WE ARE CALLED

I’ve always loved the Pieta’, but even more so after reading some of the following commentary by Dr. Anthony Esolen on Bishop Barron’s presentation. The sculpture, of course, depicts the Blessed Mother holding her Son after his death. Mary, our Mother, gave Christ to us by her ‘yes” to God at the Annunciation and the Pieta’ shows her continuing to give Christ to us after his death. Her left hand is extended, giving Jesus to the world; her right hand is pressing him close, but through the veil of her garment, just as the priest shows Christ to us when he lifts the monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. In the Pieta’, Mary also represents the Church, as she offers us the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of her Son in the Eucharist. Michelangelo completed this incredibly beautiful sculpture when he was only 22 years old. Some feel that it should have a place on the altar because it does show us that what we receive is fully the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of her Son. Our Pieta’ is in our chapel where it is quiet and holy. I love being there.

Ginny Smithberg

SENIORS UNLIMITED OF ST AGNES

will have a catered luncheon on Monday, July 15 at 11:30am in the Dining Room. Lunch will be Monterey Chicken with Mexican Rice. Come and meet someone new to you. Please sign up at the office, 831-3565, so there will be enough food. - Sr. Elizabeth Ann

From The Pastor’s Desk

Several years ago the University of North Carolina sponsored a study on “Teens and Religion,” led by sociologist Christian Smith. Those of us who have a strong relationship with God, who try to do the best of our ability to lead others to Christ, did not find the results surprising: four in five teens say religion is important in their lives. This survey of more than 3,000 teens from across the country and of different religions is the most comprehensive ever done on faith and the adolescent.

The research revealed that teens who hold religion important in their lives are more likely to: 1) Do better in school 2) Feel better about themselves 3) Shun alcohol, drugs, and sex 4) Care about the poor 5) Make moral choices based on what’s right rather than what would make them happy. At the same time, the research indicated that many teens along with their parents know little about their religion. I have been a priest for 31 years and this has been my experience here in Springfield, as well as in the Cape Girardeau area.

What Christian faiths have to worry about, the study found, “isn’t teen rebellion, but a benign ‘whateverism’ that tends to reduce their perception of God to more of a valet–someone meeting individual needs–than an authority figure.” This means that a growing number of teens are replacing traditional faith with an alternative religious vision of divinely underwritten personal happiness and interpersonal niceness. The sense for community is being lost. Thus, this is one of the reasons our Catholic high schools and Confirmation classes stress service to both the Church, as well as to the Community. The study found that teens are not alienated from organized religion.

Over half of the 3,370 teens interviewed said that religion is extremely, or at least very, important in their lives. More than two-thirds of teens report attending “church” services many times a year, and more than six in 10 teens say they would attend services regularly if it were entirely up to them but their parents sometimes want to “sleep in” on Sundays. Nearly eight in 10 who attend services say they expect to attend the same organized religion when they are 25. Almost none reported having had bad experiences with clergy or youth ministers.

The study indicated that parents are the leading role models in the spiritual lives of their children. Among parents who were interviewed, of those who said that their religion was extremely important to them, two thirds of their teenage children said religion is extremely or very important in their lives. In comparison, of the teenagers whose parents said religion was not very important, 48 percent of these teens said religion was not important in their lives.

As the Second Vatican Council stated, “Parents are the primary educators of their children in the faith.” What parents do and say has a tremendous influence upon their children for the rest of their lives. I ask all parents take a good, hard look at the promises they made at the time of their children’s Baptism and ask the question, “Are we fulfilling our Baptismal commitments?”

ST AGNES PARISH MEMBER UPDATE

Does our Church database have your family membership correct? Please check your listing in our 2018 Buzz Book. Have you changed your phone number? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Are all of your children still at home or in college and are they all included in your membership record? Do you want your record published? If you have not already informed the St. Agnes Office about changes to your record, please let us know by July 15, so that the information in the Buzz Book is correct. Office number is 831-3565 or you can email eschatz@sta-cathedral.org.

