Saint Agnes 4/11/22 Saint Agnes 4/11/22

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.

Saint Agnes 4/11/22 Saint Agnes 4/11/22

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

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.

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.

Saint Agnes 4/11/22 Saint Agnes 4/11/22

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.

Saint Agnes 4/11/22 Saint Agnes 4/11/22

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.

Saint Agnes 4/4/22 Saint Agnes 4/4/22

From The Pastor's Desk:

This week is the holiest week of the Church year. Today, Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. This day recalls the scene in Jerusalem when our Lord entered the city riding on a donkey, and the people spread their garments and palm branches before him so that even the hoofs of the donkey didn’t touch the ground. However the exultant crowd becomes, the crowd that will curse him a few days later calling for His crucifixion. As the mood of the liturgy changes, we are challenged to ask ourselves, “What do I expect of Jesus?

This year the Chrism Mass will be on Holy Tuesday here at St. Agnes. Remember that it is at this liturgy when the oils which are used in the different sacraments are blessed by the Bishop. It is also at this liturgy in which the priests renew their commitment to serve another year as your pastors and associate pastors. Come and celebrate with all the area priests.

The Triduum begins with the evening Liturgy on Holy Thursday with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The first reading gives the background for the Passover Meal. The second reading contains some of the earliest written accounts of the Lord’s Supper. The Gospel presents Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. The service ends with the Blessed Sacrament being removed from the Church to a prepared place and the altar is stripped. All are invited to spend some time in prayer this night (8:30-12:00) before the Lord in our day chapel.

Good Friday is the most sober day of the entire Church year. There are no decorations and no Mass this day. It is a day of fasting. We simply prostrate in humble submission before the Word and the glorious cross of Christ. The first reading tells of the glory of the cross, the second reading speaks of the great high priest who has passed through the heavens; the Christian mystery. The climax of the readings is the proclamation of the Passion of Christ according to John’s Gospel. John’s Gospel allows the majesty of Jesus to shine forth as He carries his cross alone. He is victorious on the cross; Jesus reigns from the tree. Following the Passion we pray the solemn form of the General Intercessions. The second part of the Good Friday liturgy is unique to this day. A large wooden cross is brought into the sanctuary for us to reverence with a touch or a kiss. This is a remembrance of the days when the early Christians reverenced a replica of the true cross. We reverence a reminder of that instrument of torture, cruelty and death; because through it Christ has given us our Salvation. The Good Friday service concludes with a simple Communion Service with the Eucharist from Holy Thursday’s Liturgy. We have two services one at 12:00 p.m. and the second service in the evening at 7 p.m.

Holy Saturday with all of its readings, candles, profession of faith and blessings, is the vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection. And will begin at 8 p.m. It is arranged in four parts: the service of light, the liturgy of the word, when the Church meditates on all the wonderful things God has done for his people from the beginning. The third part is the liturgy of baptism, when new members of the Church are reborn in the waters of baptism, and the fourth part is the liturgy of the Eucharist, when the Church is called to the table which the Lord has prepared for His people through His death and resurrection.

I invite and urge everyone to come and be a part of the celebrations of the Triduum. The liturgies of the Triduum are the story of our redemption. This year walk in the footsteps of Christ from the Last Supper, to Calvary, to the Resurrection.

Sunday Morning on April 24 St. Agnes Cathedral will be hosting our Synod. Pope Francis has asked that each parish come together as an opportunity for the entire People of God to talk about how we can move forward on our faith journey. The whole purpose of the Synod is to plant dreams, awaken a time of hope in our church, community and in our country. To learn from one another and to give strength to the work of our hands. Please plan to be a part of our Synodal. Those attending my Sunday Historical development of Christianity have learned this is how the early Church functioned. Sunday Morning April 24, following the 8 am Mass and concluding at 11 am.

Saint Agnes 4/4/22 Saint Agnes 4/4/22

Youth Activities

There will be no PSR or CLOW on Easter Sunday. PSR and CLOW will resume on Sunday, April 24th!

Saint Agnes 4/4/22 Saint Agnes 4/4/22

Garage Sale Information:

Saint Agnes 4/4/22 Saint Agnes 4/4/22

THE MIRROR SUBSCRIPTION

It’s that time of the year again! The Diocese will send us a bill

in the coming weeks for each St. Agnes parishioner to receive

the weekly newspaper. Each subscription is $14.00. Last

year’s bill was almost $8,000 and St. Agnes paid nearly

$3,700 that wasn’t covered by the envelope contributions.

