Catholicism was brought to Vietnam by Father Diego Aduart, a Dominican from Spain who established a mission in Dinh Cat. The mission did not grow until an Italian Jesuit who was fluent in Vietnamese came a few years later.  Many people began to convert to Catholicism including an aunt to the reigning king.  By the year 1593, thirty seven parishes had been established around Dinh Cat.

About 30 years later Fr. Alexander de Rhodes a French Jesuit arrived and initiated the Vietnamese alphabets that are still in use today.  For more than 40 years Catholicism was tolerated due to the opened trade relations with Spain, France and Portugal.  As the Nguyen dynasty reunited the north and south regions into what is now Vietnam, the Nguyen Dynasty decreed Catholicism as a foreign religious sect leading a working class revolt against the dynasty.  In 1798 what followed was direct attacks upon the thirty seven parishes seeking to exterminate all Catholics.  More than 100,000 Vietnamese Catholics died as martyrs.

Many Christians fled to the jungle near Quang Tri, a village in central Vietnam.  Many died from the bitter cold weather, wild beasts, jungle sickness and starvation.   At night they many times gathered in small groups to pray the rosary.  Unexpectedly one night they were visited by an apparition of Our Bless Mother in a long cape, holding a child in her arms, with two angels at her sides.  She comforted them and told them to boil the leaves from the surrounding trees to use as medicine.  She also told them that from that day on, all those who came to this place to pray, would have their prayers heard and answered.

Despite its isolated location in the high mountains, her name spread and groups of people continued to find a way through the jungle to pray to the Lady of La Vang.  When the persecution ended in 1886, the small chapel that had been built was replaced with 3 chapels.  In 1901 a church was built, followed by a larger church in 1924.  In 1961 the church of La Vang was recognized as a national Marian Centre.  At the same time Pope John XXIII elevated the church to the Basilica of La Vang.  It was destroyed in 1972 during the Vietnam War.  After the War, the Lavang complex was enlarged to include a retreat center, a hospitality center, an outdoor amphitheater and a beautiful statue of Mary commemorating her apparitions.

We celebrate with the Vietnamese people who have traveled across our country, as they come together to remember and give thanks to the Blessed Mother under the name of Our Lady La Vang.

Struggling with Life since being Widowed, Divorced or Separated?

Struggling with Life since being Widowed, Divorced or Separated?        

Beginning Experience of Springfield is offering an eight-week support program, Coping With Life Alone, designed to help individuals work through the trauma of losing a spouse through death or divorce.  The program will begin Thursday September 14, 2023, at 6:30pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2200 W. Republic Rd., Springfield, MO.  Beginning Experience programs, offer strength and growth through a community of friendship, support and prayer.  The program’s trained facilitators have themselves experienced divorce or the death of a spouse.

The cost of the program is $30, but financial assistance is available for those in need. 

To pre-register, call Diane at (417) 859-0175 or cell (870) 688-8829 , Barb at (417) 827-3641, or Donna at 417-529-1085

Little Parish Library:

Little Parish Library:  St. Agnes Cathedral offers a variety of free books.  The "Little Parish Library"  is located in the vestibule of the Cathedral next to the water fountain.  Please feel free to browse the books and pamphlets and take what you like for your spiritual reading.  You can bring the book back when finished or better yet, pass it on to someone whom you feel might benefit from the book.

Garage Sale Thank You Brunch!

A huge thank you goes out to all the workers who helped to make our parish garage sale a success!  As a special thank you, we invite you to a brunch to be held Tues, Aug 8th at 9:30 AM in the dining room. If you worked an hour or 10 hours, we hope you will join us! No need to bring anything. We do ask you to RSVP by calling the parish office at 831-3565! Hope to see you there! Thanks again for your help!

From the Pastor’s Desk:

From the Pastor’s Desk::

Continuing from last week, we move from the Liturgy of the Word to the Liturgy of the Eucharist as the offering of the people (bread,

wine & money) is brought to the altar. The money is important, needed to pay the bills, but it is to be placed off to the side as what

is about to take place at the altar is the center of our Catholic Worship.

The altar is prepared with the bread and wine and the Preface is prayed or chanted by the priest. It is the pre prayer before the

Eucharistic Prayer. The words of consecration with the proclamation of faith follows. As I was taught in graduate studies, the mass is

a living memorial as we join the saints and angels in prayer at the altar and the Eucharist Prayer concludes with the Great Amen.

The three prayers surrounding the Eucharistic Prayer: The Holy, Holy, Holy, the Our Father, and the Lamb of God all come from

scripture as we celebrate our living God through Salvation History. The receiving of the Body and Blood of Christ places us at the

Eucharistic Table of the Last Supper.

