DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI

Transcription

1 The Mirr r Vol. LII, No. 19 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI January 6, 2017 One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus Capital Endowment Campaign heads into home stretch By Linda Leicht Joplin, MO The first-ever Capital Endowment Campaign in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is entering its final phase, and it is well on its way to a successful finish, thanks to the generosity of the more than 20,000 households in the diocese. After two successful blocks exceeding goals, soon the 39 parishes in Block III will be asked to take the fund-raising effort over the finish line. The Block III campaign begins Jan. 9, when lay volunteers will ask their fellow parishioners to help raise the funds needed to support seminarians, retired priests, and youth formation through their prayerful sacrifices. Everyone else in the diocese has already done their part. Now it s our turn to wrap things up, said Fr. John ( J. ) Freidel, a member of the Capital Campaign Priests Committee and pastor of two parishes in Block III: St. Peter the Apostle, Joplin, and St. Ann in Carthage. Block I, made up of 18 parishes on the eastern side of the diocese, responded to the campaign with great generosity, pledging 131 percent of its target and boasting a 40 percent participation rate. Block II, made up of 28 parishes in and surrounding Springfield, just completed its campaign and did equally as well. Parishioners stepped up to reach more than 152 percent of the target, with 39 percent of parishioners participating. We are very thankful for our DIOCESAN YOUTH Teens participated in an ice breaker game during the 2016 Diocesan Youth Conference in West Plains. Nearly 400 youth from across southern Missouri attended the annual conference. Youth formation is one of three initiatives to be funded by the Capital Endowment Campaign, which launches its third and final block beginning Jan. 9. (The Mirror) parishioners, for their response and support, said Gretchen Gambon, one of the campaign directors. Block II has been very successful thanks to the hard work of hundreds of lay volunteers, pastors, and staff. Now the 39 parishes in Block III, made up of all the remaining parishes in the diocese will have the same opportunity to be part of this important effort. We ve done well so far, said Fr. J., who expects the people in Block III, who are every bit as generous, to respond in the same way. When people see the needs, they respond, Fr. J. said. It is the role of the campaign volunteers to demonstrate those The Catechism in brief The Final Doxology 2859 By the second petition, the Church looks first to Christ s return and the final coming of the Reign of God. It also prays for the growth of the Kingdom of God in the today of our own lives. needs supporting seminarians who will ultimately serve the diocese as priests; retired priests, making sure that those men who gave their lives in service are taken care of in their retirement years; and youth formation, providing the resources needed to enrich the faith of our youth and form them as life-long disciples. It s going to be hard work, said Fr. J. This is going to be good. Generosity of faithful Nancy and John Loughner of Forsyth can attest that the work may seem imposing, but the effort was well worth it. As chairmen of their See Campaign / 10 CATHOLIC-PENTECOSTAL Third annual joint worship service to be held Jan. 18 Springfield The Roman Catholic Church and the Assemblies of God will hold a joint worship service on Wed., Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. This is the third annual event always held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan this year. The location of the ecumenical event alternates annually between a Catholic church and a pentecostal church. The worship service will be held Jan. 18 in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Springfield. The speaker is Rev. Mark Hausfeld, President of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) at Evangel University also in Springfield. Himself a graduate of Evangel University and AGTS, Rev. Hausfeld possesses broad pastoral, missionary, academic, and leadership experience. He formally served as the international director for Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim People and director of the Summer Institute for Rev. Hausfeld Islamic Studies at AGTS. He was an adjunct professor at AGTS from Since 2009, Rev. Hausfeld served as associate professor of Urban and Islamic Studies at AGTS. He previously served as area director of Central Eurasia for Assemblies of God World Missions and as a missionary to Pakistan. Hausfeld earned his BA from Evangel University, MDiv from AGTS and DMin from Northern Seminary. He is an ordained minister and presbyter in the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God. Everyone is invited to attend the joint worship service. In addition to Bp. Edward M. Rice and Bp-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht, Fr. Paul McLoughlin, retired, Fr. Derek Swanson, CM, and Nick Lund Molfese, Director, diocesan Office of Social Ministry will be on-hand and participate in the event. A reception will follow the worship service to which everyone is invited. During the service, a charitable collection will be taken up to be donated to Trinity Hills Catholic Worker House & Farm. 