The Mirror. What does Easter mean? In first century Judaism, there. They were trying to tell the whole world that something so new and astounding

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1 The Mirror Vol. XLIX, No. 27 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI April 18, 2014 What does Easter mean? By Fr. Robert Barron as C.S. Lewis keenly observed, those who think the resurrection story is a myth haven t read many myths. Mythic literature deals in ahistorical archetypes, and thus it tends to speak of things that happened once upon a time or in a galaxy far, far away. But the Gospels don t use that sort of language. In describing the resurrection, they mention particular places like Judea and Jerusalem, and they specify that the event took place when Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of the region, and they name distinct individuals Peter, John, Thomas, etc. In first century Judaism, there were many views concerning what happened to people after they died. Following a very venerable tradition, some said that death was the end that the dead simply returned to the dust of the earth from which they came. Others maintained that the righteous dead would rise at the close of the age. Still others thought that the souls of the just went to live with God after the demise of their bodies. There were even some who believed in a kind of reincarnation. What is particularly fascinating about the accounts of Jesus resurrection is that none of these familiar frameworks of understanding is invoked. The first witnesses maintain that the same Jesus who had been brutally and unmistakably put to death and buried was, through the power of God, alive again. He was not vaguely with God, nor had his soul escaped from his body; nor had he risen in a purely symbolic or metaphorical sense. He, Jeshoua from Nazareth, the friend whom they knew, was alive again. What was expected for all the righteous dead at the end of time had happened, in time, to this one particular man, to this Jesus. It was the very novelty of the event that gave such energy and verve to the first Christian proclamation. On practically every page of the New Testament, we find a grab-you-by-thelapels quality, for the early Christians were not trading in bland spiritual abstractions or moral bromides. They were trying to tell the whole world that something so new and astounding had happened that nothing would ever again be the same. Over the past couple of centuries, many thinkers, both inside and outside of the Christian churches, endeavored to reduce the resurrection message to the level of myth or symbol. Easter, they argued, was one more iteration of the springtime saga that can be found, in one form or another, in most cultures, namely, that life triumphs over death in the resurrection of nature after the bleak months of winter. Or it was a symbolic way of saying that the cause of Jesus lives on in his followers. But who encountered Jesus after he rose from the dead. Moreover, no one dies defending mythic claims. The myths of Greece, Rome, and Egypt are powerful and illuminating indeed, but there are no martyrs to Zeus or Dionysus or Osiris. But practically all of the first heralds of the resurrection went to their deaths defending the truth of their message. Yet assuming the resurrection is true, what does it mean? It means, first, that the customary manner in which we understand the relationship between order and violence from the Epic of Gilgamesh to Game of Thrones has to be rethought. On the standard Realpolitik reading of things, order comes about through the violent imposition of strength. And if that order is lost or compromised, it must be restored through answering violence. In Jesus time, the great principle of order was the Empire of Rome, which maintained its hold through the exertions of its massive army and through the imposition of harsh punishment on those who opposed its purposes. The most terrible and fearsome of these punishments was, of course, the cross, a particularly brutal mode of torture that was purposely carried They were trying to tell the whole world that something so new and astounding had happened that nothing would ever again be the same. out in public so as to have greatest deterrent effect. It was precisely on one of these Roman crosses that Jesus of Nazareth was put to death, having been betrayed and abandoned by his friends and condemned by a corrupt tribunal of collaborators. When the risen Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples, they were, we are told, afraid. Their fear might not have been simply a function of their seeing something uncanny; it might have been grounded in the assumption that he was back for vengeance. However, after showing his wounds, the risen Jesus said to his friends, Shalom, Peace. The teacher who had urged his followers to turn the other cheek and to meet violence with forgiveness exemplified his own teaching in the most vivid way possible. And what he showed, thereby, was that the divine manner of establishing order has nothing to do with violence, retribution, or eye-for-an-eye retaliation. Instead, it has to do with a love that swallows up hate, with a forgiveness which triumphs over aggression. It is this great resurrection principle which, explicitly or implicitly, undergirded the liberating work of Martin Luther King, Jr., in America, of Gandhi in India, of Bishop Tutu in South Africa, and of John Paul II in Poland. Those great practitioners of non-violent resistance were able to stand athwart the received wisdom only because they had some sense that in opting for the way of love they were going with the deepest grain of reality, operating in concert with the purposes of God. Secondly, the resurrection means that God has not given up on his creation. According to the well-known account in the book of Genesis, God made the whole array of finite things sun, moon, planets, stars, animals, plants, things that creep and crawl on the earth and found it all good, even very good. See Easter / 10 (CNS photo/jessica Rinaldi, Reuters)

