The Mirr r. On the Road, Again. Bishop Edward Rice will visit. Road Rally Road Rally Revival. The Catechism in brief

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1 The Mirr r Vol. LII, No. 9 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI August 19, 2016 One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus Road Rally 2016 On the Road, Again HOLY TRINITY, MARSHFIELD Around 40 people greeted Bp. Edward M. Rice At Holy Trinity, Marshfield on Aug 17, including Mary Louise Gregory. At 97 years young, Mary is the youngest member of the parish! (The Mirror) 2016 Road Rally Revival Bishop Edward Rice will visit each parish and mission in the diocese Aug and share his thoughts and hopes on Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, and Sharing Jesus in our One Church, East to West. Please consult the parish visitation schedule on org and make plans to be present when Bp. Rice visits your parish or mission. Track Bishop s travels on social media, Diocese of Springfield- Cape ROAD RALLY LAUNCH Road Rally 2016 was launched Aug. 14, with an 8 a.m. liturgy in Our Lady of the Cove Parish, Kimberling City. Pictured were Bp. Edward M. Rice, Chase Johnson, and Nicole Yendes. (The Mirror) WHITE CHURCH Russell and Donna Cargill and their children were on-hand to greet Bp. Edward M. Rice Aug. 16 as he was On the Road, Again, to St. Joseph Mission, White Church. (The Mirror) OUR LADY OF THE COVE Bishop Edward M. Rice received a gift from pastor Fr. Suresh Samala during his Road Rally stop at Our Lady of the Cove Parish, Kimberling City on Sun., Aug. 14. The gift was a framed photo of the parish taken at night by by Fr. Samala. (The Mirror) The Catechism in brief MOUNTAIN GROVE Parishioners in Sacred Heart Parish, Mountain Grove, greeted Bp. Edward M. Rice his second day On the Road, Again, Aug. 15. Road Rally 2016 runs through Aug. 31. (The Mirror) FOOD OF THE ROAD RAL- LY Deserving of its own photo spread, the food on the Road Rally is always delicious! Here are Stop light made in Greenfield, and homegrown tomatoes and basil were part of the lunch spread at Eminence. (The Mirror) 623 By his loving obedience to the Father, unto death, even death on a cross (Phil 2:8), Jesus fulfills the atoning mission (cf. Isa 53:10) of the suffering servant, who will make many righteous: and he shall bear their iniquities (Isa 53:11; cf. Rom 5:19). The Catechism of the Catholic Church compiles the living tradition of the Catholic Church and divides it into four sections: What Catholics believe (the Creed), how the faith is transmitted (worship and sacraments), how Catholics are called to live (moral life), and prayer. The next issue of The Mirror will be Sept. 2, If you would like to receive the diocesan newspaper via in digital format, please contact Angie Toben at (417) , or her: atoben@dioscg.org.

2 2 The Mirror August 19, 2016 COLUMNS Diocesan Priorities and Vision To the Faithful of the Diocese, Sixty years have passed since the founding of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on August 24, Some of the founding priests of our diocese tell the story of the step-by-step progress of this local church. The Lord has surely blessed the Catholic Church of Southern Missouri over these years. We, of course, are indebted to the work of so many clergy, religious, and lay people for their untiring efforts when the diocese began. We also cannot forget the blessings that God has bestowed upon each of us. As your newly installed bishop and with the support of the Presbyteral Council, I want to recommend that pastors celebrate a Mass on the evening of Wednesday, August 24, 2016, at an appropriate time for their parish. If possible, after the Mass, please host a small parish reception. For this anniversary Mass, we will follow the liturgical guidelines and celebrate the Feast of St. Bartholomew. In addition, I will celebrate a dedication of the Diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Aug. 24, in St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, at 7 p.m. Families are encouraged to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by registering their names in the Consecration Registry at the local parish. Prayer cards will soon be available in each parish for our families to utilize (similar to below). As we think of the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us realize the all-inclusive love which our Savior offers to each one of us. As a diocese, we prayerfully accept the redemption he has won for all of us. Sincerely in Christ, The Most Reverend Edward M. Rice Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Consecration of Families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Image: Shutterstock.com Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, as we consecrate our family to you, each day we wish to live Your life, to nurture in our home those virtues which bring us Your peace and to avoid the worldliness and selfishness which leads us away from You. O Divine Heart of Jesus, be pleased to watch over our family, to bless all that we do, to dispel our troubles, to sanctify our joys, and to lighten our sufferings. If one of us should ever offend You by sin, remind us, O Merciful Jesus, of Your goodness and mercy shown to the repentant sinner. When the time of separation arrives within the family and death brings its grief into our midst, may those of us who go and those of us who stay be committed to Your Holy Will. May the hope of Your promise remind us that the day will come when our entire family, reunited in Heaven, will be able to sing forever of Your glory and mercy. As we entrust our family to Your loving mercy, may the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Joseph, her Beloved Spouse, present to You our Act of Consecration and keep us ever mindful of it all the days of our life. All glory to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our King and our Redeemer! As you read this column, I am well into my Road Rally 2016, On the Road, Again! So far, I have visited almost 50 of our parishes and missions where I have celebrated Holy Mass, led the Rosary, or offered a prayer service, sharing my thoughts on our Shared Vision of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Upon my arrival to the diocese, I had no idea that my predecessor, Bp. Johnston, had established an Envisioning Team and had embarked on an 18-month process in order to better focus the mission and intentions of the Diocese. The process included regional listening sessions that were held throughout the diocese in order to hear what the faithful thought our priorities should be as a diocese. After learning of all the hard work, effort, and time put into this (En)vision quest, I concluded that it is only right to honor the good work of the committee. And why not? The beauty of the vision is in its simplicity One Church, East to West, Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, and Sharing Jesus. Further, as I reflected on the three diocesan priorities: 1) To Grow in Holiness; 2) Form Intentional Disciples; and 3) Sent to Witness (to Jesus Christ), I thought to myself, What bishop wouldn t want that for the people of his diocese? Any bishop would be thrilled to know that his people were on board with loving Jesus, serving Jesus, and sharing Jesus! And as I have moved throughout the diocese meeting so many parishioners, what have I discovered? I have found fiercely loyal parishioners who are willing to sacrifice for the good of their parish. I have found parishioners who love their priests and understand the need to be flexible so that he can get around to the many parishes to which he attends. Many of the parishes face the challenges particular to small, rural areas. Many have told me of children who have moved away for better employment opportunities. Many have shared their sadness of children who have fallen away from the faith or joined another denomination. Many have shared with me their joy in living in the midst of the natural beauty of southern Missouri and that there is no other place they would live. I am surprised at how many people have moved to our area from other parts of the country. All of these dynamics and more are part of the makeup of the parishes and missions of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau! And, may I say how much I appreciate the warm welcomes I have experienced at each Road Rally stop, and the delicious desserts that have met me On More than 5,650 Catholic sisters urge More than 5,650 Catholic Sisters recently signed a letter asking the US presidential candidates to engage in political dialogue that reflects the principles and values upon which this nation was founded. Written by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the letter asks that the candidates refrain from rhetoric that stokes the fires of fear and engage in constructive dialogue during this campaign season. Copies of the letter were delivered to presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Governor Gary Johnson, Dr. Jill Stein, their running mates, and party chairs on Aug. 8. Unfortunately, it seems in this particular political season commitment to political discourse that preserves the dignity of the human person and promotes the common good is in short supply, said Sr. Joan Marie Steadman, CSJ, executive director of LCWR. This is why LCWR is calling for civility in our discourse and decency in our political interaction. The letter to the presidential candidates reads as follows: On behalf of the 5,671 Catholic Sisters across the United States who have signed this letter, we ask you to join us in calling for civility in our discourse and decency in our political interaction that promotes the common good, reaches out to others, engages in constructive dialogue, and seeks together the way forward. We ask you to join us in promising to engage in political dialogue that reflects the principles and values upon which this nation was founded.