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 Jan. 20, 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 January 6, 2017 COLUMN/NATIONAL NEWS The Nativity through the eyes of St. Joseph By Mike Nelson What might St. Joseph have experienced when his wife Mary gave birth to the Son of God? Scripture tells us little about the patron saint of fathers, mainly that he was a righteous man who cared deeply for his family. Even the Nativity story in St. Luke s Gospel focuses on Jesus and Mary, the angels who announce Jesus birth and the shepherds who come to pay him homage. Ten years ago, a film called The Nativity Story sought to make Joseph a little more prominent, and why not? As its Catholic producer Marty Bowen told the National Catholic Register, Joseph s is a story of heroism a version of a simple man trying to do what he thinks is right. Several Nativity Story reviewers picked up on that, notably Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post, who observed that the film advanced a radical idea: that Jesus became who he was not only because he was the We who are fathers know very well what it means to do right by our families. Son of God, but because he was the son of a good man. We who are fathers know very well what it means to do right by our families. We also know about the months and weeks leading up to a child s birth, about the self-doubt and even fear that can enter our minds Am I up to this? How do I handle this? What if I mess up? I can recall, more than 30 years after the fact, sitting in a hospital room and holding our newborn son in a rocking chair (while my exhausted, C-sectioned wife slept nearby), and wondering, Can I be a good dad? What happens next? Please, God, help me be the loving father I need to be. There were no shepherds or angels or kings from the East who came calling, or angels singing overhead. Just lots of family and friends visiting, which is doubtless more than Mary and Joseph had. Joseph s circumstances, of course, were quite different from mine or any other first-time father s. Chances are, the stable where Jesus was born was not overrun with family and friends. Instead, there were shepherds who Jesus and Mary had never met, followed days later by out-of-town royalty bearing not toys and flowers and casseroles, but gold, frankincense, and myrrh. What could Joseph have been thinking, or doing, as these strangers admired the tiny baby in the manger and, no doubt, asked the young, weary mother how she was doing? This was not, after all, the situation Joseph had probably envisioned his betrothed turning up with child before they ve exchanged I do s. And yet, because he was a righteous man, Joseph, we can logically surmise, could do no less than give his best in helping to nurture and raise this special child, and care lovingly for his young wife. A wonderful insight into Joseph was offered by Oscar Isaac, the actor who portrayed him in The Nativity Story : How, Isaac said, does a man share the woman he loves with God? He can, Isaac added, because he loves God with all his heart, and he loves this woman selflessly. That is what we who are fathers are all called to do, even if we feel overwhelmed. Certainly, no father felt more overwhelmed than Joseph, yet he did as the Lord through the angel in his dream requested. Do not be afraid, the angel told Joseph (Mt 1:20), words he no doubt replayed in his head on the night of Jesus birth, and in all the days that followed. Let all of us fathers and mothers learn from his example. CNS Catholic journalist Mike Nelson writes from Southern California. Migration is an act of great hope Beginning Sun., Jan. 8 through Sat., Jan. 14, 2017, the Catholic Church in the United States marks National Migration Week. The observance began more than 25 years ago as a way to reflect upon the many ways immigrants and refugees have contributed to our Church and our nation. This year, we are invited to create a culture of encounter where citizens old and new, alongside immigrants recent and longstanding, can share with one another their hopes for a better life. Jesus, Mary and Joseph knew life as refugees, so let us also begin this encounter within our very own families. Migration is, more than anything, an act of great hope. Our brothers and sisters who are forced to migrate suffer devastating family separation and most often face dire economic conditions to the point they cannot maintain a very basic level of living. Refugees flee their countries due to war and persecution which inspires them to risk everything for an opportunity to live in peace. As Catholics in the US, most of us can find stories in our own families of parents, grandparents, or greatgrandparents leaving the old country for the promise of America. Take time this Migration Week to seek out those stories. Let us remind ourselves of those moments when our loved ones were forced to seek the mercy of others in a new land. Americans have a great national heritage of welcoming the newcomer who is willing to help build a greater society for all. Fear and intolerance have occasionally tested that heritage. Whether immigrating from Ireland, Italy, or countless other countries, previous generations faced bigotry. Thanks be to God, our nation grew beyond those divisions to find strength in unity and inclusion. We have kept dear the words of Scripture, do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels (HEB 13:2). This National Migration Week is an opportunity to embrace the important work of continuing to secure MERCIFUL AND LOVING FATHER, We beseech you, open our hearts so that we may provide hospitality and refuge to migrants who are lonely, afraid, and far from their homes. Give us the courage to welcome every stranger as Christ in our midst, to invite them into our communities as a demonstration of Christ s love for us. We pray that when we encounter the other, we see in her the face of your Son, when we meet a stranger, that we take his hand in welcome. Help us to live in solidarity with one another, to seek justice for those who are persecuted and comfort for those who are suffering. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. the border, to welcome the stranger, and serve the most vulnerable all components of a humane immigration policy. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, Vice President of the USCCB.

