Fr. Joseph Kappilumakkal. Effective July 15, 2016, Fr. Gasper Masilamoni, of Sacred. Springfield. Fr. Grodecki

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1 SAINTS OF WEEK Witnesses to Freedom SS. Peter and Paul Peter and Paul are often seen in the Church as a complementary pair. Peter represents the institutional church, while Paul represents the charismatic or spiritual church. Both are associated with the church in Rome. But what binds them together, above all, is that they were utterly seized by Jesus message. The New Testament often portrays Peter as rash and headstrong. One minute, he is a paragon of faith; the next, he has completely misunderstood what Jesus wants. He frequently does not seem to get what is going on, and he even denies Jesus when Jesus is about to be executed. And yet, despite his shortcomings and weaknesses, he has a heart for the Lord. He is the Prince of the Apostles, and as the first bishop of Rome, he holds a special place in the hearts of Catholic Christians. Scripture introduces Paul as a violent persecutor of the first Christians. In fact, he oversees the execution of the man whom the Acts of the Apostles depicts as the first martyr, St. Stephen (Acts 7:58-8:1). He considers himself a late addition to the Jesus movement, referring to himself as one untimely born (1 Cor 15:8). However, following his encounter with Christ near Damascus, he became one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Church. Like Peter, Paul has a heart for the Lord, and when his spiritual energy is directed to the glory of Jesus Christ, he is a powerful witness to the kingdom of God. His letters make up the bulk of the New Testament and continue to guide the Church today. It is a beautiful testimony to the power of God that these two men, whose faults Scripture does not attempt to hide, are key figures in the story of Jesus and foundational in the development of the Church. Sts. Peter and Paul show us the work of the Holy Spirit, who renews hearts, builds the Church, and testifies to Christ. Peter died in Rome as martyr on a cross, according to some accounts. Paul suffered for the cause of the Gospel throughout his ministry, writing several letters from prison. He, like Peter, was martyred in Rome. Imperfect men, seized by the Word of God and set on fire by the Holy Spirit. They are pillars of our Church and witnesses to freedom in Christ. St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us! USCCB June 29 The Mirr r Vol. LII, No. 5 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI June 24, 2016 One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus Bishop announces pastoral appointments Springfield Bishop Edward M. Rice announced the annual pastoral appointments on June 24, Having been designated the Ordinary of this diocese on June 1, 2016, one of the first responsibilities for me was to make the pastoral assignments, Bp. Rice said. Below you will see the details of the appointments. I deeply appreciate the willingness of these men to undertake these ministerial responsibilities. For those of you who are leaving the diocese to work elsewhere in the Church, my prayers go with you. As members of the presbyterate, let us keep one another in prayer. Pastors/ Administrators Fr. Henry Grodecki, CM, is assigned Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Shell Knob, and St. Edward Parish in Cassville in addition to his current assignment as Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Monett and Sacred Heart Parish in Verona, effective July 5, Fr. Mark M. Hoa Le, CMC, Associate Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield is Fr. Grodecki Fr. Hoa Le appointed Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in El Dorado Springs, and its mission St. Peter, Apostle, Mission Church in Stockton, effective August 1, Fr. Joseph Kappilumakkal Mathai, CMI, Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in El Dorado Springs, and St. Peter, Apostle, Fr. Mathai Mission in Stockton, will leave the Diocese of Springfield- Cape Girardeau for a new assignment from his congregation. Effective July 15, 2016, Fr. Gasper Masilamoni, CMF, is assigned Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield. Fr. Masilamoni Fr. Hector Návalo, CMF, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield, will leave the Diocese of Springfield- Cape Girardeau for a Fr. Nàvalo new assignment from his congregation. Fr. Maria Thumma, Associate Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Sikeston and St. Henry Parish in Charleston, Fr. Thumma is assigned as Administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Fredericktown, effective Aug. 1, Fr. Paul McLoughlin, retired, will conclude his assignment on July 5, 2016, as Administrator of St. Edward Parish in Cassville and Holy Family Parish in Shell Knob. Effective Aug. 1, 2016, Fr. John Harth, will conclude his assignment as Administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Freder- Fr. Harth icktown. He continues as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Jackson. Associate Pastors Effective July 5, 2016, Fr. David Baunach, is appointed Associate Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Monett; Sacred Heart Parish in Verona; Holy Family Parish Fr. McLoughlin Fr. Baunach in Shell Knob; and St. Edward Parish in Cassville. The next issue of The Mirror will be July 8, If you would like to receive the diocesan newspaper via in digital format, please contact Angie Toben at (417) , or her: atoben@dioscg.org. See Assignments / 10

2 2 The Mirror June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS CAPITAL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN Coming soon: Block 2 The Block 2 phase of the Capital Endowment Campaign will begin mid-august 2016 and run through mid-november Parish campaigns will be conducted in the following churches: Aurora, Holy Trinity Billings, St. Joseph Branson, Our Lady of the Lake Buffalo, St. William Cassville, St. Edward Conway, Sacred Heart El Dorado Springs, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Forsyth, Our Lady of the Ozarks Greenfield, St. Patrick Mission Kimberling City, Our Lady of the Cove Lebanon, St. Francis de Sales Marshfield, Holy Trinity Monett, St. Lawrence Mt. Vernon, St. Susanne Nixa, St. Francis of Assisi Ozark, St. Joseph the Worker Pierce City, St. Mary Pulaskifield, SS Peter and Paul Sarcoxie, St. Agnes Shell Knob, Holy Family Springfield, St. Agnes Cathedral Springfield, Holy Trinity Springfield, Immaculate Conception Springfield, St. Joseph Springfield, Sacred Heart Springfield, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Stockton, St. Peter, Apostle, Mission Verona, Sacred Heart By Linda Leicht Springfield Block 2 phase of Capital Endowment Campaign begins in August With successful efforts wrapping up on the east side of the Diocese, parishioners in the central section can soon expect to be asked to consider their contributions to the Diocese s first-ever Capital Endowment Campaign. Begun in January, the generosity far exceeded the goal for Block 1 of the campaign, according to Gene Aug, Director of Development and Properties. With nearly $8 million already pledged, the 18 eastern parishes reached 131 percent of the goal for that region. Out of 6,999 families, 2,800 families pledged an average of $2,595, demonstrating their willingness to sacrifice today tor the future of their Diocese and the Church. The capital campaign in Block 1 represented truly extraordinary stewardship efforts by pastors, parish staffs, campaign volunteers, and donors, Aug said. I know by working together in sharing their time, talents, and financial resources, parishioners had unique opportunities to grow in their love for God and for each other. Under