3 August 19, 2016 COLUMNS The Mirror 3 worthy of our efforts SENT TO WITNESS Seth Robert, Kali Essner, and Amber Crites have comitted the next couple of years in order to serve as FOCUS Missionaries to college students. (The Mirror) the Road, Again! I have not been able to get in my daily five-mile run during the Road Rally, so I m sure by the end of the trip I will have put on some weight! I look forward to finishing my tour with the remaining parishes and missions. COME, AND YOU WILL SEE Bp. Edward M. Rice The future is bright As we reflect on and celebrate our 60th Anniversary of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on Aug. 24, the diocesan Shared Vision and Priorities can assist us into the future. Without a vision, and of course our Lord, we flounder. With a vision, we can move forward with confidence that we have set a course worthy of our resources and energy. As I learn more about the diocese, I see how each bishop, in his own way while here, built upon the good work of the previous leadership. What my contribution will be is yet to been seen! However, whatever it may be, I know it will somehow involve promoting vocations, strengthening marriage and family life, and offering programs for our youth. As I have said at the end of my talk in each parish along the way of the Road Rally, Our future is bright! FOCUS Missionaries A few weeks ago, I went to breakfast with three young people from the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area. Kali Essner, Amber Crites, and Seth Robert have committed the next couple of years to sharing the Catholic faith with university students as FOCUS missionaries. The goal of FO- CUS is, to invite college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization and discipleship in which they lead others to do the same. Kali will be working at the University of Texas, Tyler. Amber will be at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Seth will be at Texas A&M. I am so proud of these young members of our diocese and the good work they will do. I ask that you keep them in your prayers! TM presidential candidates to engage in civil discourse In his Sept. 24, 2015 address to the US Congress, Pope Francis reminded all who seek to serve that, You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics. Unfortunately, we live in a time when our politics is too often marked by self-interest and demeaning rhetoric. We seem to be caught in a political system paralyzed by ideological extremism and hyper-partisanship. Those on all sides of the growing political divide too often appeal to our basest instincts and stoke the fires of fear that tear at the fabric of our nation. We cannot let the voices of hatred and fear carry the day. We need courageous leaders willing to speak the truth. We simply ask that all who seek to lead refrain from language that disrespects, dehumanizes, or demonizes another. We pray that all who seek to influence public opinion will be mindful of the common good and respectful of the dignity of each and every person. Citizens of this pluralistic nation form a diverse polity characterized by a wide variety of beliefs, experiences, and interests. Our differences have the potential to challenge all of us to abandon easy certainty and seek a fuller truth. The problem is not our differences. It is how those disagreements are handled that spells the difference between building the common good and destroying the bonds that bind us. We urge you to join us in pledging to engage in careful listening and honest dialogue that honors the dignity of those with whom we disagree and treats all with the respect that is their God-given right. Please join us in promising to seek the common good, to desire only good for all others, and to offer our own truth with equal measures of conviction and humility. We know that you offer yourself in service of the people of the United States at great cost to yourself and your family. We promise you our prayers in the weeks and months ahead. An association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the US, LCWR has about 1,350 members, who represent nearly 80 percent of the approximately 49,000 women religious in the US. The 5,671 signers of the letter are Catholic sisters from across the country who serve persons in need through education, healthcare, and other pastoral and social services. TM Tue., Aug. 23 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 8:30 a.m. St. Joseph Parish, Springfield 11 a.m. St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield 6 p.m. First day of MSU academic year. Catholic Campus Ministry, Springfield Wed., Aug. 24 St. Agnes Cathedral, 60th anniversary of the 7 p.m. Diocese Springfield-Cape Girardeau Thu., Aug. 25 Catholic Night at Springfield Cardinals, 7 p.m. Springfield Fri., Aug. 26 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 12:30 p.m. St. George Mission Parish, Van Buren 2:30 p.m. St. Benedict Parish, Doniphan 4 p.m. Sacred Heart Parish, Poplar Bluff 5:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter Sat., Aug. 27 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 8:30 a.m. St. Teresa Parish, Glennonville 9:45 a.m. St. Ann Parish, Malden 11:15 a.m. St. Cecilia Parish, Kennett 1 p.m. Sacred Heart Parish, Caruthersville 2:30 p.m. St. Eustachius Parish, Portageville 5 p.m. Immaculate Conception Parish, New Madrid Sun., Aug. 28 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 9 a.m. St. Henry Parish, Charleston 11 a.m. St. Francis Xavier Parish, Sikeston 12:30 p.m. Guardian Angel Parish, Oran 1:45 p.m. St. Denis Parish, Benton 2:45 p.m. St. Lawrence Parish, New Hamburg 3:45 p.m. St. Augustine Parish, Kelso 5 p.m. St. Joseph Parish, Scott City 8 p.m. Catholic Campus Ministry, Cape Girardeau Mon., Aug. 29 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 8 a.m. Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation, Cape Girardeau 9:30 a.m. Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease, Cape Girardeau 10:30 a.m. St. Vincent De Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau Noon Road Rally 2016 Immaculate Conception Parish, Jackson 1:30 p.m. St. Ambrose Parish, Chaffee 3 p.m St. Joseph Parish, Advance 4 p.m. St. Anthony Mission Church, Glennon 5:15 p.m. St. John Parish, Leopold Tue., Aug. 30 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 10 a.m. St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Fredericktown 11:30 a.m. Ste. Marie du Lac Parish, Ironton 2 p.m. St. Philip Benizi Mission Church, Viburnum 3:30 p.m. Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church, Lesterville 5:30 p.m. St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Piedmont Wed., Aug. 31 ROAD RALLY REVIVAL 9 a.m. Our Lady of Sorrows Mission Church, Williamsville Indicates Mass time, otherwise a gathering For a complete Road Rally Revival schedule, log on to