3 January 6, 2017 COLUMN The Mirror 3 COME, AND YOU WILL SEE Bp. Edward M. Rice A new year and our Mother, Mary Another year has passed into eternity and another year has begun. The new year becomes a natural opportunity to look to the events of this past year and its take-away lessons that can help us in the year to come. Often, people use this moment, the transition from one year to the next, to make a resolution, symbolic of a fresh start or a new beginning regarding some issue of health or the better use of time, etc. The Church, in Her wisdom, has us turn to Mary, the Mother of God, on the first day of the new year and the Scriptures give us guidance on how to face the year to come. In the First Reading on Jan. 1, God told Moses to offer a blessing to the people. There is our first challenge to take into this New Year: May we be a blessing to each other. So often it is the case that we profane the name of God or His Son as a curse to another. Moses was told to offer a blessing: May the Lord bless you May the Lord let His face shine upon you May the Lord give you peace. And so for this coming year, may we be a blessing to each other, may we be gracious to one another, and may we be instruments of peace for one another. The reading from Galatians states that in the fullness of time God sent His Son, giving us the privilege of calling God, Abba, Father. We have been given a new dignity as children of God. In Christ, we have been claimed for God by the sign of the Cross. At our baptism, each of us was marked with the sign of the Cross along with the bold proclamation, I claim you for Christ by the sign of His Cross. And so, this coming year, may we call upon God as Father, and see in the joys and sorrows of life an expression of His Cross. The Gospel offers us the image of Mary at prayer. Having given Her consent, her fiat, Mary became a temple of the Holy In the coming year, may we be a blessing to each other, may we be gracious to one another, and may we be instruments of peace for one another. Spirit and she bore the Son of God. And in the silence of that holy night we are told Mary reflected on all these things in her heart. Mary is the woman of prayer. And so, as this year unfolds, may we strive to see the hand of God in the events of life. Like Mary, may each of us offer our own fiat and say let it be done in the midst of joy or sorrow. And, like Mary, may we be more prayerful as we, too, reflect upon the events of life in our hearts. To be a blessing for others, to call upon God as Father, Abba, and to be more prayerful like Mary that would be enough for the year to come, but there is more. January 1, 2017, was also the 50th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer begun by Pope Paul VI. In his message for 2017, Pope Francis reminds us that when we recognize the image and likeness of God in each person endowed with immense dignity and make nonviolence our way of life then we shall have peace. Violence is not the cure for our broken world. After noting the example of Jesus himself, Pope Francis calls for a Christian Revolution for peace, where we tackle evil with the weapons of love and truth. Our Holy Father ends his message by calling on Mary, Queen of Peace (see more of this on pp. 6-7 of this issue of The Mirror). So, in the coming year may peace break out in our hearts, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me, each of us. Let us be a part of this revolution, armed with love and truth, let us face this new year with prayer, and let us be a blessing to each other. With Mary, let us strive to do the will of God and I do believe 2017 will be the best year ever. May God bless you. You remain in my prayers, and I ask you that you keep me in your prayers as well. A blessed and happy New Year! Protect children, Pope urges world s bishops In a letter to the world s bishops, written for the feast of the Holy Innocents, Pope Francis has called for extra efforts to protect children. Reflecting on the slaughter of children by King Herod, the Pope observed that sad chapter in history is still being written today. Today too, we hear this heartrending cry of pain, which we neither desire nor are able to ignore or to silence, the Pope wrote. He remarked that just as the birth of Jesus Christ was a time of sorrow for the families of the slain children, today as well: Christmas is also accompanied, whether we like it or not, by tears. In his December 28 letter, the Pope reflected on the many children who suffer violence and abuse, and said that Christians should have the courage to protect the innocence of the young: The courage to guard this joy from the new Herods of our time, who devour the innocence of our children. An innocence robbed from them by the oppression of illegal slave labour, prostitution and exploitation. An innocence shattered by wars and forced immigration, with the great loss that this entails. Thousands of our children have fallen into the hands of gangs, criminal organizations and merchants of death, who only devour and exploit their neediness. Pope Francis went on to note Pope s January prayer intention Starting in 2017 the Pope will present only one prepared prayer intention per month, rather than the two presented before this year. January 2017 Christian Unity That all Christians may be faithful to the Lord s teaching by striving with prayer and fraternal charity to restore ecclesial communion and by collaborating to meet the challenges facing humanity. LETTER TO BISHOPS Pope Francis issued a letter to the world s bishops about the new Herods of our time, who devour the innocence of our children. (Zenit) that the Church has a particular obligation to remember the sufferings, the experiences, and the pain of minors who were abused sexually by priests. He voiced his sorrow for the sin of what happened, the sin of failing to help, the sin of covering up, the sin of the abuse of power. He insisted that the Church must maintain an absolute zero tolerance policy regarding abuse. The Pope also mentioned the suffering of children who live through crises, who are forced to flee from their homes, who are malnourished, who are engaged in child labor, who live in extreme poverty, and who lack access to education. He did not mention abortion, but he said that Christians should embrace human life, especially that of the holy innocents of our own day. Catholic Culture