The Mass closes with the final prayer, blessing and procession forth to live what we have just celebrated. The Gospel Book is not

carried out in procession, because we carry forth the word of God and live it in our daily lives as an example for all.

Our mass today is much like the mass of the early church. It is a mass celebrated by the priest surrounded by the faithful responding

in their common everyday language. I pray that our church does not go back to the day when the mass was the prayer of the clergy

and people mere spectators. That was not the mass of the early church.

The Mass allows each parish to take on some of the traditions of the people of that community. Over time, some of the parish

traditions changed or dropped by the side as new pastors and lay leaders come forth into leadership. However, the Mass structure,

prayers and readings are always the same, coming from the Roman Missal and the Lectionary.

If you are interested in helping with one of our liturgical ministries as a eucharistic minister or a Lector, please contact me at 417-831-

3565 ext 102 or lhejna@sta-cathedral.org

Garage Sale Thank You Brunch!

A huge thank you goes out to all the workers who helped to

make our parish garage sale a success! As a special thank you,

we invite you to a brunch to be held Tues, Aug 8th at 9:30 AM

in the dining room. If you worked an hour or 10 hours, we hope

you will join us! No need to bring anything. We do ask you to

RSVP by calling the parish office at 831-3565! Hope to see

you there! Thanks again for your help!

WOMEN OF FAITH

Ladies of the parish are invited Wednesday August 9 to

attend the 8:30 am Mass in the chapel. Please bring a

breakfast/brunch food to share in the dining room after

Mass.

Faith Formation Sign Up!

We welcome all children in grades K-8 and we also have

a special needs program for any student who may need

special assistance. Our classes are small and all our

teachers are Virtus certified and we use a curriculum

which is approved by our diocese. We prepare students

for the reception of the sacraments and all are welcome

whether your child is in public school, Catholic school or

may be home schooled.

Sign up and meet the teacher will be held

Sunday, August 20th at 10:45 in the cafeteria

Classes will be held on Sunday mornings from 10-

11:00 AM in St. Agnes School

Special family events will be held throughout the

year.

Sacramental classes available for students who

may need special consideration.

If you have questions or cannot attend, you can call Iris at

831-3565 ext 107 or email ibounds@sta-cathedral.org to

sign up. You can

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK:

As I visit with people after weekend liturgies, many of our visitors have very positive comments to say concerning choirs, music, response of the people, the celebration of the Mass in general.  Several weekend past we had a family pasting through our area as they were returning home. They were very pleased with our 5:00 pm Saturday evening mass.  They took the time to e mail the parish and described what impressed them the most. I believe that we celebrate our Sunday Liturgies very prayerfully and also according to the norms of the Catholic Liturgical Commission.  This week I want to spend some time looking at the celebration of the Mass and how the different parts of the liturgy are to be celebrated.

Welcoming is an important aspect of a parish, whether to visitors or parishioners.  Many people have commented on our new space created out in the front of the Cathedral, that it is a gathering space after mass where people can talk.  The Church space is for an instrumental prelude on organ, flute, piano, guitar, quiet prayer for people, which is to create a contemplative atmosphere for worship.

In the Entrance Rite a procession includes Cross bearer, candle bearers, incense bearer, master of ceremonies lector or deacon with the Book of Gospels, the presider.  If there is a special celebration such as wedding anniversary, or a baptismal party those are in the procession as well.  The pace of the procession is to be dignified, not a race up the aisle, not to be all bunched up.  In some parishes extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are found in the procession, but that is not liturgically correct.

             The Book of Gospels is to be placed immediately and directly on the altar to visually signify the unity between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  The Book is to be stood so it can be seen by the congregation.  The greeting, the Penitential Rite, the Gloria and opening prayer all follow from the Roman Missal. The first and second readings are proclaimed with the responsorial psalm being sung/chanted between the people and cantor.

              The sung Alleluia and the Gospel verse is to take place during a procession from the altar to the ambo.  The Book should be held for all to see until the Alleluia is finished.  The Alleluia is meant to be sung, not spoken, it is a praise before the life and teachings of Christ.  The Profession of Faith/Creed is a formal statement of our Catholic Faith.  The general intercessions following the Creed need to short so people can understand them.  The list of sick does not need to sound like a litany.  The response of the people needs to vary according to the liturgical season.  The intercessions and response may be sung on solemn occasions.  Included in the intercessions should be found significant international, national, local events such as disasters, elections, or tragedies. 

YOUTH GROUP

For updates on youth group events, please add @stacyouth via the Remind app. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Ronnie Bohrer at rbohrer@sta-cathedral.org .