the theme Grateful for Our Past, Preparing for Our Future, everyone in the diocese will be asked to make prayerful sacrifices to help support three important areas: There are three critical areas of importance the Capital Campaign is designed to address s, said Bp. Edward Rice, meeting the needs of our retired priests; the happy circumstance of our growing number of seminarians and the funding for their education; and the increasing needs for youth formation. The diocese-wide goal is $15 million in pledges. We would like to share our congratulations, gratitude, and admiration of the pastors, staffs, volunteers, and parishioners in Block 1, said Associate Campaign Director, Gretchen Gambon. The success of Block 1 will have a significant influence on the outcome of this campaign and the fulfillment of future needs in our Diocese. By your example of dedication to the Church in southern Missouri, you have set a standard of generosity that will undoubtedly motivate the remainder of the parishes in our Diocese, Msgr. Tom Reidy, then-diocesan Administrator wrote in letters of congratulations to the Block 1 parishes. Block 2 of Capital Campaign In mid-august, members in the 28 parishes in the central part of the diocese will be called upon to make that same commitment. As in the DONOR EVENT Charles Banta, of Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield, talked with Tani Kremer, and Dr. George and Mrs. Vicki Wong, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, during a donor event for the Capital Endowment Campaign. The event was held the evening of June 22 in the home of Charlie and Mary Beth O Reilly, also members of St. Elizabeth Ann Parish. Block 2 of the Capital Campaign will launch in August. (Photo by Leslie Eidson/The Mirror) east, fellow parishioners will make personal visits to potential donors in order to explain the campaign and ask people to make a financial sacrifice. The parish campaigns will run through mid-november. Parishioners are going to be asked to pray and reflect on their gift and how they can effect the future of the diocese, Aug said. I n each of our lives, the gifts of others who have gone before us have been extremely significant, providing our diocese with a bountiful legacy, said Bp. Edward M. Rice. Today, as we prepare to celebrate our 60th anniversary as a diocese, we are indeed Grateful for Our Past as we embrace the opportunity now to prepare our Church for the future. The Block 3 phase of the campaign will begin in parishes in January, To learn more about the Capital Endowment Campaign and the three areas that the pledges will support, visit the Diocesan Website, www. dioscg.org; or contact Gene Aug at (417) or gaug@dioscg.org; or ask your local pastor.

3 June 24, 2016 COLUMN/DIOCESAN NEWS The Mirror 3 Religious freedom was on the minds of the council fathers By Robert P. Hunt At the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI characterized Dignitatis Humanae (DH) as one of the greatest texts of the council. This judgment was shared by each of his successors, including St. John Paul II who consistently invoked it as one of the foundational documents of contemporary church social teaching. Its alternative title conveys more fully its subject matter and scope: Declaration on Religious Freedom: On the Right of the Person and of Communities to Social and Civil Freedom in Matters Religious. If Card. Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) was correct in saying that the era we call modern times has been determined from the beginning by the theme of freedom, 1 the declaration marks the council s critical engagement with the modern world on what the Church understands to be the most fundamental of all freedoms. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, most Catholic reflection on the subject of religious liberty took its bearings from what might be described as a confessionalist perspective on church-state relations. For the confessionalist, true religious freedom was inseparable from the individual s obligation to pursue the truth in religious matters, from the awareness that the Roman Catholic Church embodied the fullness of (theological) truth. The state, having total care of the temporal common good, had the obligation to promote the true faith. Whatever concessions were made to religious pluralism were made as practical accommodations to the fact of religious diversity rather than as Director of Schools hired for Joplin Catholic Schools Joplin, MO Joplin Area Catholic School Board (JACS) is pleased to announce the hiring of Georgiana McGriff as its new Director of Schools. McGriff will begin this newly-developed position on July 1, McGriff comes to this position with 30 years of educational experience including high-school level teaching, building administration, and central office administration. She began her educational career at McAuley Catholic High School in teaching language arts. McGriff then worked at the Joplin Globe as the newspaper Education requirements of the moral order. The pre-conciliar teaching distinguished between what was normative for predominantly Catholic societies and what might be acceptable for more religiously diverse societies. The document represents a dramatic development of the Church s understanding of the scope of religious liberty and its defense of limited, constitutional government. While acknowledging that people are bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, it asserts that truth must be sought after in a manner consistent with our dignity as persons of reason and free will (DH, no. 2 and 3). People bear personal responsibility for the pursuit of truth and must, therefore, enjoy immunity from external coercion, especially by the state (DH, no. 2). The state has responsibility for that component of the common good that involves the maintenance of public order and peace, and it must be subordinated to the people, social groups, and the church and other religious communities in pursuing the temporal common good (DH, no. 6). The freedom of man [must] be respected as far as possible and curtailed only when and in so far as necessary (DH, no. 7). Religious freedom is not a subjective right asserted over and against religious truth but an objective right of a person not to be coerced into religious conformity by others or by the state. While the document engages modernity in the latter s pursuit of freedom, it does not embrace a secular individualist view of man or of what freedom entails in the area of churchstate relations. Unlike the secular individualist model of man and society, it recognizes the social nature of man (DH, no. 3). Georgiana McGriff Coordinator before returning to teach language arts and publications at Carl Junction High School (CJHS) from McGriff then served as Assistant Superintendent in the Seneca School District from and completed her educational career as CJHS principal in McGriff has been an active parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church, Joplin, for over 35 years. Rather than endorsing a privatized religiosity or a religion that is kept in the sacristy, it acknowledges that man should give external expression to his internal acts of religion; that he should participate with others in matters religious; that he should profess his religion in community (ibid.). Rather than erecting a wall of separation between church and state, the declaration states that government ought indeed to take account of the religious life of the [citizenry] and show it favor, since the function of government is to make provision for the common welfare (ibid.). Today, religious freedom is imperiled around the world, most obviously in countries that ban the practice of certain faiths. But there is also