2 2 The Mirror April 18, 2014 COLUMN John Paul II s heroic soul Rome s chief exorcist shared in a 2011 interview that invoking the intercession of soon-to-be St. John Paul II has proven particularly effective during exorcisms. I have asked the demon more than once, Why are you so scared of John Paul II? and I have had two different responses. One, Because he disrupted my plans. Another response that he gave me, Because he pulled so many young people from my hands. Karol Wojtyla (who became John Paul II) had experienced the full darkness of the 20th century and of our frail human condition at a young age. The words of Isaiah the prophet about our Lord apply to him as well. He was a man of suffering, acquainted with grief (53:3). His big sister died before he was born. Growing up, he loved his mom like any little boy does. He would later call her, The soul of home. She died when he was 8. Karol loved and looked up to his older brother. Four years after his mother, his big brother died. People described him in sixth- and seventh-grade as being withdrawn and quiet (if you have a depressed pre-teen REAL LIFE CATHOLIC Christopher Stefanick at home, he might become pope some day!). His father became everything to him. He filled the role of dad, mom, mentor, and friend. He not only helped guide Karol through the turbulent teenage years, but through the Nazi occupation of Poland when he was in high school, and soon after, the Soviet invasion. When he was 20, his father died. Later in life he reflected, At 20, I had already lost all the people I loved, and even those I might have loved, like my older sister who, they said, died, six years before I was born. But a sad reality of our human condition is that great souls are only chiseled out from the rest of us by great trials. I wish I could become the saint who was best known for sitting on a beach, surfing, and sipping Coronas every day after morning Mass, but that saint won t ever exist. Not that we Catholics shun the enjoyment of life! To the contrary, Catholic cultures are historically the perfecters of good beer, wine, coffee, and art. But those aren t the crucibles that forge heroic souls. John Paul II didn t become a heroic soul despite his suffering, he became one precisely because of it. His response to personal pain wasn t to retreat from the world, but to embrace it with the love of Jesus himself, whose Sacred Heart is simultaneously the icon of profound pain and perfect charity. As bishop, Wojtyla s heart was wide open to his people. He wrote that, as bishop, Everyone had direct access to me at all times. All were welcome to my home. His attention to the individual continued into his papacy. I don t like the word crowd, which seems too anonymous, he wrote, I prefer the word, multitude. To him every person was important, and somehow my generation knew that. Perhaps that s why you could be in a crowd a million strong at a World Youth Day, a half mile away from that little white speck on the stage, and people around you were crying. They felt personally loved, and they were. Throughout his ministry, his heart never recoiled in fear before the moral evils of the 20th century that risked (and still risk) bringing the human race to an end. He faced everything from communism, to the Cold War, to abortion, to rampant materialism all aspects of what he referred to as the culture of death with an almost supernatural grin that said, I know who wins. His favorite phrase as pope was the one Jesus repeated more than any other in scripture, Be not afraid! Many things made Pope John Paul II truly great, but at the heart of it all was a man who maintained simple friendship, hope, and love in the face of the deepest darkness. Few will be able to emulate him as a leader on the world stage, but that s the kind of everyday heroism we re all called to. It s that kind of heroism that makes demons tremble in the presence of ordinary Christians. TM Visit Christopher Stefanick at www. RealLifeCatholic.com. Stefanick s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register, the official newspaper of the Denver Archdiocese. Be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful Sun., April 27 (Divine Mercy Sunday), 2014, will forever hold a special place in the minds and hearts of countless Catholics throughout the world. On this day, Pope Francis will canonize two of his predecessors: Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II. These two great men of faith will officially be recognized for their holiness of life and for their many contributions to the Church as successors to St. Peter. This celebration reminds us that there are indeed saints among us in our own day. These two new saints of the Church are humble reminders to each of us that we are all called to personal sanctity and holiness of life. On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II officially designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. This declaration coincided with the canonization of Maria Faustina, a Polish nun who lived from 1905 until Through St. Maria Faustina, our Lord revealed and communicated to the world the great message of God s mercy. Christ teaches us about the necessity of God