4 4 The Mirror August 19, 2016 REVIEW/ADULT FAITH KC priest s friendship with Truman ripples to Ozarks By Marty Denzer Kansas City The framed photograph hung in the upstairs hallway of her parent s home the whole time Lili Bliss Shank was growing up in the Brookside area of Kansas City. She passed the photo a couple of times each day, and as she grew, she also grew curious about the photo of two men, one in a white chasuble and the other in a dark suit, smiling at each other as they shook hands. The two men were Pres. Harry S. Truman and Fr. Louis Curtis Tiernan, her great-uncle, at the Potsdam Conference. But she knew little about Fr. Tiernan, except for one big connection: both Shank and her great-uncle bore the same middle name, Curtis. Her father was a storyteller, so even as a child, Shank was interested in personal histories. Her interest increased in high school, when her history teacher assigned the class to interview a family member about a period in American history. Shank interviewed her father s mother, Agnes Tiernan Bliss, about Kansas City during Prohibition. The colorful tales her grandmother told about those days, especially about family and friends, fascinated the teenager. Career shift Shank graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics and then completed the 10- week summer program at the university s Mass Media Institute. She worked at KOLR-TV in Springfield, MO, before returning to Kansas City to join KCTV-5 in In 2007, after 25 years as a news anchor and reporter, Shank said goodbye to the TV station to pursue becoming a personal historian. She credits part of her inspiration to StoryCorps, the personal history collection initiative begun in It was through helping Harry & Padre by Lili Bliss Shank others preserve their family histories that Shank realized she wasn t preserving her own. Knowing that her great uncle and Harry Truman were friends, she impulsively ed the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, MO, asking if they had anything in their files about Fr. Tiernan. Shank wanted to know the back story of that photo that held such pride of place in her childhood home. To her delighted surprise, a thick envelope soon arrived containing 35 years of correspondence between Truman and Padre, as he fondly called the priest, revealing a friendship forged during World Wars I and II, and lasting until Fr. Tiernan died in The letters triggered a two-year research project that culminated in Harry & Padre, published in March Friendship Between those letters, and the newspaper clippings and photos her grandmother, Curtis youngest sister Agnes, kept and passed down to Shank s father, she had a starting point in her research. She began at the beginning Louis Curtis Tiernan was born in 1884 to Peter and Lillie Curtis Tiernan in St. Louis. An older brother died in early childhood. Curtis, as he was known was followed by four younger sisters and a brother. When he was very young, his parents moved to Kansas City, residing first at the Coates House Hotel downtown, and then, as the family grew, moved to a home on Independence Avenue. Curtis attended the Christian Brothers grade school near the cathedral, and continued there even after the family moved to 35th and Genesee, riding his pony to and from school. When Curtis was 12, his father died. The son attended Central High School, and then St. Louis University, graduating in He headed off to what is now the Pontifical North American College in Rome to prepare for ordination to the priesthood, which occurred in Father Tiernan then returned to Kansas City. Shank learned that he served in several parishes in the western Missouri Diocese of Kansas City, which then stretched south from the Kansas City area to the Arkansas border, including what now is the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. As war clouds gathered over Europe, Fr. Tiernan became convinced that the US had a moral obligation to step up and fight. President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany in April Three months later, Fr. Tiernan was approached by a group of Irish Catholic young men wanting to organize an artillery regiment who requested the priest to serve as their chaplain. In August of 1917, Fr. Tiernan entered active military service at Fort Sill s Camp Doniphan in Oklahoma. There, in what became the famous unit Battery D, he got to know a young Perhaps his biggest achievement was the founding of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Branson, MO, which at that time was little more than a backwater town by the White River. Baptist corporal named Harry Truman. It was during fierce fighting in the Vosges Mountains of France in 1918 that the men in the trenches began calling Fr. Tiernan Padre. The moniker stuck, for the remainder of the priest s life, as did his close friendship with Truman and the Boys of Battery D. Springfield After the war, Fr. Tiernan was sent to Springfield, MO, to serve as parish priest for then-st. Agnes Parish in the 1920 s, eventually becoming Dean of the Springfield District in During his time in the Ozarks, Fr. Tiernan formed many lasting friendships that would remain for the rest of his life. He had a passion for the people and was instrumental in helping to spread the faith into many parts of the rural Ozarks. Perhaps his biggest achievement was the founding of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Branson, MO, which at that time was little more than a backwater town by the White River (now Lake Taneycomo). Father Tiernan also loved the scenic beauty of the Ozarks and enjoyed taking advantage of its many outdoor activities, especially hunting, camping, floating, and fishing. In fact, it remained one of his favorite places to visit throughout his life. When asked what he would do when he retired, he replied, I should like to go to the Ozarks awhile, a leisurely while. I should like to look at the mountains and I should like to go fishing. After a long and successful career as both parish priest and senior Army chaplain, Msgr. Tiernan died in Kansas City in A half century later, Lili Shank and her husband, Chris, traveled from Kansas City to Fort Riley, KS, to Rome, and many points in between, checking out clues that peeked out of old letters, photographs, and artifacts of the First and Second World Wars belonging to Msgr. Padre L. Curtis Tiernan, Head Chaplain of the European Theater Office, highlydecorated US Army Colonel, friend, and occasional advisor to Harry Truman, President of the United States. Many of those letters, photographs, and artifacts appear in the book. In addition to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, she sought information from several historical sources, including the history of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Branson, MO, and St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield. TM The book, Harry & Padre is available for $15 at the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO, or by contacting Lili Shank, (913) , or lili@voicesintime.com. For more information about recording a personal history, visit 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. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MO, and additional mailing offices. Vol. LII No. 9 August 19, 2016 Single copy price, $0.50 Subscription: $14 per year. Digital subscriptions available as an option to USPS delivery with paid subscription. For more information, contact atoben@dioscg.org. Copyright 2016, The Mirror, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: Diocese of Springfield-Cape

5 August 19, 2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mirror 5 Announcements Parishes and organizations are invited to submit notices of future events to be printed in the Announcements. They will be printed on a space-available basis. There is no fee. Branson Our Lady of the Lake Parish will host its annual Arts and Crafts Festival, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 7-8, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Vendors needed. There will be 40 inside booths plus outdoor booths featuring a variety of unique gifts, handcrafted items, home-grown fall vegetables, and one-of-a-kind gifts. No admission charge. In addition to the arts and crafts booths, Olly s Tasty Treats, baked goods, snack items, and drinks will be available for purchase as a fundraiser for Our Lady of the Lake Youth. Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) will host lunch on the grounds Fri., and Sat. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Treat the family to authentic Mexican dishes Sunday ONLY beginning 9 a.m. as a fundraiser for Hispanic Ministries. For vendor information, info@ollbranson.com, or call Janet Bostnick at (417) ; or Joyce Arnold (417) , ext. 103, or info@ollbranson.com. Cape Girardeau There will be 20 decades of the Rosary prayed for personal intentions and for peace, every third Sunday of the month, at St. Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease. Next gathering will be Sun., Sept. 18. For more information, contact Frances Presswood, (573) Scott City St. Joseph Parish will host a Fall Dinner, Sun., Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in the parish center. The buffet-style meal will consist of kettle beef, chicken and dumplings, chicken and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, slaw, and dessert. Adults: $9; children (ages six-12): $5; children (under age six): free; carry-out meals available. The Parish Council of Catholic Women will be selling crafts, breads, and sweets at their country store and bakery shop. For more information, contact Donna Anderson, (573) Springfield The Secular Franciscan Fraternity will meet, Sat., Aug. 27, beginning with lunch at noon (optional), then at 1 p.m. in the day chapel at Holy Trinity Parish. Contact for new inquirers is Steve Moncher, stevemoncher@ gmail.com, or call (417) Springfield Immaculate Conception Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will host the Regional Council of Catholic Women, Thu., Sept. 1, in the parish community room. Registration and a continental breakfast will be at 9 a.m., followed by a business meeting at 9:30 a.m. Mass, lunch, and entertainment will conclude the day. For more information, contact Karen Soetaert, (417) Springfield Catholic Night with Bp. Edward Rice and the Springfield Cardinals will be Aug. 25, 7:10 p.m. Gates open at 6:10 p.m; $7 Field Box Seats. Everyone will receive a red Cardinals Cap; Budweiser St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Championship Stein Giveaway (2,000, age 21+). Klements Buck a Brat. For more information or to order your tickets, please contact Teresa Calhoun, (417) , tcalhoun@cardinals.com. Springfield Using the guidelines of Bp. Robert F. Morneau, The Gift of Spirituality, Bible Belt Studies presents 10 key principles for nurturing the soul. Sprirtuality connects us to God, making us aware that there is more to life than our personal philosophy. Spirituality helps us become aware that this relationship impacts every facet of how we live our life. For further information or to enroll, visit www. home.classicnet.net/mwade/, or Sr. Frances Wessel, SSND, fwessel@ssndcp.org. Springfield Contemplative Outreach of Springfield will host a morning of Lectio Divina, centering prayer, videos, and discussion on deepening our interior life, on Sat., Sept. 10, Christ Episcopal Church, 601 E. Walnut Street. Registration begins at 8:30; program will be 9 a.m.-noon. For more information, contact Mary Ellison at maryellison@ sbcglobal.net/ Springfield St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish will host Harvest Home Fall Festival, Fri., Sept. 9, 5 p.m.-11:45 p.m., and Sat., Sept. 10, 2 p.m.-11:45 p.m., on the parish grounds. Come join in this great event, including live entertainment, food, games, rides, silent auction, laser tag, bubble soccer, and Saturday s washer tournament. For more information, contact the parish office at (417) Congratulations Congratulations to priests, deacons, and consecrated religious celebrating anniversaries in September: Priests Fr. Placid Guste, SMP Sept. 30, 55 years Fr. Allan Saunders Sept. 12, 30 years Deacons Deacon Edward Ellman Sept. 15, 32 years Vows/Entrances Sr. Carol Atchity, BVM Sept. 8 Sr. Richard Mary Burke, RSM Sept. 8 Br. Joseph Reisch Sept. 14 Br. Vianney Porter, SMP Sept. 27 From a grateful Church: Thank you from all the people whose lives you have touched! 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. September 2016 Universal: Centrality of the Human Person That each may contribute to the common good and to the building of a society that places the human person at the center. Evangelization: Mission to Evangelize That by participating in the Sacraments and meditating on Scripture, Christians may become more aware of their mission to evangelize. TM Schedule The next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations: Wed., Aug. 31 4:30-7:30 p.m...st. Peter the Apostle, Joplin Sat., Sept :30-3:30 p.m...st. Canera, Neosho Mon., Sept p.m....st. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau Tue., Sept p.m....st. Teresa School, Campbell Wed., Sept p.m....st. Ann School, Carthage Thu., Sept p.m....st. Mary School, Pierce City Thu., Sept p.m....sacred Heart, Poplar Bluff Sat., Oct. 8 1:30-4:30 p.m...holy Trinity, Springfield 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 6 The Mirror August 19, 2016 FEATURE In his last column ( Come, and you will see, Aug. 5, 2016), Bp. Edward M. Rice asked all young people to pray a Hail Mary daily in order that they know God s will in their lives. We thought it might be a good time to further explore the Hail Mary... THE Hidden Power OF THE Hail Mary By James L. Berkon Recently, as I was driving to work, I was thinking about our current cultural climate. Like you, I have siblings starting their own families. There is something about seeing the innocence of a child that makes you want to protect them from any and all harm. The current state of affairs is marching us toward a new age seeking to strip any moral foundation from us and make the disposal of innocence and human life as easy as it is to trash a used piece of Kleenex. Needless to say, I am scared, insecure, and unsure of what to make of what the world is turning into. Many friends have asked What will the United States look like in 20 years? What kind of world will our children and grandchildren grow up in? Unsure how to answer, I decided to consult our go-to gal, as Catholics, Our Lady. Then a thought hit me, What are we really saying when we recite the Hail Mary? Growing up Catholic, I was taught the Hail Mary. However, no one told me of the prayer s profound significance, nor about the power we are asking Our Lady to unleash when we utter beautiful words of the prayer within a mere 20-second span. What is the hidden power of the Hail Mary? Ironically, it can be found in words uttered by the devil to the chief exorcist of Rome, Fr. Gabriel Amorth. The devil told him Every Hail Mary is like a blow to my head. My immediate reaction was, So, Mary is giving Satan a little bop on the head for bad behavior? That s nice. I could not have been more naïve. This one sentence uttered by Satan holds the key to more fully understanding the power the Hail Mary possesses. In The Hidden Power of the Hail Mary order to understand this, we need some background information. THE PLAN In Christian circles, we tend to hear that God has a plan for our lives. Rarely, if ever, do we acknowledge that Satan, too, has a plan. If God s plan can be summed up in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope, the plan of Satan is that of a thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy (Jn 10:10). God s lone desire for all of us is not to rob of us of the life and love we desire in the depths of our hearts. His singular desire is to heal our wounds, no matter how numerous they are, and restore in our hearts the deepest and purest desire for life and love. He never desires to deprive us of what is true, good, and beautiful. Like a good father he desires to see us become fully human, fully dignified, fully ourselves! Satan knows God wishes to see us shine like the brightest stars in the heavens and he cannot stand it! Like a villain or a murderer, he desires one thing and one alone: to use us as pawns and then oversee our demise. I liken it to a scene from the movie, The Force Awakens, as Han Solo tries to bring his son, Ben, back from the dark side: Snoke is just using you for your power. When he has what he wants, he ll crush you. Satan could not care less about us. He hates us with every ounce of his being. Like any villain, Satan sets traps and snares to wound us and then once we fall, he points out our failings to us in order to keep us down and out. However, this conflict is not the end of the story. Like any great drama between two adversaries, the story would not be complete without a beautiful heroine. Braveheart has Marian; James Bond in Casino Royale has Vesper Lynd; Han Solo has Princess Leah; The Dark Knight has Selina Kyle; Adam had Eve. And we have the Mother of God, Our Lady.