We have collected $2,113.00 so far

It’s that time of the year again! The Diocese will send us a bill

in the coming weeks for each St. Agnes parishioner to receive

the weekly newspaper. Each subscription is $14.00. Last

year’s bill was almost $8,000 and St. Agnes paid nearly

$3,700 that wasn’t covered by the envelope contributions.

We have collected $2,113.00 so far for this year’s bill. Please

be sure to use your Mirror envelope and if possible include gift

subscriptions for parishioners who may not be able to afford

theirs.

Saint Agnes 3/30/22 Saint Agnes 3/30/22

From the Pastor's Desk

On March 21st, Pope Francis issued the following letter to the bishops of Roman Catholic Church. I am quoting several of the paragraphs to help everyone understand what/why he asked the Church to pray the Act of Consecration of Humanity, for Russia and Ukraine. “Nearly a month has passed since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine that is daily inflicting immense suffering upon its sorely tried people and threatening world peace. At this dark hour, the Church is urgently called to intercede before the Prince of Peace and to demonstrate her closeness to those directly affected by the conflict. I am grateful to the many people who have responded with great generosity to my appeals for prayer, fasting and charity.” “Now, also in response to numerous requests by the People of God, I wish in a special way to entrust the nations at war to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I intend to carry out a solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, for Russia and Ukraine in particular, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” “This Act of Consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace. I ask you to join in this Act by inviting the priests, religious and faithful to assemble in their churches and places of prayer on 25 March, so that God’s Holy People may raise a heartfelt and choral plea to Mary our Mother. I am sending you the text of the prayer of consecration, so that all of us can recite it throughout that day, in fraternal union.” At 10 am on March 25th, St. Agnes Cathedral was filled with over 400 people joining Bishop Leibrecht as we joined the church throughout the world in this prayer of Consecration

Saint Agnes 3/30/22 Saint Agnes 3/30/22

Garage Sale Information:

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.

Saint Agnes 3/30/22 Saint Agnes 3/30/22

PARISH EASTER EGG HUNT

PARISH EASTER EGG HUNT The parish Easter Egg Hunt will be held Easter Sunday April 17th at 11:00 AM on the soccer field. All are invited & as usual there will thousands of eggs. The Easter Bunny will also make an appearance & will be available for pictures. To make the Easter Egg Hunt happen, we need donations of plastic eggs & wrapped candy. Feel free to share those plastic eggs you may have around the house. Bring all donations to the parish office. We will also need volunteers to help the Easter Bunny on Easter Morning. This is also a good service project for youth. Please contact Iris at ibounds@sta-cathedral.org EASTER EGG STUFFING PARTY There will be a youth Easter Egg stuffing party Sunday, April 10th at 6:15. Pizza will be provided. Great opportunity for youth to get service hours!

Saint Agnes 3/30/22 Saint Agnes 3/30/22

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Chrism Dinner and Reception Holy Week is fast approaching and volunteers are needed to assist with the dinner for the priests prior to Chrism Mass and for the reception following. On Thursday, April 7 volunteers are needed to help set tables in the gym and to clean the dishes, glassware etc. and then move them from the school to the gym. Then on Tuesday, April 12 at 5:00 we need volunteers to help plate and serve the priest’s dinner before the Mass. Following the Chrism Mass there will be a reception and helpers will need to be at the gym at 7:30 to prep beverages and food. Please call Julie Viorel at 417-849-0955 to volunteer on either or both days. Thank you!

Saint Agnes 3/24/22 Saint Agnes 3/24/22

From the Pastor’s Desk:

On Friday, March 25th, in Catholic Churches across the world in union with Pope Francis we prayed “a solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, especially of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”. The Pope prayed, “May she, the Queen of Peace, help us obtain peace.” When Mary appeared to three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917 with a message encouraging prayer and repentance, she also asked for the consecration of Russia. I invite you this week to reflect upon Mary at the foot of the cross. As Jesus was dying, the Gospels say that Mary, his mother, stood under the cross. From all outward appearances, she wasn’t doing anything at all. She is not recorded as saying anything, wasn’t trying to stop the crucifixion, nor was she trying to protest its unfairness or to plead Jesus’ innocence. She was silent. At a deeper spiritual level, Mary was doing all that she could do in that type of situation, she was standing inside of it, in strength, refusing to give back anger, bitterness or violence. Since common sense tells us that Mary couldn’t have stopped the crucifixion, she by being passive was stopping some of the hatred, bitterness, jealousy, heartlessness, and anger that caused it and which surrounded it. She did this by helping stop those who put Jesus on the cross by refusing to give back in kind, by transforming rather than transmitting them. Mary in her silence was radiating all the gentleness, understanding, forgiveness, peace, light and love that had flowed from her Son. All of this is a bitter pill to swallow. What mother, what father, would only stand by and silently watch as their son was nailed to a cross to suffer and die. But sometimes it is our only choice. As the Book of Lamentations says, there are times when the best we can do is “put our mouths to the dust and wait!” We cannot be afraid to suffer, because this world is imperfect. This is not passivity, resignation, or weakness, but genuine, rare strength. It is standing under the cross with Mary, so that the Lord of all love may help to take away some of the world’s hatred, chaos, bitterness and violence. Walk with Mary this these last weeks of Lent as she follows her loving son carrying His cross to Calvary, a cross covered in the blood of the men, women and children of the Ukraine.