s mercy due to our sinfulness. In turn, we are to share that same mercy with others: Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful (Lk 6:36). Jesus reminds us that as His followers, we show mercy to others by our deeds, by our words, and by our prayers. The Psalms and the Gospels are filled with abundant examples and references to God s mercy (e.g. the Prodigal Son, the Adulterous Woman, Christ s words from the Cross). When LIVING THE LITURGY Fr. David J. Dohogne we find it difficult to forgive and to show mercy, we need look no further than to the cross as our source of inspiration and encouragement. The image of Divine Mercy has become a very popular and comforting portrayal of Christ which has found its way into homes, schools, and churches throughout the world. A devotion which has also gained popularity among the faithful is the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which is prayed using a rosary. Our Lord promises abundant graces and spiritual blessings to those who offer this devotion and who honor the image revealing Him as the source of mercy. As we look at our spiritual tradition as Catholics, we see a powerful and beautiful connection between the devotions relating to Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart. In these images, we are reminded that the mercy and the divine love of God go hand in hand. Celebrations in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday are held each year in a variety of parishes thoughout our diocese. Bp. James Johnston also Divine Mercy Sunday A Divine Mercy Sunday celebration will be held April 27, 2-4 p.m., in Old St. Vincent Catholic Church, Cape Girardeau located at 131 S. Main St. There will be Eucharistic Adoration from 2-3 p.m. with a Divine Mercy Holy Hour from 3-4 p.m. The Sacrament of Penance will not be available. For more information, please contact Sandra Murphy at (573) or sandra-murphy@live.com. Sacred Heart Church, Poplar Bluff will have a Divine Mercy celebration April 27 from 3-4 p.m. This celebration will include Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, praying prayers written by St. Faustina, and reverencing an image of Divine Mercy. The Sacrament of Penance will be available during the Holy Hour. A Plenary Indulgence is available for those who fulfill the necessary requirements on that day: celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, receive Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, and participate in a celebration of Divine Mercy. A Plenary Indulgence is another example of our Lord s Divine Mercy. invites everyone to join him at Trinity Hills for a canonization celebration of Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II as well as the blessing and dedication of the Saint John Paul II Arena (located on the grounds of Trinity Hills). As we celebrate the Holy Season of Easter, may the Good News of our Lord s Resurrection and the message of His Divine Mercy lead us to a deeper love of God and each other! Easter Blessings to all! TM For more information about Divine Mercy Sunday and St. Maria Faustina, please refer to the or

3 April 18, 2014 COLUMN The Mirror 3 Easter: The Great Sunday feast EASTER: The greatest and oldest Christian feast, which celebrates Christ s Resurrection from the dead. Easter is the feast of feasts, the solemnity of solemnities, the Great Sunday. Catechism of the Catholic Church A beautiful part of our Catholic heritage is the manner in which we celebrate the events of our salvation over the course of time and, more specifically, through the Christian seasons. Because this is not embedded in American secular society, we must be intentional about it. That is to say, we must make a special effort to turn our attention and actions toward God and his saving work in our lives. We do this together most powerfully in and through the Sacred Liturgy, but also through religious devotions and even ethnic and cultural religious traditions. The high point of our Christian year is Easter Sunday, or as the Catechism puts it, the feast of feasts. And because of Easter s importance, ON THE WAY Bp. James V. Johnston we don t dedicate simply one day for feasting, we dedicate an entire season of 50 days. The end of the Easter Season is Pentecost Sunday (on June 8 this year). Over this sacred season, we turn our minds and hearts to the post-resurrection events recounted in Sacred Scripture, as well as our own new life in Jesus Christ, risen and alive. While there are many ways to celebrate the Easter Season, I offer these suggestions as possible ways to deepen and extend a devout celebration of what Jesus has accomplished: Read again the story of Jesus Resurrection. While it would be good to read each of the Gospels in their entirety, simply take time Call to Holy Orders: Diaconate and priesthood SEMINARIAN PETITIONS BISHOP FOR ORDINATION Following the successful completion of all the necessary spiritual preparation, academic studies, and pastoral formation requirements, diocesan seminarian Joseph Kelly recently issued a letter of petition to Bp. James V. Johnston, Jr., for ordination to the transitional diaconate and subsequent ordination to the priesthood. On Tue., April 15, 2014, the day of the Chrism Mass and in the presence of Bp. Johnston, diocesan priests and deacons, Kelly read and signed his Oath of Fidelity, Promise of Celibacy, Profession of Faith, and Certificate of Fulfillment of Requirements for Ordination to the Diaconate during Evening Prayer with Adoration in St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield. Kelly is to be ordained a transitional deacon on Sat., June 21, in his home