a growing tendency in the West toward the privatization of religion or the subordination of religious liberty to public policy concerns. At such a time, Dignitatis Humanae still reminds its readers Catholic and non-catholic alike of the indispensible role that religious liberty plays in a free society. Hunt is professor of political science at Kean University in New Jersey and coeditor of Catholicism and Religious Freedom: Contemporary Reflections on Vatican II s Declaration on Religious Liberty. Notes 1 Joseph Ratzinger, Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World Religions (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004), 236. I am very excited to help guide this institution of Catholic education in the Joplin area and am appreciative of JACS for giving me this opportunity, McGriff said. McGriff completed her Bachelor of Science in Education at Joplin s Missouri Southern State College in She then received her Master s and Specialist of Educational Administration from Missouri State University in 1998 and 2005 respectively. We are very excited to have Mrs. McGriff join our administrative staff, said Anthony J. Greenwood, Chairman of the JACS School Board. Her years of experience will be invaluable for the entire Joplin Area Catholic School System. Pray for vocations Please continue to pray for and encourage our young men and women to prayerfully consider a life of service in the Church and that they may also have the courage to take the next step. Prayer for vocations Hail Mary, full of grace; all generations call you blessed. Hail Mother of God; when asked by the angel to bear the Son of the Most High, filled with faith, you responded: Let it be done unto me. Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana, you prompted your Son to perform his first sign. Be with us as we discern our life s work and guide us in the way we are called to follow in the footsteps of your Son. Holy Mother of the Savior, at the foot of the cross you mourned the death of your only Son. Bless and embrace the loving parents of all priests, deacons, brothers, and sisters. Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd, turn your motherly care to this nation. Intercede for us to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to the harvest in this land dedicated to your honor. Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Sick, inspire vocations in our time. Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim the good news of everlasting life. Amen. One thing is for sure: vocations are born out of a personal encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ through prayer, an active participation in the Eucharist, and the sacrament of penance and reconciliation where we receive his body and blood and encounter his loving mercy. Also, an invitation or observation from a friend or family member can foster a closer look at a seed that God may have already planted. For more information about the vocations in service to the Church, please contact Fr. Patrick Ike Nwokoye at (573) or him at pnwokoye@semo.edu COME AND SEE This selfie / photo with Fr. Patrick was taken with young men during a Encountering God s Call weekend at Conception Seminary in April.

4 4 The Mirror June 24, 2016 REVIEW THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE George Weigel A cinematic lesson in hope At a moment like this when there doesn t seem to be a lot going right ascendant authoritarianisms throughout the world; lethal violence by ideological fanatics; feckless responses to both from the democracies it s good to be reminded that things can be different, and in fact were different, not so very long ago. Recapturing those days and summoning memories of a time when the good folks won, cleanly and against all the odds, is the singular accomplishment of a splendid new documentary, Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism, which should be on everyone s summer must-watch list. It took me 19 years of research and three books (The Final Revolution, Witness to Hope, and The End and the Beginning) to do what executive producer Carl Anderson and writer/ director David Naglieri have done in 93 minutes of gripping videography and marvelous graphics: explain how and why John Paul played a pivotal, indeed indispensable, role in the greatest drama of the last quarter of the 20th century: the collapse of European communism. In doing so, they make us think hard, again, about how this miraculous liberation took place: something no one expected on Oct. 16, 1978, when a little-known Polish cardinal, who styled himself the pope from a far country, was presented on the central loggia of St. Peter s as the new Bishop of Rome. Central and eastern Europe weren t liberated by conceding that the communists had a point, even if they were rather brutal and inefficient in making that point socially, economically, and politically. Nor were the countries of the Warsaw Pact liberated by churchmen and western diplomats cosseting the dictators that ran those party-states. What we used to call the captive nations were liberated because good and evil were called by their right names, as the Solidarity martyr, Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko, used to put it. Central and eastern Europe didn t break free of the shackles of totalitarianism without trying, failing, and then trying again: it took a critical mass of people, determined to live in the truth no matter how difficult, to implode the communist culture of the lie and give a new birth of freedom to the lands Stalin claimed as his prize for helping beat Hitler. And the countries of central and eastern Europe didn t regain their liberties by adopting the usual 20th-century method of social change, mass violence. Understanding that people who begin by storming Bastilles usually end up building their own (as one Polish dissident said), the new freedom fighters inspired by John Paul II deployed weapons that communist brutality could not match: truth, national memory, tenacious organizing, and personal resilience. NEW DOCUMENTARY Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism will be aired on various public television stations in the months ahead, so please check local listings. The schedule will be regularly updated at (Photo courtesy Copernicus Center) For those whose memories of St. John Paul reach back only as far as his last years, Liberating a Continent is also a powerful reminder of what a handsome, charismatic, and utterly compelling man John Paul II was at the height of his physical powers. He radiated confidence, moral strength, and the courage of a happy warrior. And because of that, those whose lives he touched felt empowered in return. The displacement of history by social studies in US elementary and secondary schools has been a disaster for historical understanding. And while the new social history, which wants to do history from the bottom up, has taught us many things, there are still occasions when great men do bend history s curve in a different direction; Liberating a Continent is also a useful reminder of that. John Paul II didn t make 1989 happen by himself. But without him, a continent wouldn t have been liberated when it was and how it was. So I d suggest adding this terrific film to the curriculum of every Catholic (and indeed every Christian) high school in North America, to remind students what happened in their parents lifetimes and to inspire them to moral greatness themselves. Liberating a Continent will be aired on various public television stations in the months ahead; that schedule will be regularly updated at But while you re checking for local airings at that site, go to the purchase tab, order a copy Online, and settle down for an hour and a half of superb entertainment that will lift your spirits in a darkling season. George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, DC. The Mirror: Newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau USPS Publication Publisher: The Most Rev. Edward Rice Editor: Leslie A. Eidson Production: Glenn Eckl Circulation/Advertising: Angie Toben, atoben@dioscg.org Published every other week except the last week in December at 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO Address all communications to 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO ; Telephone (417) ; FAX (417) ; atoben@dioscg.org POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Mirror, 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO When giving change of address, state both old and new address, also old and new parish. Subscription: $14 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MO, and additional mailing offices. Vol. LII No. 5 June 24, 2016 Single copy price, $0.50 Copyright 2016, The Mirror, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: Diocese of Springfield-Cape