DONATIONS WANTED FOR CCM

Catholic Campus Ministry, 845 s. Holland Springfield Missouri is asking for your help with donations of the following items: Copy Paper, white and color, large canisters of powder lemonade or drink mix, 55 gallon trash bags, 3 gallon trash bags, paper plates-all sizes, hot and cold drink cups, plastic forks and spoons, coffee stirrers, paper bowls, powder creamers, coffee pods for a Keurig coffee maker. If questions please contact Bev Franklin 417-860-6329. Summer hours are M-Thursday 8am-1pm

SENIORS OF ST AGNES

Seniors Unlimited will have a catered luncheon on Monday, July 15 at 11:30am in the Dining Room. Lunch will be Monterey Chicken with Mexican Rice. Come and meet someone new to you. Please sign up at the office, 831-3565, so there will be enough food. S. Elizabeth Ann

From The Pastor’s Desk

Canon Law requires that each parish once a year has a missionary priest visit and explain their work and ask for an offering to help with their ministry.  This next weekend we welcome Fr. Barnabas who belongs to the Indian Missionary Society, known as IMS.  The Indian Missionary Society was founded on November 3rd in 1941 in the northern part of India.  Their purpose is PIONEERING EVANGELIZATION, to take a non-Christian area, develop and establish a Catholic community and then hand over this new parish to the diocese and begin again in a new area.  The Society is today working in 89 center and parishes spread across 43 dioceses. 

The Society has 222 priests and 150 seminarians, with 7 ordained to the priesthood this year.  The work of the Society includes preaching the Word of God, celebrating Mass in villages and with families, sponsoring children in their education in both primary and secondary schools. They are working to empower women, they have medical camps, social and developmental projects, safe drinking water hand pumps and wells for agricultural irrigation.  They have one HIV/AIDS rehabilitation center for 100 children and 45 adults, one center for adults who are mentally challenged, one for children and another center for hearing impaired children.

The Society is totally depend on the generosity, donations and gifts of their sponsors and benefactors.  Please welcome Fr. Barnabas this weekend while I am on vacation.

WE ARE CALLED

Some people seem to have a silver tongue and say the most beautiful things. Just listen to this: “The desire for God is written in the human heart because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases go draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” (CCC 27) This is the opening point of the first chapter of our Catechism. How beautiful is that?

Beauty has many faces in God’s world … mountains, waterfalls, animals, music, acts of kindness, love, people and on and on and on. We think you might appreciate Bishop Barron’s DVD featuring Michelangelo whose sculptures and paintings are magnificent. We’ll meet on Monday, July 1st in the cafeteria at 6:15pm. We hope you’ll join us.

An another note, we had a great group of new parishioners for coffee and donuts last Sunday morning. We had four families with a bunch of beautiful little children and a few older brothers and sisters. As a mom and grandma I believe the children God gives to us are the most beautiful of all His creations.

Ginny

the prog

Seniors Luncheon

Seniors of St. Agnes will have a catered luncheon on Monday, July 15 at 11:30am in the Dining Room. Come and meet someone new to you. Please sign up at the office, 831-3565, so there will be enough food.

                                                                       S. Elizabeth Ann

Join us for Mass at CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI

Wednesday, July 3 at Noon - St. Anne Monastery

(CCSOMO Headquarters)

424 E. Monastery Street

Springfield, MO 65807

Please join us for Mass in the Chapel at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri on the first Wednesday of each month followed by a potluck lunch.

Msgr. Thomas Reidy will be saying Mass and ALL are welcome!

From The Pastor’s Desk

In May I celebrated 38 years as a priest. I almost forgot about the day. What does astound me is that five of those years have been here at St. Agnes Cathedral. It does not seem possible that five years have gone by since I moved from the south side of Springfield. They have been good years. As a parish we have accomplished much in brick and mortar, in spiritual growth and in helping the poor. I am not going into all the different programs and areas which have been happening these five years, but to simply say thank you to all of you who have worked in any of the ministries here at St. Agnes.