parish of St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield. He has studied at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. (Photo by Leslie Anne Eidson) to read each Gospel account of the Resurrection and the events that followed. This would include the entire book of the Acts of the Apostles, which is an extension of the Gospel of Luke. Jesus Resurrection inaugurated a new era, the era of the Holy Spirit and the Church the era in which we live! By better understanding this new era, we get a clearer understanding of our purpose and will become encouraged! Go to confession during Easter. While penance services are appropriately scheduled for Lent and Advent in anticipation of these great feasts, we should never forget that the Sacrament of Penance was initiated by Jesus on that first Easter Sunday! Recall the account in St. John s Gospel of how Jesus came among the disciples in a locked room. After greeting them with peace, he sent them out, and then, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (Jn 20:22-23). The Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation is given to us to so that we can always have a way to restore our baptismal innocence. In fact, the sacrament has often been referred to as second baptism. Strive for holiness. In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read, Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14). This is for what we were created, and this is for what we were redeemed: to be holy. However, holiness only comes by our taking hold of the grace that God gives us through the sacraments and faith, and striving to live a life of Christian discipleship. This is perhaps the best way we can thank Jesus for suffering and dying for us: that we might be saved from sin and death. To not make any change of life, and worse, to go back to our sins, would be the height of ingratitude. St. Francis of Assisi put it this way, Nor did demons crucify him; it is you who have crucified him and crucify him still, when you delight in your vices and sins. So, to put it simply, as the redeemed of Christ, we ought to live each Public calendar Fri., April 25 Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) Spring Assembly, Drury Inn, Cape Girardeau Sat., April 26 Confirmation and pastoral 6 p.m. visit, Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter, MO Sun., April th anniversary celebration, 10:15 a.m. Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter; 5 p.m. Canonization event, Trinity Hills, Rogersville, MO Mon., April 28 Diocesan Finance Council meeting Tue., April 29 Envisioning Team meeting, Springfield Thu., May 1 Episcopal Ordination of Bp.-designate Carl Kemme, Diocese of Wichita, KS Tue., May 6 Catholic Scouting Awards, 7 p.m. St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield Wed., May 7 All Clergy Day of Reflection at The Landing, Van Buren, MO; 7 p.m. Catholic Scouting Awards, Old St. Vincent Church, Cape Girardeau Thu., May 8 The Catholic Center Staff Mass & meeting day, striving to do good and to avoid evil, out of love for God. Tell the great story of Jesus. Speaking of Jesus and hearing his name should not simply be something that happens in Church. The Paschal Mystery, the suffering, death, and Resurrection of Jesus to redeem the world, is the greatest happenstance that has ever occurred or will ever occur. It is the axis upon which world history turns. If this is true for us, then we should love to speak about it and him. For those families with children, this is especially important. If Jesus is rarely mentioned, children will wrongly be led to conclude that he must not be that important. Tell your children the great story of Jesus. Finally, go to Mass; certainly on Sundays, but also on other occasions if you are able. The Mass is the celebration par excellence of the Death and Resurrection of our Lord. It is the means by which the fruits of our redemption in, with, and through Jesus are imparted to us. This little list is not exhaustive; there are many other good ways to celebrate Easter. But, we do well to take advantage of these so that what Jesus has done for us can be fully realized in us. Happy Easter! TM

4 4 The Mirror April 18, 2014 ANNOUNCEMENTS 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. Advance St. Joseph Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will host a Plant, Yard, and Bake Sale Fri., May 2, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sat., May 3, 7 a.m.-noon, in the parish center. Garden plants, flowers, homemade baked goods, and yard sale items. For more information, contact Teresa Jansen, (573) Belleville, IL The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will host speaker Paul Coutinho on The Symphony of Peace, Sat., April 26, 9 a.m.-noon., at the shrine. Cost: $25; pre-registration required. Register Online at snows.org/paul-coutinho, or call, (618) , ext. 6440, or (314) , ext Branson Our Lady of the Lake Parish will hold a CCM Benefit Dinner and Concert Fri., May 2, 6 p.m., beginning with a BBQ pulled pork dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 6470 and Catholic Campus Ministries (CCM). A concert will follow dinner featuring Cassandre Faimon Haygood and contemporary Christian artist Tony Melendez. Tickets: $15 (includes both dinner and concert). For more information, contact Lynn Melendez at (417) Proceeds to fund CCM trip to Nicaragua in May. Carthage St. Ann Parish will hold an auction, May 3, CMC Auditorium, 1900 Grand Ave. Tickets are $25/person in advance; $35 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, call (417) , saintannsauction@gmail. com, or visit, or Facebook St. Ann s Auction Carthage. Forsyth Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish will hold a Spring Rummage and Bake sale Thu., May 1, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri., May 2, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sat., May 3, 8 a.m.