4 4 The Mirror January 6, 2017 BOOK REVIEW/DIOCESAN NEWS The letters of St. Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla Edited by Elio Guerriero Reviewed by Caty Long Second Vatican Council s Lumen Gentium re-emphasized the universal call to holiness of every member of the Church, saying that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity (no. 40). The document later says that married couples and Christian parents should follow their own proper path (to holiness) by faithful love (no. 41). How often do we, the laity in the Church, think that holiness is reserved only for priests and religious? A modern saint and her husband challenge that notion through their marriage and holy life together. The Journey of Our Love: The Letters of Saint Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla presents, in a faithful and precise translation, letters exchanged between St. Gianna Beretta Molla (a medical doctor, canonized a saint in 2004) and her husband, Pietro (who worked as an engineer). As Elio Guerriero writes in his introduction, they [Gianna and Pietro] show us that love centered in Christ takes away nothing of the beauty of being in love. There is no divide for Gianna and Pietro between their love for God and their love for each other. It was their love for Jesus that drew them deeper into love for each other and for their children. Theirs was a tender, strong, human love, often intimate and romantic, that was transformed by the love of God. Seventy-three letters between Gianna and Pietro, spanning from 1955 to 1961, are presented in their entirety in four sections. First are the engagement letters, written over the course of It is clear in these letters that Gianna and Pietro set Christ at the center of their relationship from the very beginning. Their letters in the first year of marriage follow. Gianna and Pietro understood that they had received grace upon grace from the Sacrament of Marriage and they were resolved to live that sacrament to the fullest, accepting any crosses that came their way with open hearts. Pietro s work trip to the US in 1959 spanned nearly two months, leaving an expectant Gianna back in Italy with two young children and another on the way. The intensity of their love and devotion is made plain through frequent letters while they were apart, sometimes written several times per day. These form the third section of the book. The final section, their letters of maturity. Despite their happiness, the couple was not immune from suffering and hardships. Pietro was known among his family and friends for his dedication to his job, and often spent many weeks traveling for work apart from his wife and children. The couple, so desirous of children, suffered two miscarriages during their marriage. They struggled with the usual difficulties that come with marriage and family life: illness, exhaustion, education, work, and finances. But in all their difficulties, Gianna and Pietro lived the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, trusting in the loving plan of God for their lives. These letters clearly show how devoted they were to each other, and above all how devoted they were to getting each other and their little family to heaven. Gianna and Pietro were not a holy couple of ages past; they were two people who lived in our own era, consecrating normal acts of work, housekeeping, childrearing, and even leisure to God. Photographs are printed periodically throughout the book, giving faces to the writers. Each letter is a a brief glimpse into the hearts of two people very much in love with each other, with life, and above all, with Jesus Christ. We are drawn into their lives to see their unique personalities, their particular interests (including mutual enjoyment of the outdoors and classical music), their interactions with their extended families, and the strength they received from frequent and ardent prayer. Truly Gianna and Pietro were one flesh, united in body, mind, and heart, in sickness and in health. Their letters, full of love, joy, and honest humanity, speak for themselves. Whether you are single, dating, engaged, or married, this is a must-read, for the testimony of these two lovers bears witness to the love of God, a love that is stronger than death. The book review The Journey of Our Love: The Letters of Saint Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla, originally appeared at: foryourmarriage.org, a blog of the US bishops on the gift of married love. Diocesan Missionary Co-Operation Plan Final Report 2016 Note: Each missionary group received the total collected from the region less five percent, which was sent to the Society of St. Peter (1%) for the education of missionary priests and to cover the expenses for the Missionary Co-operation Plan (MCP) program (4%). Region 1: Maryknoll Carthage, St. Ann 1, Joplin, St. Mary 3, Joplin, St. Peter 2, Lamar, St. Mary Neosho, St. Canera 1, Noel, Nativity of Our Lord Seneca, St. Mary Webb City, Sacred Heart Total $10, Region 2: Glenmary Aurora, Holy Trinity Billings, St. Joseph Cassville, St. Edward Greenfield, St. Patrick Monett, St. Lawrence 1, Mount Vernon, St. Susanne Pierce City, St. Mary 1, Pulaskifield, SS. Peter & Paul Sarcoxie, St. Agnes 1, Shell Knob, Holy Family Verona, Sacred Heart Total $8, Region 3: Apostles of Jesus Bolivar, Sacred Heart 1, Buffalo, St. William Conway, Sacred Heart El Dorado Springs, St. Elizabeth Humansville, St. Catherine Lebanon, St. Francis de Sales Marshfield, Holy Trinity 1, Stockton, St. Peter Total $4, Region 4a: Society of Our Lady of the MHT (SOLT) Branson, Our Lady of the Lake 5, Forsyth, Our Lady of the Ozarks Kimberling City, Our Lady of Cove 2, Ozark, St. Joseph the Worker 1, Springfield, Holy Trinity Total $10, Region 4b: Society of Our Mother of Peace Nixa, St. Francis of Assisi 1, Springfield, Immaculate Conception Springfield, Sacred Heart 1, Springfield, St. Agnes 3, Springfield, St. Elizebeth Ann Seton 5, Springfield, St. Joseph 2, Total $13, Region 5: La Salette Ava, St. Leo Bunker, Christ the King Cabool, St. Michael Eminence, St. Sylvester Gainesvile, St. William Houston, St. Mark Licking, St. John the Baptist Mansfield, Immaculate Heart of Mary Montauk, St. Jude Chapel Mountain Grove, Sacred Heart Mountain View, St. John Vianney Roby, St. Vincent Salem, Sacred Heart 1, Thayer, Sacred Heart West Plains, St. Mary White Church, St. Joseph Willow Springs, Sacred Heart 1, Total $8, Region 6: Divine Word Missionaries Fredericktown, St. Michael Ironton, Ste. Marie du Lac Lesterville, Our Lady of Sorrows Piedmont, St. Catherine Van Buren, St. George Viburnum, St. Philip Williamsville, Our Lady of Sorrows Total $2, Region 7: Missionary Society of St. Paul Advance, St. Joseph Benton, St. Denis Cape Girardeau, St. Mary Cathedral 4, Cape Girardeau, St. Vincent 7, Chaffee, St. Ambrose 1, Glennon, St. Anthony Jackson, Immaculate Conception 1, Kelso, St. Augustine 1, Leopold, St. John New Hamburg, St. Lawrence Oran, Guardian Angel 1, Scott City, St. Joseph Total $20, Region 8: Vincentians Caruthersville, Sacred Heart Charleston, St. Henry Kennett, St. Cecilia New Madrid, Immaculate Conception Portageville, St. Eustachius 1, Sikeston, St. Francis Xavier 1, Total $5, Region 9: Franciscans Dexter, Sacred Heart 1, Doniphan, St. Benedict Glennonville, St. Teresa 1, Malden, St. Ann Poplar Bluff, Sacred Heart Total $3, Total MCP $82, Total St. Peter -$ Total Office Expense -$3, Total MCP Sent $83, Respectfully submitted, Fr. Glenn Eftink Diocesan Director, Society for the Propagation of the Faith