A man goes into the seminary, not stating he is going to be a priest, but as any person entering college with a possible idea of a major. Only if a man studies what it is to be a priest, can a man make that decision clearly. My whole idea of priesthood was shattered the first few months I was in the seminary. I found out that priests were human beings and did not spend all day in prayer or in church. Even the Benedictine monks whom I studied under for seven and half years worked in the schools, in the flower beds, at the Printing House, in the cafeteria, all different types of jobs. They then came together for prayer and meals.

My life as a priest is anything but boring. Each day brings its’ own successes and failures, joys and sorrows. All of that depends upon the needs of the people. Priesthood has been and is an exciting life. But it is just like any other life, married or single. Priesthood is what you make of it. I know that I am not perfect and my style of ministry is not the same as all other priests. That was one important thing that St. Meinrad taught us, be the person you are and use what God has given you to be the best priest you can.

Enjoying the different liturgies, my love of music, my love of plants and building things, different types of art and decorating, the musicals, my love of teaching and even my travels are all unique ways that I try to use to enhance my ministry. Some of my fellow priests say that I over do, others just think that I am “nuts”. Regardless, all of these areas of my life are what makes me who I am, and why I am never bored.

Youth Gathering: Sunday June 23rd: 3:30-5:00pm.

Meet in cafeteria. We will have a Sundae discussion: ice

cream provided: bring & share your favorite sundae

topping! Be prepared to share your favorite saint & why!

Steubenville updates too! All are welcome!

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED

We would like to thank the outgoing members who have served on the Parish Council for their time and effort:

-Karen Dobson

-Mike Pittman

-Judy Hauschildt (PCCW Representative)

Regina Nixon will be replacing Judy as PCCW Rep.

Thank you Regina for taking on this responsibility.

NEW ST AGNES STEWARDSHIP GROUP

St. Agnes is looking for parishioners who are passionate about their catholic faith and the growth of the parish. Anyone who is interested in researching and discussing ways we can increase our parish community is asked to join the St. Agnes stewardship group. We will have an informational meeting Sunday June 30th at 9:45am in the school dining room. Please contact Gary Herman at herms10210@gmail.com or text/call 314-808 -1165 with any questions

From The Pastor’s Desk

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day. It is a day set aside to honor and show respect to our dads or to any man who has guided and cared for us as a father, whether they are here or no longer with us. Father’s Day was first proposed in 1909 by a Mrs. Dodd who wanted a special day to honor her father, a Civil War veteran. He was a widower who raised his newborn and five other children on a rural farm in the state of Washington.

The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The special day grew across our country so much that, by 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national day dedicated to dads. It was, however, President Lyndon Johnson who signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

Being a father means facing many struggles and difficulties. It means going to work, even when you prefer to stay in bed, because you know that your family depends on you. It means disciplining your children so that they might grow up to be mature men and women. It means constantly looking out for your family, making every effort to ensure that they are protected.

Thank God we have a Heavenly Father who does all this and helps the fathers here on earth to do the same. Not a single sparrow falls to the earth without the Heavenly Father’s consent, says the Gospel; thus, our earthly fathers are under our Heavenly Father’s care and support. God our Father protects and nurtures His children, and makes His family a house of love.

Take some time this weekend to remember your dad, whether living or deceased. Thank him for all that he has done for you–for all the time he spent on your projects, being with you in many of your school activities, and for providing the examples of faith and love.

Also I ask you to remember in prayer all the different priests and parishes which will be affected because of the priest changes this next month. I have been asked, “Why does the Bishop transfer pastors around?” There are several reasons, but one of strongest is that it is healthy for parishes and priests as we each have our gifts and talents and they may not be the best in one parish, whereas they would be good in another parish.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is for non- Catholics interested in becoming Catholic. We also welcome baptized Catholics needing to be confirmed. Our classes begin in mid-August. All needed materials for our classes will be provided by the parish. If you know of anyone interested in becoming Catholic or needing to be confirmed, please have them call Sabrina at the parish office to set up an interview before classes start. This year promises to be a very blessed one for the RCIA!

