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

SCHOOL AND PARISH CONNECTIONS

Though the summer is young, I am thinking about ways the

parish and the school can be more connected. One

possibility would be for Parishioners to become Reading

Buddies with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. Working with

children will require permission for a background check

to be done as well as Virtus training for the protection of

children. EVERYONE directly connected with children in

the school and all parish employees must do this.

Another possible connection is Adopt a Teacher. The

details of how this might work will have to be worked out

depending on the number of participants. In the

meantime, think about it and call or e-mail me if you are

interested in either one. I will send your name to the

principal of the school.

Sister Elizabeth Ann 417-831-3565 ext 103

From the Pastor's Desk

We have been talking about it for years and now it is the reality. The Diocese of Springfield Cape Girardeau has a

priest shortage. In all fairness, many dioceses are faced with the same shortage, more elderly priests are retiring than

are being ordained. What did Jesus tell the apostles and the people, to ask the master of the harvest to send more

laborers. Prayer is the first step in working on the shortage. Another is for families, friends and parishes to support

anyone thinking about a religious vocation.

What does the shortage mean for St. Agnes, in fact for the city of Springfield? Of the six parishes only Immaculate

Conception will have more than one priest. Here at St. Agnes we will no longer have an associate pastor. There will be

some changes since I cannot take on more sacramental responsibilities. As long as I am able to receive help from several

of our retired priests, we will continue to offer the 5:30 pm mass throughout the week along with confessions on

Wednesday and Friday. The weekend mass schedule will not change. The only mass that will no longer be offered after

August 15 will be the 8:30 am Saturday morning mass. Saturdays are a funeral and wedding day, along with

confessions and the Saturday vigil Mass for Sunday.

The past two associate pastors (Fr. Alan and Fr. Timothy) have both held another pastoral assignment and so the parish

has truly had a priest and a half, if I can say that. I myself also hold another assignment along with Sr. Elizabeth

sacramentally caring for the Catholics at South Cox Hospital.

For fourteen years I have been the Director of Springfield Catholic High School Theater. Working with Ann Marie

Coleman my assistant we are both moving into different roles. Madie Wilder will become the Director overall and I am

assuming the role of Artistic Director which frees me from being at the theater every night. Madie has been the

choreographer for the past 4 productions and I trust her completely. I have promised our students that I am not

abandoning them, but I am going to need some free time.

I just ask that everyone be patient and keep me and our parishes in prayer. As we close out the fiscal year I want to

thank everyone for your financial contribution, it has made running the parish much easier when I know that we have the

money to pay our bills on time. Along with the finance committee we have kept the budget as tight as we can, but also as

everyone knows everything has gone up in cost. I also want to thank everyone who have

PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY

If you suspect your hearing isn't as strong as it

used to be, don't wait to get your hearing

checked, advises Dr. Kozin, physician at Mass

Eye and Ear in Boston. The same goes if the people in

your life have suggested that you've missed or

misunderstood parts of conversations. It's not just your

hearing that's at stake -- your physical, mental and

emotional health are too. Check your insurance

Evidence of Coverage (EOC) to find out if your plan has

a hearing benefit. Taken from www.AetnaMedicare.com

BUZZ BOOK ADVERTISING

We will be doing our yearly update to our Buzz

Book in July. Guide Book Publishing does the

updating for us and delivers the completed

product directly to your homes. The Buzz Book

is provided and mailed to each member at no

cost to our church. Local businesses are being

solicited to advertise in the

book. Advertisements from businesses that are

owned/managed by members of our

congregation are preferred. If you own or

manage a business and would like to find out

about advertising in our book, please call our

office at 417-831-3565 by July 1, 2023.

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.

On Tuesday we will celebrate the great birthday of our country. For some it may be a “four-day” weekend filled with

fireworks, parties, and summer fun. Even in our troubled and uncertain times, we have much to be thankful for as

Americans. We still live in the greatest nation on earth. Yes, we can complain about high taxes, governmental waste,

and all the goofy politics. We can complain about the cost of gasoline, utilities, and rising food costs. While we have the

freedom to complain, we must count our blessings, and remember that in so many other nations, as we have seen in

Eastern Europe, one man can destroy those freedoms.

Since I have traveled to so many “unique” places of the world–places not usually on the tourist map–I have experienced

the lack of the freedoms that we in the United States take for granted. Even China, with all of its growth and moving

toward capitalism, Catholic Christians are not free to worship openly outside the government-sponsored churches. I was

told not to wear clerical shirts, because I might be arrested.

Regardless of how bad we believe our problems to be, look around and you can always find those whose problems are

greater. During World War II, between the Nazis and the Communist government, Christianity was to be destroyed in

much of Eastern Europe. From Poland to the Baltic nations, priests, bishops, brothers, and nuns were put in camps from

which most never returned. Only through the power of God did the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches survive.

Slowly those churches are rebuilding their congregations, their schools and their hospitals. Two of the greatest

evangelization tools the Catholic Church has are our schools and hospitals. These institutions are open to anyone of any

faith. Back then, these places were the first that were attacked and closed when the Nazis and Communists took control

of Eastern Europe. Today the Russians have destroyed over 2,000 Ukrainian schools and 10 major hospitals. When the

Nazis took control of Poland they closed schools and imprisoned or killed teachers and professors. The Ukrainian

language, history and culture is under attack as was Poland 85 years ago.

So, as we have fun this weekend, thank God for all the freedoms we enjoy. Thank God that we live in a land that can

feed itself and provide jobs for our people. The food may not always be what we like, but it’s better than what two

thirds of the people of the world could even dream about. There are jobs here, even if they aren’t what we would like to

do, or for the salary we want. On average, we spend more money on entertainment (movies, vacations, cable, internet,

and sports) during the year than the great majority of people in the world even make. So if we complain about the cost

of gasoline, remember the majority of the world population is walking or riding public transportation this weekend. Give

thanks to God and ask Him for His guidance, for His protection, for His very love. May we all have a fun-filled and safe

4th of July as we celebrate our freedoms.

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.

WOMEN OF FAITH

Ladies of the parish are invited to join the

Women of Faith group for the 8:30 am Mass on

Wednesday, July 12 followed by brunch in the

Pavilion on the parish grounds. Please bring a

breakfast/brunch food item to share.