5 June 24, 2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mirror 5 Liguori, MO If you or someone you know is searching out a life of prayer, solitude, silence, and community, the Redemptoristine Nuns will host a Come and See Live-In, Sat. Aug. 6-Sat., Aug. 13, at the Redemtoristine Monastery, 200 Liguori Dr. in Liguori. For more information, rednun@redemptoristinenuns.org, or visit Springfield SAVE THE DATE Catholic Night with the Springfield Cardinals will be Thu., Aug. 25. Game time is 7:10 p.m. T-shirt, cap, and seat package: $15 (available sizes are Youth S-Adult XXL). $1 bratwurst night; St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Championship Stein Giveaway (first 2,000 fans). For more information or to order your tickets, contact Teresa Calhoun, (417) or tcalhoun@cardinals.com. Deadline for orders/tshirt sizes: July 28. KHJM Catholic radio for Southeast Missouri 89.1 FM From Jackson to the Bootheel, KHJM 89.1 FM brings the heart of Catholic Radio to the area. Heart of Jesus and Mary radio Holy Hour held for vocations ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Fr. Scott Sunnenberg, pastor, and 25 faithful participated in a Holy Hour for Vocations at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Ozark, on Wed., June 22. The holy hour is held every fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact the parish for details. (Photo by Ethan Prozel) Schedule The next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations: Tue., June p.m....st. Mary School, Pierce City Wed., July 13 4:30-7:30 p.m....st. Peter the Apostle, Joplin Fri., July p.m....st. Lawrence, Monett (Spanish) Mon., July p.m....st. Joseph, Scott City Sat., July noon-3 p.m....st. Lawrence, Monett Sat., July p.m....nativity of Our Lord, Noel (Spanish) Tue., Aug p.m....immaculate Conception, Jackson Wed., Aug. 10 8:30-11:30 a.m....st. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Springfield Mon., Aug p.m....our Lady of the Lake, Branson Wed., Aug. 31 4:30-7:30 p.m...st. Peter the Apostle, Joplin Mon., Sep p.m....st. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau Sat., Oct a.m.-12-noon...st. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau Tue., Oct p.m....st. Denis, Benton Preregistration is necessary; go to and click on registration on the left or call your parish/school office for assistance; or call Ken Pesek at The Catholic Center, (417) ; or him at kenpesek@dioscg.org. Participants must be present for the entire training. Training sessions are for adults only. Schedules may be found on the diocesan events calendar at or at

6 David Baunach O a Priest on May 2 6 The Mirror June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS Parish in Cassville. He had a moment after his priesthood ordination to answer a few questions for The Mirror. Q: How did you discern your call to the priesthood? A: Something happened when I was 17, and I realized I had to figure out what I would do with the rest of my life. I started praying, asking God what his plan was for me. This eventually led me to look at monastic life, particularly the Trappists [Assumption Abbey] in Ava, MO. Through that discernment, I realized the diocesan priesthood was what God was calling me to. It was sorta me asking God questions, and bumbling around until I got his answer. Q: Any thoughts on your formation experience? A: Formational is really the only way to put it. These seven years have changed me in incredible ways. God set the right people in my path to make me a kinder and gentler person, and I know he will continue Often referred to as The Gentle Giant, Fr. David Baunach was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau the morning of Sat., May 28, Held in St. Agnes Cathedral, the principal celebrant of the liturgy was The Most Rev. Edward M. Rice, who at that time, had just moved to Springfield and was anticipating his Installation as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield- Cape Girardeau. Fr. Baunach completed his college studies at Conception Seminary College under the direction of the Benedictine monks, and found the spirit of prayer fostered in the monastic setting beneficial. Especially with the Benedictines, just being in an atmosphere of prayer so many times a day, as well as a focus on the liturgy, is something he said benefitted him as he continued his studies in at Our Lady of the Lake Seminary and School of Theology in Mundelein, IL, where he graduated with a Masters in Divinity. With his home parish being St. Joseph in Billings, Fr. Baunach has a variety of experience in and around the diocese. Samples of which include a summer in St. Ann Parish, Carthage, where he had an immersion in Spanish under the direction of then-pastor Fr. William Hodgson. During the spring semester of 2014, Baunach participated in a pastoral internship at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, in Cape Girardeau, with Fr. David Hulshof. A talented artist, Baunach graced St. Vincent de Paul School with a mural of its patron. Fr. Baunach was ordained a deacon in St. Vincent de Paul Church on June 5, He then was assigned to serve the communities of St. Lawrence Parish, Monett, and Sacred Heart Parish, in Verona, as a deacon with Fr. Henry ( Hank ) Grodecki, CM, pastor. Fr. Baunach will return to the communities of Verona and Monett as associate pastor on July 5, 2016, as well as minister in Holy Family Parish in Shell Knob; and St. Edward to set other formators in my path as I continue the road of priesthood. I have great hopes that wonderful things will happen in my ministry, and I trust in God to make them happen for his glory. What those wonderful things are I do not know, but I do know it will be an exhilarating and painful and beautiful journey. Q: What will you be doing in the days leading up to Bishop announcing your first assignment? A: I ve been over to Cape Girardeau to visit the good people of St. Vincent s. Then to Chicago for a Mass of Thanksgiving for friends and relatives that couldn t make it to the ordination, then off to North Carolina for a Baptism. I was at St. Joseph Parish, my home parish, in Billings, for the daily Masses, and will travel to Leopold June 24 for the ordination of Charles Dunn. It s been a wonderful life so far! I encourage all single Catholic men to ask God if he s calling them to the priesthood! BROTHER PRIESTS The priests of the dio the priesthood May 28 in St. Agnes Cathedra PRAYER OF ORDINATION The Most Rev. Edward M. Rice laid his hands on the head of David Baunach and prayed the Prayer of Ordination. Fr. Baunach was then vested with the stole and chasuble which are symbols of the priesthood.