-noon. For more information, call (417) Joplin The Joplin Chapter of the Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will sponsor a Mass, execution vigil, and remembrance of victims of violent crime, on Tue., April 22, in St. Peter the Apostle Church. Mass is at 6 p.m. followed by continued prayer from 6:30-7 p.m. regarding the scheduled execution of William Rousan on April 23 for the 1993 murder of Grace Lewis in Bonne Terre, MO. For more information, contact Fr J. Friedel at (417) Kimberling City Our Lady of the Cove Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will hold a Christmas in July Arts and Crafts Show, Thu., July Schedule The next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations: Sun., April p.m....holy Trinity Parish, Springfield Tue., April 29 5:30-8:30 p.m....st. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau Tue., May p.m....our Lady of the Cove Parish, Kimberling City Tue., May p.m....st. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau Wed., May 21 6:30-9:30 p.m....st. Joseph the Worker Parish, Ozark Wed., June p.m....our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson 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 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Fri., July 18, 2 p.m.-8 p.m., in the parish hall. Artist and crafter space available for $25. To reserve space, contact Harriette at (417) , or Arleen at (417) Proceeds will fund PCCW charities. Leopold St. Anthony Parish will host a Spring Dinner, Sun., May 4, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., in Glennon Parish Hall. Menu includes kettle beef, dumplings, dressing, all the trimmings, drinks, and desserts. Adults: $8; children (ages six-12): $3.50; children (ages five and under): free. For more information, call (573) Monett The Tough Mother 5K run and 1-mile walk will be held, Sat., May 10, 8 a.m., at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Registration: $25; early pick up/late registration, Fri., May 8, 5 p.m., St. Lawrence Parish hall. Proceeds benefit St. Lawrence Catholic School. For more information, contact the school office at (417) Nixa St. Francis of Assisi Knights of Columbus will host a pancake breakfast every second Sat., April 12-June 14, 7-10 a.m., in the parish hall. Suggested donation: $4/person; $20/family. For more information, contact Frank Barchak at (417) , or Darrell Hinkebein at (417) Springfield The Secular Franciscans will meet Sat., April 26, beginning with lunch at noon (optional), and at 1 p.m. in the day chapel at Holy Trinity Parish. Contact for new people is Steve Moncher, ste vemoncher@gmail.com, or call (417) Springfield The Springfield Chapter of the Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will sponsor an execution vigil and remembrance of victims of violent crime, Tue., April 22, 12-noon-1 p.m., on Park Central Square. William Rousan is scheduled for execution on April 23. For more information, contact Donna at (417) , or visit www. madpmo.org. 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 Marian Conference Sacred Heart Catholic Church 123 North 8th Street, Poplar Bluff, MO Springfield-Cape Girardeau Marian Association May 3, 2014 Paul Regan Fr. Charles Becker Fr. David Dohogne Brian Truckenbrod Come Holy Spirit Living in Mary, Prepare me to entrust myself completely to Mary so she can bring me closer to Jesus! Featured speakers Fr. Charles Becker Fr. David Dohogne Fr. Glenn Eftink Fr. Dan Hirtz Paul Regan Brian Tuckenbord Spanish presentations Sr. Maria Leticia De Alba Guadalupe Martinez There is no cost, but please register so we can prepare meals accordingly. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m, followed by coffee, donuts, and rosary at 8:30 a.m. Conference includes: Mass Confession Relics Holy Rosary Gifts Divine Mercy Music Free meals Snacks MARIAN CONFERENCE IS FREE OF CHARGE, BUT PLEASE REGISTER! A free will donation will be taken up to help defray expenses. To register contact Judy Garrett at judy.garrett49@gmail.com or (573) or Dr. Eichmann: dreichmann@gmail.com or (573) The Mirror: Newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau USPS Publication Publisher: Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. 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 price, $14 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MO, and additional mailing offices. Vol. XLIX No. 27 April 18, 2014 Single copy price, $0.50 Copyright 2014, The Mirror, CNS, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine:

5 April 18, 2014 MCC SUPPLEMENT The Mirror 5 The Bishops of Missouri, speaking together on matters of public policy, form the Missouri Catholic Conference. April 2014

