From the Pastor’s Desk:

Our Catholic Schools began the school year 2024-2025 this past week.  In enrolling your children in the Catholic schools you are taking advantage of one of the greatest gifts the Catholic Church offers to the people here in the United States.  In 1884 the Plenary Council of Baltimore was called.  A Plenary Council includes all bishops and representatives of each diocese in the country.

It was at this Council that the largest independent school system in American history was created; American Catholic Schools.  At this point in our country’s history, Catholics were the majority of immigrants fleeing from Europe due to wars, starvation and persecution.  Most only spoke the language of their birth country.  The great majority were poor.  There was a large anti-Catholic sentiment in the US.  Through local governments there was an attempt to integrate Catholic children into the public schools which promoted Protestant values.

Before the Council was called, there was a recognition that Catholic children in public schools were being flooded with “inaccurate knowledge on Catholicism,” such as usage of the term popery, Protestant-run common schools were causing Catholic children to fall from their faith.

The Baltimore Council declared “bishops are exhorted to have a Catholic school in every parish and the teachers should be paid from the parochial funds.”  Bishops were further recommended to “begin these schools whenever possible in their dioceses, since Catholic boys and girls are in grave danger in educational institutions which are not directed by Catholic religious motives.

Our Catholic Schools today still have the same basic reason for existence, to teach our Catholic Faith.  When our Catholic School System of Springfield was created over 30 years ago it was agreed that each of the parishes was to give 52 % of their Sunday collection to support the schools of the system.  This money would help to offset the tuition that parents would be assessed.  When a family is registered in one of the 4 parishes that pay that assessment their tuition is lower.

To have their Active Catholic Form to be accepted, a family needs to be attending Sunday Mass on a regular basis, need to be in some form of ministry or contribute to the finances of the parish.  This year St. Agnes Cathedral contributes approximately $20,000 each month.  This figure is based upon the previous years’ Sunday income.  All parishioners are invited, encouraged to send their children to our Catholic Schools, even if they cannot afford the tuition.  That was made clear at the Baltimore Council in 1884.

Fr. Lewis is looking for a part-time maintenance person. Please call 417-831-3565 ext 102