5 January 6, 2017 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. Cape Girardeau Saint Padre Pio Emerging Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order will meet at Saint Francis Medical Center, Sat., Jan. 14. Prayer in the chapel at 8:30 a.m., followed by fraternity meeting in the St. Agatha Conference Room. Learn how you can live the call of Gospel to Life, Life to Gospel in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. For more information, contact Shawn Asmus, OFS, (573) , or follow us on Facebook at Springfield The Springfield Catholic Young Adult Group ages 23-35, will meet Fri., Jan. 20, in the O Reilly Student Center on the Campus of Missouri State University, 6-9 p.m. The evening will consist of food, social, Lectio Divina, prayer dealing with Sacred Scripture, and a short 10-minute theological talk discussing the role of Mary in our lives as Catholics. For questions, Fr. Chaz Dunn, cdunn200@ gmail.com. Hope to see you there! Springfield The 43rd anniversary of Roe v Wade Rally for Life will be Sun., Jan. 22, 3-4:30 p.m., in front of Planned Parenthood, 626 E. Battlefield (parking across the street at Cowden School). There will be a time of song, prayer, and inspirational speaking, ending with a Pro-Life Rosary. Guest speakers will be Fr. Vincent Bertrand, Dr. Gregory Thompson, and Take Courage, be a Man radio host, Mark Kiser. For more information, contact Mark Kiser (417) , or thkise66@yahoo.com. Camp applications arriving soon! In a time of turmoil Christ is counting on you!!!! Upcoming Cursillo Weekends in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau: Dates: Women s weekend - Feb , 2017 Men s weekend - March 23-26, 2017 LOCATION: Pinecrest Camp and Conference Center, Fredericktown, MO ( For more information about Cursillo in the diocese, contact Sharon Essner at smessner735@gmail.com, (573) ; Anne Detten at anne.detten@sbcglobal.net, (417) ; or Fr. Bill Hodgson at wmhodgson@live.com or (573) Camp Re-NEW-All application packets will be available at your parish the weekend of Jan All applications will be available on the diocesan Website www. dioscg.org late Friday afternoon, Jan. 27. On the home page, select Camp Re-NEW-All from the Ministry/Offices drop down menu Camp schedule Fredericktown: Cassville: (Roaring River State Park) Session 1F June Session 2F June Session 3F July Session 1C June Session 2C July 3-7 Session 3C July Session 4C July Session 5C July Schedule The next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations: Mon., Jan a.m.-1 p.m....sacred Heart, Salem Sun., Jan p.m....st. Ann School, Carthage (bilingual) Sat., Jan a.m.-12-noon...st. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau Sat., Feb a.m.-12-noon...st. Joseph the Worker, Ozark Mon., Feb p.m....our Lady of the Lake, Branson Wed., April p.m....st. Ann School, Carthage Wed., April p.m....our Lady of the Lake, Branson Sat., April 29 9 a.m.-12-noon...st. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau Pre-registration 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 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. 19 January 6, 2017 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

6 6 The Mirror January 6, 2017 PEACE IN NEW YEAR Below is the text of Pope Francis Message for the 50th World Day of Peace, celebrated on Jan. 1, on the theme: Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace *** Pope Francis calls for Rev At the beginning of this New Year, I offer heartfelt wishes of peace to the world s peoples and nations, to heads of state and government, and to religious, civic, and community leaders. I wish peace to every man, woman, and child, and I pray that the image and likeness of God in each person will enable us to acknowledge one another as sacred gifts endowed with immense dignity. Especially in situations of conflict, let us respect this, our deepest dignity. 1 and make active nonviolence our way of life. This is the 50th Message for the World Day of Peace. In the first, Blessed Pope Paul VI addressed all peoples, not simply Catholics, with utter clarity. Peace is the only true direction of human progress and not the tensions caused by ambitious nationalisms, nor conquests by violence, nor repressions which serve as mainstay for a false civil order. He warned of the danger of believing that international controversies cannot be resolved by the ways of reason, that is, by negotiations founded on law, justice, and equity, but only by means of deterrent and murderous forces. Instead, citing the encyclical Pacem in Terris of his predecessor St. John XXIII, he extolled the sense and love of peace founded upon truth, justice, freedom, and love. 2 In the intervening 50 years, these words have lost none of their significance or urgency. On this occasion, I would like to reflect on nonviolence as a style of politics for peace. I ask God to help all of us to cultivate nonviolence in our most personal thoughts and values. May charity and nonviolence govern how we treat each other as individuals, within society, and in international life. When victims of violence are able to resist the temptation to retaliate, they become the most credible promotors of nonviolent peacemaking. In the most local and ordinary situations and in the international order, may nonviolence become the hallmark of our decisions, our relationships and our actions, and indeed of political life in all its forms. A broken world While the last century knew the devastation of two deadly World Wars, the threat of nuclear war, and a great number