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9 April 18, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS The Mirror 9 Associate pastor named for St. Agnes Cathedral Parish Springfield Fr. Simon Enudu, SMP, has been named associate pastor for St. Agnes Cathedral Parish, Springfield. The appointment was made March 25 by Bp. James V. Johnston after Fr. Enudu consultation with the Society of Our Mother of Peace provincial, Fr. John Hansen, SMP, headquartered in High Ridge, MO. Fr. Enudu began his pastoral service at the cathedral effective April 8, TM New principal named for Springfield Catholic High School Springfield After serving as an elementary principal for 21 years, the last 18 of which in St. Agnes School in Springfield, Jeanne Skahan will become principal of Springfield Catholic High School (SCHS) beginning in the school year. Skahan has been an Adjunct Faculty member of the University of Nebraska s School of Education and of Drury University in Springfield. She also brings her strong Catholic faith to the position as well as a positive attitude and collaborative spirit. Springfield Catholic High School is home to 328 students. More information can be found on the SCHS Web site: fieldcatholicschools.org/highschool/. TM Serving all faiths Homeless Prevention Services Housing & Credit Counseling and Budgeting Education Disaster Response Mental Health and Family Counseling LifeHouse Crisis Maternity Home Home Repairs for Low-Income and Seniors Services for the Developmentally Disabled Pregnancy and Parenting Support Youth Mentoring BUDS Program GoodFinds Resale Store Volunteer Opportunities Central Office: 424 E. Monastery St., Springfield (417) Cape Girardeau Joplin Sikeston Van Buren Principal openings in diocesan schools There is an opening for a principal in the following elementary schools in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Requirements include active Catholic, Missouri certification, Master s degree in School Administration (or working toward it), administrative experience preferred, and 3-5 years of Catholic school experience: St. Henry Catholic School, Charleston...Contact Fr. Patrick Nwokoye...(573) St. Mary Catholic School, Joplin...Contact Michael Teeter...michaelteeter@yahoo.com St. Lawrence Catholic School, Monett...Contact Fr. Paul McLoughlin...(417) Sacred Heart Catholic School, Poplar Bluff...Contact Fr. David Coon...(573) St. Agnes School, Springfield...Contact Leon Witt... (417) or lwitt@dioscg.org Critical staffing needs at Camp Re-NEW-All We need your assistance to make this 40th Anniversary year the best ever! Please consider volunteering your time/talent for the youth of our diocese*: Camp St. Vincent - Fredericktown Session 1F - June 8-13 (Nurse, Waterfront Staff, Music Director, Male Counselors) Session 2F - June (Male Counselors, Maintenance Staff, Assistant Cook) Session 3F - July 6-11 (Religious Formation Director, Crafts Director, Waterfront Staff, Assistant Cooks, Female Counselors, Male Counselors Camp Smokey - Cassville Session 1C - June 29-July 4 (Assistant Cooks) Session 2C - July 6-11 (Assistant Cooks) Session 3C - July (Nurse, Assistant Cooks) Session 4C - July (Nurse, Assistant Cooks) Session 5C - July 27-Aug. 1 (Nurse, Assistant Cooks) There may be other staff positions still open; for more information, contact 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, complete a diocesan background check, and sign the diocesan code of conduct. Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Springfield-Cape Girardeau Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul would greatly appreciate your prayers and support for its apostolate in southern Missouri. For more information, please contact Council President Bernie Duchinsky at (417) and/or your local Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council at the following parishes: St. Joseph Parish, Billings: (417) St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau: (573) St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau: (573) St. Marie du Lac Parish, Ironton: (573) St. Mary Parish, Joplin: (417) Holy Trinity Parish, Marshfield: (417) Sacred Heart Parish, Poplar Bluff: (573) Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield: (417) Immaculate Conception Parish, Springfield: (417) St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield: (417) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield: (417) Spring Retreat at Mercy Conference & Retreat Center Traits of a Healthy Spirituality: A Quiet Spring Retreat led by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, SND at Mercy Center May 18-24, 2014 Registration: 2-3 p.m. Based on her popular book of the same title, Sr. Svoboda s retreat focuses on some of the signs of a healthy adult spirituality such as: friendship, love, and respect for nature, the balancing of work and leisure, prayer, laughter, compassion, and the ability to live with adversity and ambiguity. The retreat begins with a 4 p.m. conference followed by a light supper and concludes mid-morning on May 24. Presenter: Sr. Melannie Svoboda, SND earned an MA in English from Indiana University and an MA in Spirituality from Duquesne University. She has written articles for numerous publications and has published over 12 books including: Traits of a Healthy Spirituality; Everyday Epiphanies; Rummaging for God; Peeling Back Eggshells Non-refundable registration: $25 due April 28. Total cost, including registration: Overnight: $390 Commuters: $275 Contact: Bonnie Green (314) or bgreen@mercycenterstl.org or register/pay on our Web site