7 FEATURE August 19, 2016 The Mirror 7 OUR LADY How does Our Lady tie into this? Simple. Mary is the reason Satan fell from heaven. Satan was once called Lucifer, the Guardian of Light. He was the greatest of all God s creation outside the Holy Trinity. When it was revealed to him that a young woman, The Virgin Mary, would bear the Savior and become the Guardian of the Light of the World, Lucifer could not stand it. He refused to bow down to a mere mortal woman who would surpass him in glory, majesty, and proximity to the most Holy Trinity. He rebelled and attempted to overthrow the Trinity. When he was cast from Heaven into hell, Lucifer made us his new target for his assaults. Why? Because we bear the image of God in our very being. Women, in a very special way, reflect the Virgin Mother. As men, we hold a very dear place in the heart of Mary as her own sons. PERFECT WILL, PERFECT OBEDIENCE Being the Guardian of the Light of World, Mary is intimately involved in the story of each of our lives through her perfect obedience to the will of the Father. Where Satan pledged unending disobedience and rebellion, Mary pledged perfect obedience and assistance in being a light in our lives, gently guiding us back to the Father. She, like her Son, wishes to see us flourish and become full and complete human beings. Like St. Irenaus, Mary, too, knows the glory of God is man fully alive and she participates in making that a reality. BRUISING HIS HEAD, CRUSHING HIS PLANS In order to do this, Our Lady, crushes the head of the serpent. She aims for his head because the head is the place of supreme intellect; it is where we process thoughts, convictions, beliefs, even desires and passions. If you get inside someone s head, you control them. In any sport, the main strategy is not to wear the opposition down physically, but rather to mentally depose them. Once you break their will to win, the body will follow suit. The famed NFL cornerback Charles Woodson said it best, If you believe you re going to lose, you ve already lost. Satan, while he cannot read our thoughts, does anything and everything to mess with our head and tear us down. He will use any and every wound you have ever suffered to keep you trapped in bondage, in a prison of hopelessness and despair. Then, he will make you believe this is exactly what you deserve. He will hold the past in front of you like a TV screen, blaring Every Hail Mary brings the truth that will set us free to be fully ourselves. out your weaknesses, fears, wounds, rejections. Satan s greatest lie to us is, This is the best you can do! Because frankly, hell, lovelessness, loneliness, the past, envy, and pride is the best Satan can do. The beautiful news is where Satan sows these lies, deceptions, accusations and despair, frankly, where he sows darkness, Mary, the Guardian of the Light of the World, brings truth, healing, and hope. In a word, Mary crushes these lies under the weight of her Immaculate Heart and she brings her Son, the Light of all Life, to bind up these wounds and bring us back home to him. Let me share a true story with you regarding this: A friend of mine suffered from a wound he could not get over for years on end. Desperate, he sought the help of The Virgin. One day, while in prayer, in his mind, he saw himself as a child and this wound made manifest on his forearm. Frightened of how ugly it looked, he was ready to end his meditation. In that moment, he saw Our Lady come to him and gently she caressed his forearm, placed healing ointment on it, and wrapped it in a pure white cloth. Then my friend saw her place her hand on it and through her intercession, it was made whole. THE EFFECT OF THE BLOW TO HIS HEAD Mary knows all too well the wounds we have suffered and the ache for redemption within our hearts. To answer that, she crushes Satan s plan for our lives! Every Hail Mary is a blow to Satan s agenda for us. The Hail Mary is an act of us freely giving Mary permission to replace what is evil in our lives with the greatest good imaginable, her Son. Thorns are replaced with roses, lies and deception with truth, anger with joy, in him. hatred with love. Where Satan s plan once stood, now stands the cross of her Son, given to us freely so we could live freely Every Hail Mary brings the truth that will set us free to be fully ourselves. It is the truth about you, me, our dignity, even the truth about our past failings. So many of us stay in the dark hiding from the truth because of fear. As long as we remain there, we will never be free. However, the Hail Mary crushes Satan s plan to keep us in bondage. The Hail Mary is a prayer of surrendering the past to Mary s Immaculate Hands. She takes the knots of our lives, untangles them, and illumines the darkness with the Light of her Immaculate Love, which Satan can never darken. The light Mary brings welcomes us to move beyond Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. The Hail Mary is based on these passages from the Bible: Luke 1:28-35, the past and into the beautiful present and magnificent future she desires us to embrace. It is asking her to bring us to the Father s plan, a plan of giving us all a second chance (a future), a new start (a hope), and to bring the deepest desires of our hearts to fulfillment (I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord!). All Mary needs from us is our permission! No matter where you are in life, let s give it all to her and allow her light of life to reign supreme in our lives! Berkon attained his Master s Degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in the summer of He has vigorously studied the teachings of Pope St. John Paul the Great and Maximilian Kolbe for the past 10 years and is eager to share their teachings on Our Lady, Authentic Masculinity, and ways in which to rebuild a culture of life and love. In his free time, Berkon enjoys college football, weight lifting, traveling, exploring new ventures, and spending time with friends and family. This article first appeared on the Catholic blog, Catholic365. Berkon can be reached at jlberkon@yahoo.com. The Hidden Power of the Hail Mary

8 8 The Mirror August 19, 2016 WORLD YOUTH DAY Vast nature of WYD brings faith into focus By Linda Leicht Branson, MO Standing on a hilltop overlooking a park outside of Krakow, Poland, left Will Motazedi awestruck. He had been traveling for about a week in Poland with a group of 35 youth and adults to attend World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow. Things were culminating the evening of July 30 at the all-night, candlelight prayer vigil. The following day, Pope Francis would celebrate Mass, drawing WYD 2016 to a close. Earlier, the southern Missouri pilgrims walked eight miles from their city hotel to the Campus Misericordiae, or Field of Mercy, where attendees camped out and slept under the stars, praying, and waiting for the Pope and the papal Mass on July 31. Will, a 17-year-old senior at McCauley Catholic High School in Joplin, and his father, John Motazedi, went looking for food. Given the crowd of some threemillion-faithful, it took almost two hours to get something to eat, which left Will upset and cranky. But his bad mood was about to encounter a miracle. Trekking back to the group s campsite, they found themselves on the top of a hill overlooking the entire crowd, bathed in candlelight. A reported three million brothers and sisters in the faith, at the same place at the same time, all for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, July Seemed miraculous and magnificent and holy. It was beautiful. It went out WORLD YOUTH DAY CROSS Each wearing shirts that said, Be Calm and Believe in His Mercy, the pilgrims from southwest Missouri carried the World Youth Day Cross the final day of WYD events. Thirty-five pilgrims spent a week in Krakow, Poland, on a pilgrimage organized by Lynn and Tony Melendez of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson. (Photo by John Motazedi) WYD 2016 Thirty-five people from southwest Missouri traveled to Krakow, Poland, for World Youth Day Organized by Lynn and Tony Melendez, the pilgrims saw many points of interest during their week-long adventure, including a trip to the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II, which is Wadowice, Poland. (Photo by John Motazedi) as far as the eye could see, Will said. All of those people are Catholic. That really got to me. So