Saint Agnes 3/24/22 Saint Agnes 3/24/22

AREA PENANCE SERVICES

Sunday March 27 @ 3pm Our Lady of the Cove Monday April 4 @ 7pm St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Tuesday April 5 @ 7pm Immaculate Conception Thursday April 7 @ 7pm Sacred Heart

Saint Agnes 3/24/22 Saint Agnes 3/24/22

THE MIRROR SUBSCRIPTION

It’s that time of the year again! The Diocese will send us a bill in the coming weeks for each St. Agnes parishioner to receive the weekly newspaper. Each subscription is $14.00. Last year’s bill was almost $8,000 and St. Agnes paid nearly $3,700 that wasn’t covered by the envelope contributions. We have collected $2,043.00 so far for this year’s bill.

Saint Agnes 3/24/22 Saint Agnes 3/24/22

Youth Activities

Saint Agnes 3/2/22 Saint Agnes 3/2/22

With the collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945, Russia took control of much of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. Freedoms disappeared for millions of people as they lived in the new country, the Soviet Union. From 1945 to the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1988, Moscow dominated every aspect of life. The Ukraine had already felt the dominance of the Communist during the years 1932-33 when they starved nearly 4 million Ukrainians. It was a genocide by Stalin as an attempt to bring the rebellious Soviet republic to obedience. The first Soviet Republics began to withdraw from the Soviet Union and by 1991, the countries of Eastern Europe were free. There were many years of struggle for the peoples of those countries to learn how to live and function without Moscow dictating every aspect of their lives.

On February 24, Vladimir Putin using a page out of Adolf Hitler’s play book when he accused Poland of killing Germans along the border, invaded the Ukraine. The Ukraine is the largest European country, second in size only to Russia. It is the bread basket of Europe. It is rich in minerals, coal, natural gas and many other resources.

The major religion of the Ukraine is Ukrainian Orthodox Church, initially founded from Constantinople around the year 1000 AD. It was about that same time that the capital, Kiev was established by the Vikings as a trading center. Today there are a small number of Roman Catholics living in the country along with a number of other religious groups.

War can be divided into two classes; defensive and offensive. When a peaceful society is attacked, that society or country has the right to take up arms in self-defense. Theologians have traditionally held that no special moral justification is needed when taking up arms to defend oneself from an armed attack. As the news reports show, the Russians are using tanks, missiles, planes and attack helicopters killing whomever is in their path.

War is terrible, let us spend the Lenten Season in added prayer for the Ukrainian people. That a lasting peace will come to Eastern Europe.

Saint Agnes 3/2/22 Saint Agnes 3/2/22

YOUTH EVENT

The youth will meet Sunday, March 13th from 6:15- 8:00 PM in the cafeteria. Father Lewis will again be challenging our youth to a game of Risk; we will have a Monopoly tournament and our service project will be baking cookies for the residents of Harmony House. All are welcome! Of course, there will be food and snacks!!!

Saint Agnes 3/2/22 Saint Agnes 3/2/22

LENTEN FAIR -Thank You!

A huge thank you goes out to St. Anne's group for all the work that you did to make the Lenten Fair such a success. We also had many volunteers to help with all the activities held during the Fair. We thank all of you!!! There were many opportunities for families to participate in activities to prepare them for Lent. If you still need Lenten materials for your family, contact the parish office! Just a reminder, St. Anne's group is open to all young women of the parish. Call the parish office for more information.

Saint Agnes 3/2/22 Saint Agnes 3/2/22

PCCW Officer Volunteers Needed

Our St. Agnes Parish Council of Catholic Women is looking for new officers for a two year commitment. We invite any woman of the parish to consider this opportunity to take a leadership role in this wonderful organization that does so much for our parish. Women of any age are encouraged to sign up. Even if you are new to the parish or never attended a PCCW event, you are encouraged to consider this role. Our current officers have served well and long to keep this organization flourishing. The current officers will also be on hand to answer questions and to guide you in your role.