10 10 The Mirror April 18, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS Conception Seminary College holds weekend By J.B. Kelly Conception, MO Eleven young men from the Dioceses of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and several from the neighboring Diocese of Tulsa recently participated the Encounter With God s Call weekend held at Conception Seminary College. Held April 5-6, The come-and-see event featured presentations on seminary life, including academics and formation, as well as periods for communal and private prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, recreation, and Mass with the seminary students and Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey. TM What does Easter mean? From Page 1 There is not a hint of dualism or Manichaeism in the Biblical vision, no setting of the spiritual over and against the material. All that God has made reflects some aspect of his goodness, and all created things together constitute a beautiful and tightly-woven tapestry. As the Old Testament lays out the story, human sin made a wreck of God s creation, turning the garden into a desert. But the faithful God kept sending rescue operation after rescue operation: Noah s Ark, the prophets, the Law and the Temple, the people Israel itself. Finally, he sent his only Son, the perfect icon or incarnation of his love. In raising that Son from the dead, God definitively saved and ratified his creation, very much including the material dimension of it (which is why it matters that Jesus was raised bodily from death). Over and again, we have said no to what God has made, but God stubbornly says yes. Inspired by this divine yes, we always have a reason to hope. TM FAITH-SHARING AND DIS- CUSSION Young men from the dioceses of Springfield- Cape Girardeau and Tulsa (right) participated in small group discussion over the topics of risk and conversion and joys in discernment with seminarian Douglas Leikam of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas City, KS, on Sat., April 5, during the Encounter With God s Call weekend at Conception Seminary College. (Photo by J.B. Kelly) Meet the diocesan Hispanic Apostolate DIOCESAN HISPANIC APOSTOLATE Members of the diocesan Hispanic Apostolate advising Bp. James V. Johnston, Jr., on Hispanic affairs in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau posed for a photo during a recent meeting. They were: Sr. Romelia Tiscareno, MCM, St. Lawrence Parish, Monett; Ana Sollenberger, St. Canera Parish, Neosho; (second row) Fr. Jose Ivan Araque, Associate Pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, and sacramental ministry in Poplar Bluff and Sikeston; Sr. Juliana Soto, MCM, St. Edward Parish, Cassville; Milagros Calvetti, diocesan Director of Hispanic Ministry; Blanca Canizalez, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson; (in the back) Fr. Ruben Restrepo, CM, pastor Holy Trinity Parish, Aurora, and Sacred Heart Parish, Verona; Fr. Rahab Isidor, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Webb City; Fr. Hank Grodecki, CM, pastor, St. Canera Parish, Neosho, and Nativity of Our Lord Church, Noel; Julia Valdez, Sacred Heart Parish, Springfield; Sr. Karen Thein, SSND, St. Cecilia Parish, Kennett; Troy Casteel, diocesan Director of Family Ministries and Coordinator of Youth Ministry; Rosie Francka, diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministries; Sr. Francine Koehler, SSND, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson; Fr. Bill Hodgson, pastor, St. Ann Parish, Carthage. While collaboration and input is on-going, the Apostolate meets on-site twice annually in The Catholic Center, Springfield. Not pictured were: Fr. David Miller, pastor, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lebanon; Fr. Saviour Nundwe, pastor, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Ozark; Fr. David Hulshof, pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau; Fr. Rick Jones, pastor, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson, and Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish, Forsyth; Fr. Hector Navalo, CMF, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Springfield; Fr. John Braun, pastor, St. Edward Parish, Cassville, Holy Family Parish, Shell Knob; Fr. Paul McLoughlin, pastor, St. Lawrence Parish, Monett, and SS Peter and Paul Parish, Pulaskifield; Fr. Daniel Robles, pastor, St. Cecilia Parish, Kennett, and St. Euchastius Parish, Portageville; Fr. David Coon, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Poplar Bluff; Fr. Patrick Nwokoye, pastor, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Sikeston, and St. Henry Parish, Charleston; Rev. Mr. Horacio and Socorro Quiles, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Ozark. (Photo by Leslie Anne Eidson)

11 April 18, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS /ADVERTISING The Mirror 11 discernment event Kindergarteners celebrate alphabet letters By Cindy Seyer Oran, MO The kindergarten class in Guardian Angel School, Oran, has spent most of the academic year learning the alphabet letters and sounds through the Letter People phonics and reading program. To celebrate the completion and mastery of the alphabet, the students came to school on April 7 dressed as their given letter in costumes designed with the aid of parents. The event kicked-off a week-long celebration of Letter People and a host of activities. TM ENCOUNTER WITH GOD S CALL Young men from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, along with several friends from the neighboring Diocese of Tulsa, visited Conception Seminary the first weekend of April for an Encounter With God s Call (EWGC) weekend. They were: (front row) Frank Patrick Schmidt, Jacob Mezzacapa, John Hawks, Gregory Kelly, John Hilger; (second row) Shiron Fonseka, diocesan seminarian Nicholas Newton, diocesan seminarian Luis Hernandez, diocesan seminarian Nicholas Koeppel, Jacob Wright, Thomas Sisney; (third row) Fr. Joji Vincent, OSB, associate pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson, and Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish, Forsyth; diocesan seminarian Andrew Williams, Charles Peirano, Allen Kirchner, diocesan seminarian Josh Carroll; (fourth row) Fr. Patrick Nwokoye, diocesan director of vocations promotion; Fr. Scott Sunnenberg, pastor, Holy Trinity Parish, Marshfield; David