many people there from across the globe. They are all Catholic and all there for such a good purpose. Initiated in 1985 by Pope St. John Paul II, World Youth Day is traditionally celebrated every three years in a different country. This year it was in Krakow. In 2019, it will be held in Panama. All the while, the World Youth Day Cross will pilgrimage from city to city, town to town, making its way to Panama, lending continuity to the string of events and all those who attend. Seeing the pope is not our purpose for going, said Lynn Melendez, parishioner of Our Lady of the Lake, Branson. Being with millions of other believers from around the world the beauty of that all centered around Christ, is amazing. Lynn and her husband, Tony Melendez, have attended every World Youth Day since Tony was invited to perform at World Youth Day Denver in Tony, a worldrenowned musician and evangelist who was born with no arms and plays the guitar with his feet, performed during the opening ceremony of World Youth Day Krakow as Pope Francis arrived. The couple, along with Tony s brother, Jose Melendez, coordinated the WYD pilgrimage, which included visits to various beautiful and historical churches and shrines; Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp, and its museum; the Chapel of St. Kinga, the crown jewel of the Wieliczka salt mine ; and Wadowice, Poland, a small city 50 kilometers from Krakow that is the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II. During the trip, adult chaperones watched as the group changed from students to pilgrims. Slowly, I noticed the girls have on less makeup, the guys are all wearing the same T-shirt, Jose said. You are demasked in this huge gathering of people who love Christ. That s the beauty of a pilgrimage. You re just you now. It s an understatement that the pilgrimage enabled participants to learn a lot about their faith, the Church in Poland, and the universal nature of Catholicism. During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, service was a visible component of the trip. The group volunteered with the Felician Sisters, singing at a nursing home and peeling potatoes at a soup kitchen, all near Krakow. They met fellow Catholics from around the world and made friends along the way. Jose s daughter, Espi, a student at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO, was amazed by the friendliness and welcome they received from both the Polish people, their hosts, and by all the many nationalities of people present. I kind of expected to make a lot of friends, Espi said. But I didn t expect to have a whole new international family: I have friends from Italy, Poland, and Russia. Sharing space with three million people can be overwhelming. Even moving was difficult as the crowds would surge around them, Jose admitted. Sometimes, it was even scary, according to Will s sister, Elizabeth, age 14. But, Jose added, despite the number of people converged in Poland, the crime rate in Krakow went down during the week of World Youth Day. I wish that was reported by the news media, Jose said. Tony agreed. He said he has never been to any event that is as big as World Youth Day in the Philippines in 1995 there were six million people yet he has always experienced the same unity and love. [World Youth Day] is a place where faith is renewed, Tony said. The last night of World Youth Day, as the group camped out on the hillside, 11-year-old Phillip Motazedi experienced a moment. I thought it was really cool to pray at the all-night vigil with three million Catholics hearing the prayer of Hail Mary in all these different languages, Phillip said, but we are all reciting the same words. Returning to southwest Missouri, where Catholics are a minority, the young pilgrims come home from World Youth Day with a renewed faith and confidence. I ve grown stronger in faith, Will said. It revived the parts of my faith that I already knew. I kind of got a reboot. He plans to live his WYD experience at school and in his community. TM Leslie Eidson contributed to this article.

9 August 19, 2016 WORLD YOUTH DAY The Mirror 9 Pope Francis tells 1.6 million young people to avoid sofa happiness By Ann Schneible Krakow, Poland Pope Francis challenged massive crowds of young people at World Youth Day s final vigil to step away from the sofa of comfort and convenience, and respond to Christ s call to transform a suffering world. Today Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, is calling you to leave your mark on history, the Pope told the estimated 1.6 million people attending the July 30 vigil at the Campus Misericordiae or Field of Mercy. In his address, the pontiff warned against opting for ease and convenience, for confusing happiness with consumption, because then we end up paying a high price indeed: we lose our freedom. Jesus, however, is the Lord of risk, of the eternal more, he said. Following Jesus demands a good dose of courage, a readiness to trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes, and to set out on new and uncharted paths. Saturday s WYD vigil marked the end of Pope Francis secondto-last day of his July trip to Poland for the international youth event. The address was delivered after hearing the testimonies of three young people, including a young woman named Rand who described the daily horrors which the people in her home country of Syria experience. The gathering of so many young people from countries torn by conflict, war, and other atrocities makes it so that the sufferings experienced by young people in these regions are no longer anonymous, something we read about in the papers, the Pope said. They have a name, they have a face, they have a story, they are close at hand, he said referring to the suffering that young people like Rand have experienced, coming from war-torn Syria. The extent of these situations cannot be appreciated by viewing them through a cell phone screen or computer, he said. He asked for prayers for all those affected by war in Syria and other parts of the world in order that, once and for all, may we Unless you offer the best of yourselves, the world will never be different. realize that nothing justifies shedding the blood of a brother or sister; that nothing is more precious than the person next to us. God s mercy The Pope also acknowledged the testimonies of struggle and inner conflict delivered by the two other young people, Natalia a former fashion magazine journalist and Miguel a former drug addict. Both of you are a living sign of what God s mercy wants to accomplish in us, he said. Pope Francis stressed that now is not the time to denounce those fighting or to tear people down. We have no desire to conquer hatred with more hatred, violence with more violence, terror with more terror, he said. Rather, the name which should be given to the response to war is fraternity, brotherhood, communion, and family. We celebrate the fact that coming from different cultures, we have come together to pray, he said. Let our best word, our best argument, be our unity in prayer. Let us also place before the Lord your own battles, the interior struggles that each of you carries in his or her heart. At this point, the Pope invited everyone to join hands for a moment of silent prayer, which he said afterward reminded him of the scene of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. Picturing them can help us come to appreciate all that God dreams of accomplishing in our lives, in us and with us, he said. On that day, the disciples huddled behind locked doors, paralyzed by the fear of persecution, the Pope recounted. Then, in that situation, something spectacular, something grandiose, occurred, he said. The Holy Spirit and tongues as of fire came to rest upon each of them, propelling them toward an undreamt-of adventure. Like the disciples, the young people who gave their testimonies Pope Francis SOUP KITCHEN Shelby Hirschman, Andres Melendez, and Same Hirschman, peeled potatoes at a soup kitchen run by the Felician Sisters outside of Krakow, Poland. During the papal Mass closing WYD 2016, Pope Francis told the youth, God expects something from you. God wants something from you.... Jesus is calling you to leave your mark on history. (Photo by John Motazedi) know the fear and anguish born of knowing that leaving home might mean never again seeing their loved ones, the fear of not feeling appreciated or