WE ARE CALLED

We finally had a meeting and it was great to be together again. We have new events on our calendar, so buckle up and hold on tight because we’re raring to go. But first things first. Thank you, wonderful people of God, for your prayers and kind thoughts. They are working and I am most grateful to all of you.

Sunday, June 23, after the 8:30 Mass we will have coffee and donuts for new parishioners. We want to meet you. If by chance our phone calls miss you, please call the office, 831-3565, and tell them you want to come. Your children are welcome also; we just need to know how many donuts to purchase.

On Monday, July 1, at 6:15pm in the Upper Room, we’ll present Bishop Barron’s CD featuring Michelangelo. Think Sistine Chapel, the David, The Pieta, and other unbelievably beautiful works of art. He’s one of the individuals that Bishop Barron chose in his Pivotal Players series. He’s not a saint (hmm) but I’ll bet that God has a special title for him. By the way, movies are better with popcorn and we’ll have some waiting for you.

Ginny

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School will be June 23-27 from 6-8:30pm at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. If you have a child in kindergarten through sixth grade in the upcoming school year, have them join us. Grade seven through adults may register to help with the program. The registration form for both attendees and volunteers are in the trifold in the vestibule of the church. When they are filled out, they come back to Sabrina Schmidt at the parish office. If you have any questions give her a call. We look forward to a fun, faith-filled week. Come and join us!

From The Pastor’s Desk

The Ascension of Our Lord occurred 40 days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter. It is the final act of our redemption that Christ began at His birth and continued through the Triduum. On this day, the risen Christ, in the sight of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven. The reality of Christ's Ascension is so important that the different Christian creeds all affirm, in the words of the Apostles' Creed; that "He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead." The denial of the Ascension is as grave a departure from Christian teaching as is denial of Christ's Resurrection.

Christ's bodily Ascension foreshadows our own entrance into Heaven not simply as souls, after our death, but as glorified bodies, after the resurrection of the dead at the Final Judgment. In redeeming mankind, Christ not only offered salvation to our souls but began the restoration of the material world itself to the glory that God intended before Adam's fall.

The Feast of the Ascension marks the beginning of nine days of prayer before the descent of the Holy Spirit. Before His Ascension, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to His apostles. Their prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit, which began on Ascension Thursday, ended with the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, ten days later.

In the 1990s The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops began to look at moving the celebration to the following Sunday. Many countries had already done so in the 70s and 80s. Several reasons were given, the two most important being: 1) Ascension is so important to our Christian Faith; 2) celebrating it on Sunday meant more people would truly celebrate it.

This past Friday, May 31, Daniel Belken and Allen Kirchner were ordained to the Diaconate at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. They were ordained as transitional deacons and will be ordained to the priesthood after serving as deacons in a parish and with completion of all their studies this coming school year.

Deacons exercise various roles within the Roman Catholic Church. They are to proclaim the Gospel and may give the homily at Mass. They are extra ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. As ordained ministers, they may celebrate baptisms and marriages at the permission of the pastor. The deacon also assists the celebrant at the Eucharist.

The history of Deacons begins in the Acts of The Apostles. Seven men were chosen to assist the Apostles in ministering to Greek widows and orphans. They also took Holy Communion to the homebound and went into the prisons to visit the Christians condemned to death. The first Christian martyr was St. Stephen. He was one of the original seven deacons who was stoned to death for preaching the Gospel to the Jews and died at the feet of Saul (St. Paul).

As we celebrate Deacon Daniel and Deacon Allen’s ordinations, let us also keep all of our seminarians in prayer as they study, work, and discern if the Lord is calling them to minister as priests at the altar.

DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?

We would like to thank the parishioners who help with funeral dinners by providing food and help in the kitchen the day of a funeral. We couldn’t manage without you and the families truly appreciate it. We can always use more volunteers to help provide food and help for funeral dinners. If this is a something you are interested in doing, please call the parish office, 831 -3565, ext 103, to sign up. Thanks so much for considering this ministry. Janet & Mary