7 June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS The Mirror 7 Bishop encourages newly-ordained to Be mercy Edward M. Rice made the following remarks at he ordination of Fr. David Baunach on May 28, 2016: ELECTION BY BISHOP AND CONSENT OF AS- SEMBLY The Most Rev. Edward M. Rice greeted David Baunach during his ordination to the priesthood May 28, After the Call and Presentation to Bishop, David Baunach was accepted for ordination to the priesthood and the faithful gave their consent by applause. While the Litany of Saints was sung, David Matthew Baunach laid prostrate on the floor of St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield. In the name of Bp. John Leibrecht and Msgr. Tom Reidy, I greet the Baunach family and thank you for your support of vocations. Your prayers and encouragement have brought our brother, David, to this point where he desires to respond to the call of Christ as a priest of the Church. In preparing for such an event as ordinations, I prefer to go to the text of the ritual. It is from there we can gain insight into what the Church expects from these men today. There is the old liturgical principle, Lex orandi, lex credenti the words that we use at prayer express what we believe. So the text, in addition to the Scriptures, lays out for us the expectations of the deacon and priest. The prayer of ordination for deacons explains what the Church expects of you: to possess every Gospel virtue to have unfeigned love and a concern for the sick and the poor. And to do all that with unassuming authority, with purity of innocence, and spiritual discipline. And if you deacons were to do that for a lifetime, that would be enough: Good would be accomplished and God would be glorified. rdained 8 Story by J.B. Kelly Photos by Dean Curtis/The Mirror Preach Mercy especially to those opposed to Mercy. Preach Mercy to those who seem to have no room for it. Preach Mercy to those who have grown cold and sterile. Preach Mercy, so that our eyes can be opened to see the misery of the world, and the wounds of our brothers and sisters. cese greeted Fr. David Baunach after his ordination to l, Springfield. CONGRATULATIONS Fr. David Baunach received a hug from his parents, William ( Bill ) and Margaret, after his ordination to the priesthood May 28 in St. Agnes Cathedral. Fr. Baunach has two brothers, Patrick and Chris, and one sister, Mary (Baunach) Johnston. WELCOME Fr. Patrick Nwokoye, Director of Vocation Promotions, welcomed Fr. David Baunach to the diocesan presbyterate. The prayer for ordination for priests adds a sacramental dynamic: May they be faithful stewards of your mysteries especially the waters of baptism and at the altar the Eucharist. Reconcile the sinner and raise up the sick. That, too, and the faithful celebration of the sacraments would be enough for a lifetime. But there is more. Dear son never forget that you were ordained during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in declaring this Year of Mercy, has stated that, Mercy is the very foundation of the Church s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness that she makes present to believers. Nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy. The Church s very credibility and I dare say the credibility of her priests is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love. It has been said in the past that the battle cry or the motto of newly-ordained priests was Da mihi animas Give me souls, souls to be brought closer to Christ. Well, in this Jubilee Year, I would amend that verse and say the motto should be, Let me be mercy. Let mercy be the foundation of all your pastoral activities. And so, as you begin your priestly service, preach Mercy especially to those opposed to Mercy. Preach Mercy to those who seem to have no room for it. Preach Mercy to those who have grown cold and sterile. Preach Mercy, so that our eyes can be opened to see the misery of the world, and the wounds of our brothers and sisters. Finally, dear son, draw close to the Mother of Mercy: At the foot of the Cross, Mary witnessed the words of forgiveness spoken by Jesus. At that moment, I believe, she became the Mother of Mercy. David, remember this Year of Our Lord, 2016 the Jubilee Year of Mercy. And may your Mercy never cease. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

8 8 The Mirror June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS From Protestant pastor, to Anglican priest, to Catholic priest Meet Fr. Chori Seraiah & family By Linda Leicht Springfield People in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau may be surprised to learn of a priest with a wife and five children. His name is Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah. As with most priests, he has a strong devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady. Fr. Seraiah is a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter was the Vatican s pastoral response to repeated and persistent inquiries made by Anglican individuals and groups in the US and Canada who, over time, have come to identify the Catholic Church as their home. Those joining the Ordinariate have discerned they are truly Catholic in what they believe and desire full membership in the Catholic Church. In November 2009, in response to these repeated and persistent inquiries from Anglican groups worldwide, Pope Benedict XVI issued the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus. This FR. SERAIAH AND FAMILY Pictured were Wyntre Seraiah, Catherine Seraiah, Fr. Chori Seraiah, Rook Seraiah; (back) Ransom Seraiah, Ajha Seraiah, and Blaise Seraiah. document authorized the creation of Ordinariates. These communities are in full communion with the Catholic Church yet they retain elements of Anglican heritage and liturgical practice. In May, Fr. Seraiah was assigned to St. George Catholic Teens Encounter Christ You are invited to the next TEC! Church in Republic, MO, one of 42 parishes and communities in the Ordinariate. St. George Catholic Church worships in the former Little Portion Retreat Center in Republic. Fr. Seraiah was assigned to St. George Catholic Church by his bishop, The Most Rev. Steven Lopes, and he is also available to serve the diocese and received a pastoral assignment from Bp. Edward M. Rice. Fr. Seraiah will serve as Associate Pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Springfield, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Nixa; and St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Ozark, in addition to his current pastoral responsibilities for the Ordinariate. Fr. Seraiah was ordained a The Ordinariate is a key ecumenical venture for the Catholic Church and a concrete example of unity in diversity. Catholic priest in 2012, shortly after the Ordinariate was established. His own spiritual journey started in the Baptist Church, where he served as a pastor. He was encouraged to read the Church Fathers, which drew him to the historic church. His journey first took him to the Presbyterian Church, then the Anglican Church, and finally home, to the Roman Catholic Church. When Pope Benedict XVI established the Ordinariate, former Anglican priests were welcome, even if they were married, to request permission from the Vatican to pursue holy orders. Fr. Seraiah, who had already studied the Catechism, and whose family had been living and worshipping as Catholics since 2005, petitioned the Church to become a Catholic priest. He was accepted by Rome. His wife, Catherine, said she and their children have all been on the same journey with him the entire time. Every step that we took, Fr. Chori was bringing us along right with him, Catherine said. Their oldest daughter, Ajha, 20, said the conversion to Catholicism seemed less like change and more like normal spiritual