of other conflicts, today, sadly, we find ourselves engaged in a horrifying world war fought piecemeal. It is not easy to know if our world is presently more or less violent than in the past, or to know whether modern means of communications and greater mobility have made us more aware of violence, or, on the other hand, increasingly inured to it. In any case, we know that this piecemeal violence, of different kinds and levels, causes great suffering: wars in different countries and continents; terrorism, organized crime, and unforeseen acts of violence; the abuses suffered by migrants and victims of human trafficking; and the devastation of the environment. Where does this lead? Can violence achieve any goal of lasting value? Or does it merely lead to retaliation and a cycle of deadly conflicts that benefit only a few warlords. Violence is not the cure for our broken world. Countering violence with violence leads at best to forced migrations and enormous suffering, because vast amounts of resources are diverted to military ends and away from the everyday needs of young people, families experiencing hardship, the elderly, the infirm, and the great majority of people in our world. At worst, it can lead to the death, physical and spiritual, of many people, if not of all. The Good News Jesus himself lived in violent times. Yet he taught that the true battlefield, where violence and peace meet, is the human heart: for it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come (Mk 7:21). But Christ s message in this regard offers a radically positive approach. He unfailingly preached God s unconditional love, which welcomes and forgives. He taught his disciples to love their enemies (cf. Mt 5:44) and to turn the other cheek (cf. Mt 5:39). When he stopped her accusers from stoning the woman caught in adultery (cf. Jn 8:1-11), and when, on the night before he died, he told Peter to put away his sword (cf. Mt 26:52), Jesus marked the path of nonviolence. He walked that path to the very end, to the cross, whereby he became our peace and put an end to hostility (cf. Eph 2:14-16). Whoever accepts the Good News of Jesus is able to acknowledge the violence within and be healed by God s mercy, becoming in turn an instrument of reconciliation. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi: As you announce peace with your mouth, make sure that you have greater peace in your hearts. 3 To be true followers of Jesus today also includes embracing his teaching about nonviolence. As my predecessor Benedict XVI observed, that teaching is realistic because it takes into account that in the world there is too much violence, too much injustice, and therefore that this situation cannot be overcome except by countering it with more love, with more goodness. This more comes from God. 4 He went on to stress that: For Christians, nonviolence is not merely tactical behavior but a person s way of being, the attitude of one who is so convinced of God s love and power that he or she is not afraid to tackle evil with the weapons of love and truth alone. Love of one s enemy constitutes the nucleus of the Christian revolution. 5 The Gospel command to love your enemies In 2017, may we dedicate ourselves prayerfully and actively to banishing violence from our hearts, words and deeds, and to becoming nonviolent people and to build nonviolent communities that care for our common home. (cf. Lk 6:27) is rightly considered the magna carta of Christian nonviolence. It does not consist in succumbing to evil, but in responding to evil with good (cf. Rom 12:17-21), and thereby breaking the chain of injustice. 6 More powerful than violence Nonviolence is sometimes taken to mean surrender, lack of involvement, and passivity, but this is not the case. When St. Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she clearly stated her own message of active nonviolence: We in our family don t need bombs and guns, to destroy to bring peace just get together, love one another And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world. 7 For the force of arms is deceptive. While weapons traffickers do their work, there are poor peacemakers who give their lives to help one person, then another and another and another; for such peacemakers, Mother Teresa is a symbol, an icon of our times. 8 Last September, I had the great joy of proclaiming her a Saint. I praised her readiness to make herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity; she made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognize their guilt for the crimes the crimes! of poverty they created. 9 In response, her mission and she stands for thousands, even millions of persons was to reach out to the suffering, with generous dedication, touching and binding up every wounded body, healing every broken life. The decisive and consistent practice of nonviolence has produced impressive results. The achievements of Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the liberation of India, and of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in combating racial discriminatio, will never be forgotten. Women in particular are often leaders of nonviolence, as for example, was Leymah Gbowee and the thousands of Liberian women, who organized pray-ins and nonviolent protest that resulted in high-level peace talks to end the second civil war in Liberia. Nor can we forget the eventful decade that ended with the fall of Communist regimes in Europe. The Christian communities made their own contribution by their insistent prayer and courageous action. Particularly influential were the ministry and teaching of Saint Pope John Paul II. Reflecting on the events of 1989 in his 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus, my predecessor highlighted the fact that momentous change in the lives of people, nations, and states had come about by means of peaceful protest, using only the weapons of truth and justice. 10 This peaceful political transition was made possible in part by the non-violent commitment of people who, while always refusing to yield to the force of power, succeeded time