loved, the fear of having no choices. Thinking that in this world, in our cities and our communities, there is no longer any room to grow, to dream, to create, to gaze at new horizons in a word to live is one of the worst things that can happen to us in life, he said. When we are paralyzed, we miss the magic of encountering others, making friends, sharing dreams, walking at the side of others. Sofa-happy paralysis Pope Francis warned against a more dangerous kind of paralysis, which he described as sofahappiness in other words, the paralysis of confusing happiness with the sense of comfort, freeing us up to escape into the world of video games and the computer, all the while keeping us at home with the illusion of safety. The Pope challenged young people not to vegetate in a comfortable life, but reminded them of their call to leave a mark. This is itself a great form of paralysis, whenever we start thinking that happiness is the same as comfort and convenience, that being happy means going through life asleep or on tranquillizers, that the only way to be happy is to live in a haze. In contrast to this life of sofahappy paralysis, Pope Francis said, Jesus is not the Lord of comfort, security, and ease. Following Jesus demands a good dose of courage, a readiness to trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and to set out on new and uncharted paths. He told young people to take the path of the craziness of our God, by which he means caring for those in need, be they neighbors, prisoners, friends, refugees, or migrants. Although some might say such a life is for only a chosen few, the Pope cited the testimony of Miguel who said that once you are entrusted with responsibility, you begin to understand that God was asking something of you. That is the secret, dear friends, and all of us are called to share in it. God expects something from you. God wants something from you. God hopes in you. God comes to break down all our fences. God comes to break open everything that keeps you closed in. He is encouraging you to dream. He wants to make you see that, with you, the world can be different. For the fact is, unless you offer the best of yourselves, the world will never be different. It is not a time for young couch potatoes, the Pope said, but for protagonists of history. History today calls us to defend our dignity and not to let others decide our future, he said. For those concerned about their own limitations and sins, Pope Francis assured young people that the Lord is not concerned with what we have been or done, but about everything we have to give, all the love we are capable of spreading. Jesus is inviting you, calling you, to leave your mark on life, to leave a mark on history, your own and that of many others as well, he said. The Pope spoke of young people s role in teaching adults how to live in diversity, in dialogue, to experience multi-culturalism not as a threat, but an opportunity. Have the courage to teach us that it is easier to build bridges than walls! Concluding his address to the young people, the Pope said: Today Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, is calling you to leave your mark on history. He, who is truth, is asking you to abandon the paths of rejection, division, and emptiness, he said. Are you up to this? What answer will you give, with your hands and with your feet, to the Lord, who is the way, the truth, and the life? CNA

10 10 The Mirror August 19, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING Life after loss: the Beginning Experience By Linda Leicht Springfield Thanks to support and a generous grant from the diocese, the Beginning Experience program is one of the best kept secrets and most complete programs of its kind in the country. Beginning Experience (BE) is a ministry of the Catholic Church designed to help facilitate the grief resolution process for adults and children who have suffered a loss through death, divorce, or separation, thereby enabling them to again love themselves, others, and God. For Teresa,* it changed her life in many ways. Divorced in 1999 after 11 years of marriage, Teresa learned about the BE program about five years later as she was going through the dating process. She discovered dating wasn t working out well and she also had just lost her sister to suicide. A friend in her small prayer group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Springfield, invited her to Beginning Experience. It was life-changing for me, Teresa said. I learned so much about myself, grew so much as a person. I finally learned how to be alone and not be lonely. Now, Teresa is a BE facilitator, leading groups and helping others make their own life-changing discoveries. Beginning Experience became a lifeline for Diane.* She had seen the notices for BE in bulletins for years while living in other states, barely paying attention. But after her husband died in 2014, she began looking for the bulletin notice in her new parish, Holy Trinity, Marshfield. She attended all the sessions and then she, too, became a facilitator. It s become my social outlet because of the friendships you develop, Diane said. Your other friends don t understand if they haven t experienced a similar loss. Living in the tiny town of Strafford, Becky* was struggling after her husband died in She felt alone and abandoned. Two years later, a gentleman in a hospice program she was attending told her about BE. I had an immediate connection with one of the facilitators, Becky said. He helped me so much and was so encouraging that I knew I had to continue. Becky not only found peace as DIOCESAN BEGINNING EXPERIENCE The members of the Springfield Beginning Experience (BE) team are Sandy, Viv, Diane, and Vince, (back row) Teresa, Susan, Jim, and Mary Alice. Ministering to persons who are divorced, widowed, and separated, there is a Coping With Life Alone series beginning Aug. 25. A Beginning Experience weekend is slated for October. (Submitted photo) a widow, she found friends she likens as family, and even found a church home at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springfield. These are just a few of the stories of people who have been able to rebuild their lives in so many ways, thanks to the Beginning Experience. The beginning of Beginning Experience The program was started in 1973 in Texas by a woman religious, Sr. Josephine Stewart, a Sister of St. Mary of Namur, along with a divorced church member, Ann Marie Jo Lamia. The two women were asked to start a program for engaged couples. They attended a Marriage Encounter weekend to use it as a template for the new program. But something amazing happened during the course of that research. At the end of the weekend Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Inc. Brentwood Chapel University Chapel Crematory Columbarium 1947 E. Seminole Springfield MO (417) fax (417) , gormanscharpf@mchsi.com 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 Marriage Encounter, Sr. Stewart saw a profound change occur in her friend, Jo Lamia. Lamia found she was able to use the Marriage Encounter methods to address her own unfinished grief and anger from her divorce. The notebook that Lamia kept from that weekend became the basis for Beginning Experience. Developed over the years, the program uses experts in the field, to include issue blocks such as Coping with Life Alone, Rebuilding, Continued Beginnings, and a threeday weekend. Beginning Experience is now offered throughout the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Great Britain, and Ireland. However, 15 years ago, when her husband died, Vivienne ( Viv )* didn t have anything like Beginning Experience available to her in Kenya. I still felt the sadness, loneliness, bitterness, and misery that for me, came with being widowed at such a young age, said Viv. That s when she saw a notice in the church bulletin at Immaculate Conception in Springfield. I thought I would go and see what s there, Viv said. She made that crucial phone call and jumped right in, taking all the programs as they were offered. It helped me so much with all these things I had swept under the Columbia Construction Co. PO Box 1332 Cape Girardeau, MO (573)