growth. We finally got to where we were supposed to be, Ajha said. Already knowing what to do after years in the Anglican church, her role as a priest s wife is comfortable for Catherine. It is, however, according to her, one of the most difficult things for Catholic parishes to get used to, acknowledging that many Catholics are not used to a priest having a wife and family. But her main job has always been caring for and home-schooling the Seraiah children: Ajha, Ransom, Blaise, Rook, and Wyntre. Married priests are actually not new in the United States there are Attention all incoming High School Juniors and Seniors: Treat yourself to three days away from the outside world learning more about God a weekend packed with surprises, new friends, old friends, and great food! Teens Encounter Christ is a three-day event designed for those in a period of transition, to help them sift through their values, and to encourage openness to the Gospel way of life. The next TEC will be held Aug. 6-8, 2016 in Springfield at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Applications are available on the Youth Ministry page of the diocesan Website: or scan the code. St. Lawrence Parish, New Hamburg, MO Hamburgers Fish sandwiches Curly fries Funnel cakes Ice cream Beverages Fri., July 15, 5-11:30 p.m. & Sat., July :30 p.m. Contests Little Mr./Mrs. New Hamburg Fri., July 15, 7:30 p.m. (parishoiners & relatives, ages 3-5) He artland Talent Sat., July 16, 2 p.m. (info: (573) or (573) ) Tournaments Horseshoe Sat., July 16, 1 p.m. Smorgasborg Sat., July 16, 4-7 p.m. More fun Turtle Races Sat., July 16, 6 p.m. (bring your own turtle) Kid s Tractor Pull Sat., July 16, 7 p.m. Antique Tractor Display (to show, (573) ) Mass Sat., July 16, 4 p.m. For more information, contact: Kirk Verhoff - Kirk @yahoo.com or (417) The Office of Youth Ministry (417) or

9 June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS The Mirror 9 currently about 120 married priests in the US Church although some serve in diocesan posts or in seminaries rather than in parishbased ministry. Fr. Seraiah was one of those allowed to work in parish ministry and was appointed to serve two parishes in the Diocese of Des Moines for the past three and a half years: SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, in Atlantic, IA, and St. Mary Catholic Church, in Anita, IA, from January of 2013, until May of His appointment in the Diocese of Des Moines was initially only supposed to be for six months, in order to determine if the parishioners would be comfortable with a married priest. Within a few months, the people were asking that we stay longer, Fr. Seraiah said. We got along wonderfully and were truly blessed during our time there. Leaving Iowa was bittersweet, but, Fr Seraiah said, I love local parish work, and I am happy to be able to work in the Ordinariate and also help out the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in any way that I am able. Although the parishioners have been meeting together for years now, St. George Catholic Church was officially established in 2015 and now has five families in its membership. The community holds a unique place in the area. It is not a diocesan mission, but the Church in Southern Missouri has embraced its ecumenical opportunity and is reaching out to former Anglicans and other Protestants who seek to identify the Catholic Church as their home. We are evangelistic, said Fr. Seraiah, that is our main focus. The members of St. George Catholic Church have been able to attend Mass as a congregation only every few months when Fr. Ken Bolin, a priest in the Ordinariate who was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, was able to celebrate with the community in the chapel at Immaculate Conception Church in Springfield. After settling in, Fr. Seraiah expects to celebrate Mass with St. George Catholic Church on a more regular schedule. To learn more about The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, visit ordinariate.net. Leslie Anne Eidson contributed to this article. The Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter In 1980, the Vatican created a Pastoral Provision in response to requests from clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church of the US who were seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. The Pastoral Provision, under the jurisdiction of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, provides for the integration, formation, and eventual ordination as Catholic priests who are married and former Anglican clergy. Pope Pius XII was the first pope to allow the ordination of married former protestant clergy. The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is a structure, similar to a diocese, that was created by the Vatican in 2012 for former Anglican communities and clergy seeking to become Catholic. Members of the Ordinariate are fully Roman Catholic, while retaining elements of Anglican heritage in their celebration of Mass and in the hospitality and ministries of their Catholic parishes. Some wonder if the Ordinariate is a separate Rite within the Catholic Church. No. The Ordinariate exists entirely within the context of the Roman Catholic Church. Its worship, while distinctive, is a form of the Roman Rite. Ordinariate Fireworks sales benefit parish ministries SEAS MEN S CLUB asks you to Celebrate America s Birthday with Fireworks! When making your fireworks selections for the season, make sure you get your Fireworks at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church at 2200 W. Republic Rd. in Springfield! NOW THROUGH JUNE 30th you will get an additional 10% bonus on all orders over $25. All net proceeds benefit Parrish and Catholic charities! PLUS NO SALES TAX! Save big and help support the Church! Our stand will be open from Friday June 24th through July 4th. parishes celebrate Mass using Divine Worship: The Missal, a definitive book of liturgical texts promulgated by the Vatican in Advent This missal uses Prayer Book English language derived from the classic books of the Anglican liturgical tradition that is fully Catholic in content and expression. Based in Houston, TX, the Ordinariate includes 42 communities throughout the US and Canada. Its bishop is The Most Rev. Steven Lopes, a former Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, who was appointed by Pope Francis on Nov. 24, 2015 and consecrated a bishop on Feb. 2, Currently, there are 62 priests and six deacons in the Ordinariate. Anglican priests who wish to become Catholic priests go through an extensive process including background checks and approval from the Vatican. They also complete additional formation and an exam through a Catholic seminary. Celibacy is the norm for the clergy. Permission has been given on a case-by-case basis for former Anglican priests who are married to be ordained Catholic priests. Widowed priests may not remarry. Camp Re-NEW-All desperately needs a NURSE for session 5C at Camp Smokey in Cassville (July ) This is a critical position. We appreciate how difficult it is to give up an entire week of vacation time for camp. If you are unable to come for the entire week, why not tag-team with a friend and come for a few days? Please consider sharing your knowledge and skills for this worthy ministry to our youth. For more information, call Rosie Francka in the camp office at rfrancka@ dioscg.org or phone (417) All staff 18 yrs. & over are required to complete Virtus Safe Environment Training and a diocesan background check and sign the diocesan code of conduct to be eligible to attend camp. Director of Sacred Music Immaculate Conception, Springfield Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield is seeking a Director of Sacred Music. Responsibilities would include planning, preparing, and executing music for Sunday and weekday school liturgies, training and instructing choirs and cantors in sacred music. Must be a strong organist with a proven choral background. Must be a practicing Catholic; a master s degree in music or liturgical music is preferred. A complete job description with instructions for application can be found on the parish Website