Bledsoe, Gideon Barr, Josh Coleman, and Br. Placis Dale, OSB. (Photo by J.B. Kelly) Columbia Construction Co. PO Box 1332 Cape Girardeau, MO (573) J West Sunshine Springfield, MO Phone: (417) or 800# catholicbookstore@sbcglobal.net Open Tuesday thru Saturday 9:30 to 5:30 Memorial Day-Labor Day 2 Saturdays LETTER PEOPLE Cora Woods (Miss T), Clayton Hahn (Mr. I), Lauren Williamsen (Miss S), Reid Hobbs (Mr. R), Cooper Bryant (Mr. D), Ava Forehand (Miss J), Amelia LeGrand (Miss V), and Ryder Siebert (Mr. B) celebrated Letter People week in Guardian Angel School, Oran, MO. The kindergarteners have spent most of the academic year mastering the alphabet letters and sounds. (Photo by Cindy Seyer) 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 MONK PARTS l SALES l SERVICE 2979 Boutin Dr., Route W Cape Girardeau, MO (573) l TA s l Water Pumps l Clutches l Front End Parts l Pressure Plates for all makes l PTO Shafts l IH Salvage l Hitch Parts C O N T E M P L A T I V E Trappist Cistercian A small self-supporting community in the Ozark foothills of Missouri. Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056, Ava, MO (417) assumptionabbey@usa.net 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)

12 12 The Mirror April 18, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS DYC 2014: Jesus is my Superhero Youth encouraged by witness of Tony Melendez By J.B. Kelly West Plains, MO Hundreds of high school-aged youth from across southern Missouri gathered once again in West Plains for the annual Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC) the weekend of March The theme of this year s conference was Jesus is my Superhero, with the activities, prayer, and workshops coordinated and hosted by the youth of Holy Trinity Parish in Aurora and SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Pulaskifield. Mindful of the Scripture verse at Romans 8:31 ( If God is for us, who is against us? ), the conference planning team and speakers emphasized the superpowers of Jesus Christ that cannot be overcome or defeated by any earthly power. Christ is the ultimate superhero, it was expressed, Who takes away the sins of the world. Keynote speaker Tony Melendez of Branson, MO, witnessed to Christ s superhero role in his own life, as Christ has given him a model to follow as he s bourn the cross of being born without arms. Melendez, who has been playing the guitar with his feet for several decades, gave an inspiring witness to the young attendees as he relayed stories of his own youth and overcoming the challenges of his handicap. Melendez s faith has been his strength, he said, noting that an encounter with soonto-be-saint Blessed John Paul II in 1987 was a particularly profound confirmation and encouragement of using his talents at the service of Christ. In addition to hearing Melendez s story and praying and occasionally dancing with Melendez and his band s accompaniment, the youth had opportunity to attend several workshops facilitated by other adults ministering in the diocese. Workshop topics included the liturgy, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, social justice, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and chastity. Attendees were also given the opportunity for games inside the West Plains Civic Center arena, prayer in a temporarychapel set up for Eucharistic Adoration, and visits to vendor booths offering Catholic apparel, jewelry, and sacramental & devotional items, and books. KEYNOTE Tony Melendez, a member of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson, was the keynote speaker at the Diocesan Youth Conference held March in West Plains. Melendez, who was born without arms and plays the guitar with his feet, offered powerful testimony to overcoming challenges the kryptonites that may be experienced in life through faith and trust in the Lord. (Photo by J.B. Kelly) The 285 diocesan youth, DYC youth leaders, and diocesan staff and seminarians at DYC spoke very highly of the annual gathering: Melendez was referred to as a rockstar, and one attendee described praying with hundreds of youth as being the best feeling in the world. DYC was a great experience, as always, said Ransom Nichols, a youth from St. Mary Parish in West Plains. Being from a town where Catholics are in the minority, it was amazing to see so many young adults my age with the same faith! Conference speaker Cambree Kirchner, who attends St. Charles Community College and is a native of Jackson, MO, commented that the youth seemed to really grow in their faith, which is the main goal. DYC is always a great weekend to grow closer with Christ, Kirchner added. Hopefully, next year, we can have more people come and experience (DYC). TM MUSICAL TALENT Elisa Wren was one of the diocesan youth lending their musical talents to moments of prayer during this year s Diocesan Youth Conference in West Plains. (Photo by J.B. Kelly) CLOSING MASS Fr. Scott Sunnenberg (center), pastor, Holy Trinity Parish in Marshfield, was the celebrant of the closing Mass at the Diocesan Youth Conference on Sun., March 30, with Fr. Joji Vincent, OSB (right), associate pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Branson and Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish, Forsyth, concelebrating. Also pictured is diocesan seminarian Joe Kelly who served at the liturgy. (Photo by J.B. Kelly) AURORA AND PULASKIFIELD Members of the 2014 Diocesan Youth Conference planning team were from the Holy Trinity Parish in Aurora and SS Peter and Paul Parish, Pulaskifield, helped lead the conference attendees in morning s prayerful song on Sat., March 29. (Photo by J.B. Kelly)