11 August 19, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING The Mirror 11 rug, Viv said. Now she is a facilitator. I felt so much better. This weight had been lifted. I know I wanted to help people who are stuck or struggling in their new life to help people like I was helped. Many of the participants go on to become facilitators, but for some like Jerry* of Marshfield there comes a time when moving on means stepping away from Beginning Experience. He is now an official alumni, but that doesn t mean that he doesn t keep up with friendships made there or help in other ways. I still have the same friends I started with in Coping, Jerry said. Often referring to themselves as wounded warriors, Jerry said, Friends who have not been there really don t understand. Springfield offers one of only two Beginning Experience programs in Missouri. The other, in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, like many other dioceses, only offers the Beginning Experience Weekend and the Coping session, Viv said. The Springfield team is one of the few BE programs to offer all of its sessions year-round. They are offered more frequently in the hope that they are available whenever someone needs them. These include two weekend retreats a year, two Coping with Life Alone series, and at least one Rebuilding session. For Bob* of Fair Grove, the need came just a few months after his wife passed away. It was a life-saver to me, he said. Living out in the country, he rarely got visitors, and after his wife s death, visits became fewer. [People are] afraid it will rub off, Bob quipped. He started BE in the summer with the 10-week Rebuilding session. I could tell right away, Bob said of the positive impact. It gave me someone to talk to, other people who went through the same thing. That reaction is shared by many of the people who participate in Beginning Experience. Meeting other people who understand the grief, have experienced their own loss, and often become close and dear friends is an important part of Beginning Experience. In fact, current participants, facilitators, and alumni often continue to get together for social events. I found family, Becky* said, who is now an alumni. And it s awesome. Spiritual aspect Another important element of Beginning Experience is spiritual. But the program is not a Bible study, prayer group, or evangelization forum. Each meeting begins and ends with the Lord s Prayer, and the weekend includes a service with both a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. This is because we cater to persons of all faiths, Viv said. C O N T E M P L A T I V E MONK Trappist Cistercian A small, self-supporting community in the Ozark foothills of Missouri. Available for retreats and periods of discernment. Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056, Ava, MO (417) assumptionabbey@gmail.com COPING WITH LIFE ALONE Beginning Experience of Springfield is offering a sixweek support program, Coping With Life Alone in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Springfield. Designed to help separated, divorced, and widowed individuals work through the trauma of losing a spouse, the program begins at 6:30 p.m., Thu., Aug. 25. The Beginning Experience program, sponsored by the Diocese of Springfield- Cape Girardeau, offers strength and growth through a community of friendship, support, and prayer. For further information, call, Teresa, (417) ; Diane, (417) ; or Mary Alice, (417) She points out that for many people, their grief and anger can be aimed at God, even if they are not religious. God is always an easy target, Viv said. We need to get people to stay connected with God. It helps in the healing journey. God has not forsaken you, and He never will. Viv, Teresa, Diane, and Jerry were already church-going Catholics, but Bob and Becky were not Catholic and had no church home. They all agree that the spiritual element of the program is important. It s more about sharing than about God, Viv said. It s about listening and having people who are there for you. The Springfield Beginning Experience team will offer the six-week Coping With Life Alone program in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Springfield, starting Aug. 25. A Beginning Experience Weekend will be held Oct To learn more, call Teresa, (417) ; Viv, (417) ; or Diane, (417) ; or consult the national Beginning Experience Website at org. TM *For privacy purposes, only first names were used in the article. 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) Dade County Nursing Home District & Residential Care Facility Located in Greenfield, MO, less than an hour s drive from Springfield, we are a safe and happy environment with well-trained, loving, caring, long-term staff, providing exceptional care and service to our residents. We treat all our residents like extended family. As a wife, nurse, care-giver, and administrator of this facility, I know firsthand what it is to place a loved one in a nursing home. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance are accepted. There is a set fee to supplement the Medicaid payments if your loved one is on Social Security. If you must private pay, our rates are lower than any other facility in the area because our Board of Directors care. Rates subject to change; $ per day. All Private Rooms. For more information, call Terriesha Ann Novak, Administrator, at (417) ,

12 12 The Mirror August 19, 2016 DIOCESAN NEWS SEMO football supports Pink Up with jersey auction Cape Girardeau The Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) football team recently revealed special new Pink Up jerseys to be worn during the annual Pink Up game on Oct. 29. The jerseys will be available for purchase through an Online auction starting Aug. 12 to raise money for Saint Francis Healthcare System s Pink Up campaign. This collaboration, led by head coach Tom Tuke Matukewicz, is a way for Southeast football to celebrate survivors and honor those who have lost their battles with cancer. The special jerseys will be worn during the Redhawks Pink Up game on Oct. 29 against Austin Peay University. Bidding opens Aug. 12 at After the auction closes at 5 p.m. on Oct. 8, the winners will personalize their winning jerseys with a name in honor or memory of a survivor or loved one, if desired. After the game on Oct. 29, the game-worn jerseys will be presented to the winning bidders. The winners will also receive two game tickets and an invitation to a pregame tailgate party all in honor and support of Pink Up. We are thrilled to join Saint Francis to help make a difference in this community, said Matukewicz. We hope this effort raises awareness PINK UP FOR BREAST CANCER Southeast Football head coach Tom Tuke Matukewicz revealed the 2016 Pink Up game jerseys to the Redhawks football team on Aug. 11. The jerseys will be auctioned off and personalized with the winners names then worn during a special Pink Up game on Oct. 29. Proceeds from the auction benefit Saint Francis Healthcare System s Dig for Life fund to provide lifesaving screenings and other cancer services to local residents who otherwise could not afford them. The auction is Online through Oct. 8 at (Photo by Saint Francis Medical Center) and money to fight this terrible disease. This will be a life-changing experience for our players, who will have the opportunity to meet families that have lost loved ones to cancer. Saint Francis launched Pink Up in 2010 to raise awareness of breast cancer in the community. During the campaign, residents are encouraged to pink up their homes, businesses and schools in support of the cause. Capital Endowment Campaign Pink Up proceeds provide free mammograms and other cancer support services to local residents who otherwise could not afford them. Last year s jersey auction raised $22,000. All 99 jerseys were auctioned off. Since its inception, Pink Up and Dig for Life have provided more than 3,200 free mammograms to community women who could not otherwise afford them. Breast cancer affects one in eight women but by catching it early through important screenings such as mammograms, we have a better chance of beating this disease. To learn more or to donate to the cause, please visit cape.com or call (573) TM Saint Francis Medical Center is a 289-bed facility serving more than 713,000 people throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Guided by its mission to provide a ministry of healing and wellness inspired by its Christian philosophy and values, the medical center has become a progressive, innovative, regional tertiary care referral center. View our videos at