10 10 The Mirror June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING Bishop announces pastoral appointments From Page 1 Fr. Charles Dunn, is appointed Associate Pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield, effective Aug. 1, Fr. Dunn In addition, Fr. Dunn will alternate weekends as Sacramental Priest to Sacred Heart Parish in Mountain Grove and its mission, St. Michael in Cabool; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Mansfield and its missions of St. Leo the Great in Ava, and St. William in Gainesville. Fr. Alexander Nwagwu, Associate Pastor at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lebanon, is assigned effective Aug. 1, 2016, as Associate Pastor at St. Francis Fr. Nwagwu Xavier Parish in Sikeston and St. Henry Parish in Charleston. Fr. Chori Seraiah, a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter and Parochial Administrator of St. George Catholic Fr. Seraiah Church, which worships in the former Little Portion Retreat Center in Republic, will serve as Associate Pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Springfield, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Nixa; and St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Ozark. Diocesan Monsignor Thomas E. Reidy has been re-appointed by Bp. Edward M. Rice, Vicar General of the diocese and Chancellor. He remains pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, Msgr. Reidy and St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Nixa. Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home Locally-owned & operated u Dedicated u Caring u Professional Offices of the Catholic Cemeteries Paul & Lynn Wunderlich David Fenton Louis Lohmeyer Charlene Harris-Bengsch Gene Lohmeyer Mary Ann Johnston Joel Champ 500 E. Walnut - Springfield (417) Executive Director Central and Northern Missouri Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, part of the nation s largest private social service network, Catholic Charities USA, is an agency that provides services in 38 surrounding counties regardless of faith. We assist with immediate needs and provide resources for long term change. Catholic Charities is pleased to announce the opportunity for an Executive Director. This position provides leadership for programs, projects, staff, volunteers, administration and oversees fundraising strategies and events. The Executive Director believes in providing care and dignity to all and has a passion to unify others in service. The successful candidate will have an advanced degree in a closely related field, demonstrate knowledge of Church teachings and is a practicing Catholic. At least three (3) years of experience managing the delivery of services is preferred. Additional qualifications include strong verbal and written communications skills, a track record of effective fundraising, and computer proficiency. Weekend and evening hours along with travel are required. Retirements and Chaplaincy Fr. John Braun will serve as chaplain at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Due to reasons of health, Fr. John Gagnepain, CM, Director of Continuing Formation of Clergy, will retire after 45 years of dedicated priestly ministry. Deacon Bill Keller has retired from 12 years of active parish ministry in St. Agnes Cathedral. He will continue his liturgical ministry and involvement Rev. Mr. Keller as a permanent deacon of the diocese. C O N T E M P L A T I V E Fr. Braun Fr. Gagnepain MONK Trappist Cistercian A small self-supporting community in the Ozark foothills of Missouri. Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056, Ava, MO (417) assumptionabbey@gmail.com Pope s monthly prayer intentions Each month, Pope Francis announces his special prayer intentions particular things that he wishes all Catholics to pray for that month. Pope Francis offers two intentions every month, one universal, and one for a particular Catholic evangelization activity. July 2016 Universal: Indigenous Peoples That indigenous peoples, whose identity and very existence are threatened, will be shown due respect. Evangelization: Latin America and the Caribbean That the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, by means of her mission to the continent, may announce the Gospel with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. Columbia Construction Co. PO Box 1332 Cape Girardeau, MO (573) We offer a competitive salary and benefit package commensurate with experience. To apply confidentially, submit a resume and cover letter including salary chronology and expectations to Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, PO Box , Jefferson City, MO , before July 1, Learn more about Catholic Charities USA by visiting us Online at

11 June 24, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING The Mirror 11 Celebrating mercy: Encounter with holy relics emphasizes Passion of Christ Cape Girardeau A Relics of the Passion tour made its way to Springfield and Cape Girardeau recently. Relics of the True Cross were present in St. Mary Cathedral on June 4 and in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Springfield, on June 5. The unique collection of relics was brought together in a program of meditations, music, and prayer in order to draw participants of all ages to a deeper faith and understanding of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Over 200 people attended the relics tour in Cape Girardeau, which included an opportunity for personal veneration of the relics. The Apostolate for Holy Relics has been providing presentations since 2003 in order to emphasize the theme of Holy Years declared by the Holy Father or ecclesiastical feasts, such as this Jubilee Year of Mercy. Relics on display included a relic of the table from the Upper Room ; a piece of the column of the scourging of Jesus ; a piece of the band from the Crown of Thorns ; a second class relic of an image of Veronica s veil touched to the veil kept in Rome ; a relic from the skull of St. Longinus, the soldier who pierced Jesus side ; a piece of the cloth in which the Shroud of Turin is wrapped ; a reliquary holding relics of the apostles including St. Matthias and St. Barnabas. For more information, see relictour.org. RELICS TOUR The Apostolate for Holy Relics presented a Relics of the Passion tour in St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, on June 4. A similar event was held June 5 in Springfield. About 200 people participated in the program which included prayer, music, meditation, and veneration of relics to commemorate the Passion of Christ. (Photo by Dan Williams/The Mirror) RELIC OF THE TRUE CROSS Fr. Allan Saunders held a relic of the True Cross during the Relics of the Passion tour in St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, on June 4. Fr. Saunders is pastor of the cathedral parish and Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease in Cape Girardeau. (Photo by Dan Williams/The Mirror) REPLICA OF THE NAIL OF THE CROSS Fr. Joseph Kelly held a replica of the Nail from the Cross during the Relics of the Passion tour in St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, on June 4. Fr. Kelly is associate pastor of the cathedral parish and Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease in Cape Girardeau. (Photo by Dan Williams/The Mirror) Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Inc. Brentwood Chapel University Chapel Crematory Columbarium Licensed funeral directors of distinction: Bill M. Abbott W. Bruce Howell Marquis Howell, Jr. Robert Lohmeyer Harley R. Williams Don R. Lohmeyer Clint W. Mease Marquis Howell, Sr. Angela N. Collins Heather K. Howell Winford R. Laster Locally owned and operated for over 50 years 1947 E. Seminole, Springfield MO (417) fax (417) , gormanscharpf@mchsi.com