Faith Formation Sign Up!

Hard to believe, but with summer coming to a close, it is time to sign up for our Parish Faith Formation Program!  We welcome all children in grades K-8 and we also have a special needs program for any student who may need special assistance.  Our classes are small and all our teachers are Virtus certified and we use a curriculum which is approved by our diocese.  We prepare students for the reception of the sacraments and all are welcome whether your child is in public school, Catholic school or may be home schooled.  

Sign up and meet the teacher will be held Sunday, August 20th at 10:45 in the cafeteria

Classes will be held on Sunday mornings from 10-11:00 AM in St. Agnes School

Special family events will be held throughout the year.

Sacramental classes available for students who may need special consideration.

If you have questions or cannot attend, you can call Iris at 831-3565 ext 107 or email ibounds@sta-cathedral.org to sign up.  You can also download a signup form from our parish website.  

Special Needs for Faith Formation!

If you are shopping for school supplies and find great bargains, we would love for you to think of our Faith Formation program and supplies we will use for PSR, Confirmation class, CLOW, our Advent and Lenten Fair and more.  Special needs include:

Crayons

Markers

Pencils, pens

Colored pencils

Glue sticks

Please drop any donations by our parish office or call Iris at 831-3565 ext 107 with any questions.  Thank you!

From the Associate Pastor's Desk

The time it takes to become a priest is surprisingly long. However, what is frequently more surprising is the journey through

which God calls men to become a priest. The six to eight years of education don't account for the years of discernment

and discipleship before a man enters the seminary. Every priest grew up in a particular context with many interests. As a

kid, I played soccer, collected rocks, and played Madden on my PlayStation 2 as much as my parents would allow. When

I became a high school student, all my relatives asked, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" As you can

imagine, my response to that question varied.

How much money a job paid was my most influential factor then. That factor, combined with growing up around math

teachers, led me towards a degree in engineering. Getting good grades and going to college sounded like a crucial

thing. I assumed I would go to a secular college, get a job, and marry. After all, that seemed like the ordinary course of

life.

As high school progressed, I became involved in my parish youth group. We went to local and national youth conferences,

discussed living out the faith, and ate a lot of pizza. As a junior or senior in high school, I began to feel drawn toward the

priesthood. However, it was an idea that scared me. I often thought, "God will call someone else to do that." My

hesitations caused me to keep the thought secret, hoping it would go away. You can probably guess how that story ends.

In the fall of 2013, I began college studies at Missouri University of Science and Technology, majoring in Mining

Engineering. Four years later, I would graduate with a degree in Geological Engineering. My experience in college was

similar to that of high school. I slowly became involved in the Newman Center on campus. Eventually, all of my spare time

was spent there hanging out with friends and ignoring our actual assignments. One of the most influential tasks I had at

the Newman Center was setting up for mass. That role afforded me extra time in the church with God and our parish

priest—both renewed my spark and desire for the priesthood.

During college, I got to know several priests and seminarians who helped me understand what being a priest meant.

Those experiences eased my fears, and I soon realized that I needed to enter the seminary and see if God was calling

me to be a priest. I had to hand over the tight control of my future that I had held to get my answer. In the fall of 2017, I

entered the seminary wondering, "Would I stay or would I go?" Again, you can probably guess how that story ends.

I spent six years in total at two different seminaries, Mundelein Seminary, and St. Meinrad Seminary. My time in those

places helped me to grow as a disciple and realize the great joy of serving the people of God as a priest. I've been

blessed with the support of several priest mentors and many great classmates who influenced and supported me along

the way. Most recently, I've had the great responsibility and privilege of saying mass, hearing confessions, and anointing

the sick. Lord only knows how that story ends.

Attention Families!

If you have a child who has not received the sacraments

of Reconciliation and First Eucharist and who will be

entering the 2nd grade or above in the Fall, please

contact Iris at the parish office. We want to make certain

that we have a complete list so we have all records such

as Baptism, dates of birth etc. in place. If you have any

special considerations or needs, call the parish office at

831-3565 or email Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org.

PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke occur when the

body's temperature control system is

overloaded. Children, senior adults and people with

chronic illness are at highest risk. To protect against heatrelated

illness, drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel

thirsty; avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine. Avoid

strenuous work or exercise outside during the hottest part of the

day if possible. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting

clothing. Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat

and sunglasses. Use sunscreen of SPF15 or higher (most

effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA.UVB

protection" on the label. Never leave anyone in a closed,

parked vehicle. Taken from www.springfieldmo.gov/5633/

Health