12 12 The Mirror June 24, 2016 ADULT FAITH By Jordan Denari Confluence of celebrations It s a special time in the Islamic world, and in the Ignatian world, too. From June 6 to July 5, Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, almsgiving, and praying over God s revelation. For those at Jesuit institutions schools, parishes, and organizations inhabiting the spirit of St. Ignatius of Loyola July is a celebration of the spirituality of the Jesuit founder, whose feast day is July 31. This confluence of celebrations prompted me to reflect on the points of convergence between Islamic and Ignatian spirituality. As a student of Islam educated in Catholic Jesuit schools, I ve discovered some profound similarities, or, as the late Trappist abbot Christian de Cherge would call them, the notes that are in common between the religions. These similarities can be explained best by pointing to three Arabic mottos, central to the Islamic tradition, and their surprising Ignatian counterparts. The phrase MashaAllah, or what God wills, is used to express appreciation, gratitude, reverence, and awe about the good and beautiful. As my friend Zainab put it, it s about recognizing a flicker of God s divine character in the created world. Muslims exclaim it when their friends get into college, when they spot a stunning sunset, or when their relatives post a picture of their new, healthy baby on Facebook. I like to think of this prompt acknowledgement of God s blessings as an immediate, in-the-moment Examen, the daily prayer of gratitude developed by St. Ignatius. The Daily Examen encourages us to reflect back on or rummage through our day, looking for the places where God made Godself known to us. Often, these ayat, or signs of God, can be found in creation. Pope Francis, a Jesuit, and the Muslim mystic Ali al-khawas, both realized this. In his recent encyclical, Laudato Si, on Care for our Common Home, Francis cites the Sufi writer, who wrote in the ninth century: The initiate will capture what is being said when the wind blows, the trees sway, water flows, flies buzz, doors creak, birds sing, or in the sound of strings or flutes, the sighs of the sick, the groans of the afflicted. Inspired by Ali s poetic description, Francis writes: Standing awestruck before a mountain, [the mystical person] cannot separate this experience from God, and perceives that the interior awe being lived has to be entrusted to the Lord. What Francis and Ali are both describing is that a-ha! or rather, MashaAllah moment, when a person recognizes and acknowledges that it is ultimately God who is the Ignatius & Islam Uncovering interfaith intersections giver of creation s good gifts. But it s not just about seeing God in what appears to be beautiful and good, but finding Allah in all things. Both Christianity and Islam teach us that every experience good or bad is an opportunity to become closer to the divine. St. Ignatius talks about this as finding God in all things, a phrase which has become an important buzzword in Ignatian communities. Another Muslim mystic, the well-known Rumi, would have agreed with Ignatius. In his poem, The Guest House, he advises us to be grateful for whoever comes, [because] each has been sent as a guide from beyond. InshaAllah Another phrase of great significance in the Islamic tradition is InshaAllah, or if God wills. Muslims use it when talking about the future, to qualify their anticipated plans with the caveat that God is ultimately in control. The frequent mention of God s will in the speech of Muslims points to the core endeavor at the center of Islam: conforming one s will to the will of God. The word Islam refers to the peace that comes with Ramadan is June 6- July 5 surrendering to God s will, and a Muslim is a person who submits to that God-given peace. That is a notion familiar to those acquainted with Ignatian spirituality. St. Ignatius taught that we must constantly ask ourselves, What is God s will for me? and How can I live out God s desires for me, and for the world? Ignatius wrote that we could come to these answers through prayerful discernment. Junayd, another spiritual giant, said this handing over of one s free will to God brings deep contentment. But the process of discerning God s will and living it out in practice is challenging. Matt McKibben, a student at a Jesuit high school in Kansas City, MO, described this challenge as riding with God on a tandem bicycle. After steering the bike from the front seat and maintaining control over life, he asks God to metaphorically swap places, praying, Let me pedal hard while you guide the way. Let me keep focus, and stay with you always. By uttering InshAllah, Muslims vocalize their inner trust, or tawakkul, in God s plan for the future. I can imagine my Muslim friends offering this prayer by the late Jesuit Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, renaming it Patient Tawakkul : Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete. Allahu Akbar Islamic and Ignatian spirituality also put a strong emphasis on God s greatness. Each Islamic call to prayer begins with the invocation, Allahu Akbar, God is the greatest. It is used to praise and glorify God who is transcendent, grander than we could ever imagine. This phrase of exultation is also used in ordinary life, to express adulation and exuberance during a sermon or cultural performance, and conversely, even to [communicate] a sense of shock or distress upon learning of the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, most non-muslims will only associate this phrase with terrorists. They don t know that NFL football star Husain Abdullah uses it to give credit to God when he picks off a pass from Tom Brady on the football field. The motto of the Society of Jesus, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, For the greater glory of God, was coined by St. Ignatius to remind us that every act we perform, big or small, can and should be dedicated to God. The motto vocalizes the common goal of Christians, Muslims, and all people of faith, who endeavor to dedicate their lives to something greater than themselves. Islam and Ignatian spirituality remind us that our existence is made meaningful by this: praising and glorifying God through a life of service to God and others. That s why I was so thrilled with the title of Pope Francis encyclical. Laudato Si means praise be to you in the medieval Umbrian dialect of Italian spoken by St. Francis of Assisi, who had his own personal encounter with Islam through a meeting with the Muslim Sultan al-kamil in Egypt. The title made me smile because it could have easily have been named Alhamdulillah another ubiquitous Arabic term meaning praise be to God, the equivalent for our Hallelujah. At a bare minimum, this time of celebration can be an opportunity for our communities to learn more about each other. But it holds much more potential. These days should call us to praise God, not just from the comfort of our own, respective communities, but together, as a diverse community, unified by our shared goals and our common Source. Jordan Denari is a research fellow at Georgetown University s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, where she works for the Bridge Initiative, a research project on Islamophobia. This article first appeared in the National Catholic Reporter, ncronline. org. It is reprinted with permission.