7 January 6, 2017 PEACE IN NEW YEAR The Mirror 7 olution of Peace in 2017 after time in finding effective ways of bearing witness to the truth. Pope John Paul went on to say: May people learn to fight for justice without violence, renouncing class struggle in their internal disputes and war in international ones. 11 The Church has been involved in nonviolent peacebuilding strategies in many countries, engaging even the most violent parties in efforts to build a just and lasting peace. Such efforts on behalf of the victims of injustice and violence are not the legacy of the Catholic Church alone, but are typical of many religious traditions, for which compassion and nonviolence are essential elements pointing to the way of life. 12 I emphatically reaffirm that no religion is terrorist. 13 Violence profanes the name of God. 14 Let us never tire of repeating: The name of God cannot be used to justify violence. Peace alone is holy. Peace alone is holy, not war! 15 The domestic roots of a politics of nonviolence If violence has its source in the human heart, then it is fundamental that nonviolence be practised before all else within families. This is part of that joy of love which I described last March in my Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, in the wake of two years of reflection by the Church on marriage and the family. The family is the indispensable crucible in which spouses, parents, and children, brothers and sisters, learn to communicate and to show generous concern for one another, and in which frictions and even conflicts have to be resolved not by force but by dialogue, respect, concern for the good of the other, mercy, and forgiveness. 16 From within families, the joy of love spills out into the world and radiates to the whole of society. 17 An ethics of fraternity and peaceful coexistence between individuals and among peoples cannot be based on the logic of fear, violence, and closed-mindedness, but on responsibility, respect, and sincere dialogue. Hence, I plead for disarmament and for the prohibition and abolition of nuclear weapons: nuclear ARTISANS OF PEACE Pope Francis handed rosaries to pilgrims in St. Peter s Square during a recent general audience. In the 50th World Message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis said that with the help of God in prayer, Everyone can be an artisan of peace. deterrence and the threat of mutual assured destruction are incapable of grounding such an ethics. 18 I plead with equal urgency for an end to domestic violence and to the abuse of women and children. The Jubilee of Mercy that ended in November encouraged each one of us to look deeply within and to allow God s mercy to enter there. The Jubilee taught us to realize how many and diverse are the individuals and social groups treated with indifference and subjected to injustice and violence. They too are part of our family; they too are our brothers and sisters. The politics of nonviolence have to begin in the home and then spread to the entire human family. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux invites us to practice the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile, or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures that break with the logic of violence, exploitation, and selfishness. 19 My invitation Peacebuilding through active nonviolence is the natural and necessary complement to the Church s continuing efforts to limit the use of force by the application of moral norms; she does so by her participation in the work of international institutions and through the competent contribution made by so many Christians to (Photo by Daniel Ibanez/CNA) the drafting of legislation at all levels. Jesus himself offers a manual for this strategy of peacemaking in the Sermon on the Mount. The eight Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:3-10) provide a portrait of the person we could describe as blessed, good, and authentic. Blessed are the meek, Jesus tells us, the merciful, and the peacemakers, those who are pure in heart, and those who hunger and thirst for justice. This is also a program and a challenge for political and religious leaders, the heads of international institutions, and business and media executives: to apply the Beatitudes in the exercise of their respective responsibilities. It is a challenge to build up society, communities, and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost. To do so requires the willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it, and to make it a link in the chain of a new process. 20 To act in this way means to choose solidarity as a way of making history and building friendship in society. Active nonviolence is a way of showing that unity is truly more powerful and more fruitful than conflict. Everything in the world is inter-connected. 21 Certainly differences can cause frictions. But let us face them constructively and nonviolently, so that tensions and oppositions can achieve a diversified and life-giving unity, preserving what is valid and useful on both sides. 22 I pledge the assistance of the Church in every effort to build peace through active and creative nonviolence. On Jan. 1, 2017, the new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development will begin its work. It will help the Church to promote in an ever more effective way the inestimable goods of justice, peace, and the care of creation, and concern for migrants, those in need, the sick, the excluded and marginalized, the imprisoned, and the unemployed, as well as victims of armed conflict, natural disasters, and all forms of slavery and torture. 23 Every such response, however modest, helps to build a world free of violence, the first step toward justice and peace. In conclusion As is traditional, I am signing this message on Dec. 8, 2016, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary is the Queen of Peace. At the birth of her Son, the angels gave glory to God and wished peace on earth to men and women of good will (cf. Luke 2:14). Let us pray for her guidance. All of us want peace. Many people build it day by day through small gestures and acts; many of them are suffering, yet patiently persevere in their efforts to be peacemakers. 24 In 2017, may we dedicate ourselves prayerfully and actively to banishing violence from our hearts, words and deeds, and to becoming nonviolent people and to build nonviolent communities that care for our common home. Nothing is impossible if we turn to God in prayer. Everyone can be an artisan of peace. 25 +Francis Notes: 1 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, PAUL VI, Message for the First World Day of Peace, 1 January The Legend of the Three Companions. Fonti Francescane, No BENEDICT XVI, Angelus, 18 February Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 MOTHER TERESA, Nobel Lecture, 11 December Meditation, The Road of Peace. Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, 19 November Homily for the Canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 4 September No Ibid. 12 Address to Representatives of Different Religions, 3 November Address to the Third World Meeting of Popular Movements, 5 November Cf. Address at the Interreligious Meeting with the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus and Representatives of Different Religious Communities, Baku, 2 October Address in Assisi, 20 October Cf. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, Cf. ibid., 133, 194, Cf. Message for the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, 7 December Encyclical Laudato Si, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Cf. Encyclical Laudato Si, 16, 117, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio instituting the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, 17 August Regina Coeli, Bethlehem, 25 May Appeal, Assisi, 20 September [Vatican-provided text]

8 8 The Mirror January 6, 2017 DIOCESAN NEWS Missouri Knights report progress on charitable goals Branson, MO Bishop Edward M. Rice addressed attendees at the evening banquet of the mid-year meeting of the Missouri State Knights of Columbus on Dec. 17 at Chateau on the Lake resort in Branson. He recognized the generous work of the Missouri Knights of Columbus toward the dignity of life, vocations, the developmentally-disabled, and the many other charitable causes to which the Knights provide support. The Missouri Knights of Columbus State Council conducts two meetings per year as well as its annual convention. At the winter Dec gathering, the district deputies, state officers, directors, and committee chairmen, as well as past officers, directors, and chairman gathered to review the first half of the fraternal year and to set the agenda for the next half of the fraternal year. It was announced that the MO Knights of Columbus had reached its five-year goal of raising $2 million dollars for the Respect Life Campaign. This program provides information to pregnant women and supports Crisis Pregnancy Centers by providing over 40 ultra sound machines to allow expectant mothers to see and hear WINTER MEETING The winter meeting of the Missouri State Knights of Columbus was Dec in Branson, MO. Father Rick Jones serves as the State Chaplain for the MO Knights; Bp. Edward M. Rice is Honorary State Chaplain, and seminarian Joshua Carroll served as the Master of Ceremonies at the liturgy on Dec. 17. (Photo by Stephen Harvey, MO Knights of Columbus) their child before birth. This opportunity often provides reconsideration by those women who may be thinking about terminating the life of their unborn child. Another progress report stated that the MO Knights are almost halfway toward reaching the goal of providing $1 million dollars to the Special Olympics training center being constructed in Jefferson City, MO. In addition to these two major projects, the other large endeavors supported by the Missouri Knights of Columbus are the Cardinal Glennon Center for Autism in St. Louis and the Religious Information Bureau. Both of these programs are supported 100 percent by the Knights of Columbus. Correction & clarification In the recent article Witness of annual March for Life more important than ever in the Dec. 9, 2016, edition of The Mirror, Notre Dame Regional High School student Grant Beussink was misidentified as Grant Bussing. Additionally, Christine Ostendorf and another teacher will take a group of students and fly to the March for Life event in Washington, DC. They will not participate in the bus trip with the diocesan group. We regret these errors in reporting and any subsequent confusion they may have caused. The Cardinal Glennon Center provides services to families with autistic children and the Religious Information Bureau provides free information to those wanting the learn about the Catholic Church or further explore their Catholic faith through free course study and reading material. Bishop Rice is the Honorary State Chaplain for the Missouri Knights of Columbus; Fr. Rick Jones is the State Chaplain; and Joseph Rosenthal serves as the State Deputy. For more information about all of the Knights programs, visit or contact any Knight of Columbus, or the state deputy at statedeputy@mokofc.org.

9 January 6, 2017 DIOCESAN NEWS The Mirror 9 Diocesan wedding anniversary celebrations in February Springfield Preparations are underway for the annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Celebration to be held on Sun., Feb. 12, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, and Sun., Feb. 19, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. This occasion is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate and affirm the great gift of married love with a Mass celebrated by Bp. Edward Rice, followed by a reception in the school cafeteria. Any couple who will or has celebrated their 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, or 50+ anniversary anytime during 2017 is most cordially invited to attend. Family members of the couples are included in this invitation. In order for the diocese to prepare properly they need to hear from participating couples by Jan. 30. Couples need to submit the registration form and send it to Katie Newton, Office of Family Ministries, 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield MO , or the information to knewton@dioscg.org. The form can also be found on the Family Ministry page of the diocesan Website at www. dioscg.org. Pondering life as a Sister? The Sisters of the Living Word, the Chicago Archdiocesan Vocation Association (CAVA), and Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM) are jointly hosting: Hands-ON + Hearts-IN A discernment experience for women in Holly Springs, Mississippi 2017 Dates: February 6-10 February May May August 29- Sept. 1 September Accompanied by Vocation Ministers, the Monday through Friday experience provides a hands-on opportunity to assist those in need while discerning life as a sister. Attendees will reside with sisters from various communities. Service projects include: tutoring children; assisting at a food pantry; cleaning homes for the elderly; repairing damaged homes; serving meals at a soup kitchen. The only costs to attend are the travel to and from Mississippi. Applicants need to book a spot one month prior to the start of a week-long event. To learn more about this opportunity to discern life as a sister, contact: Sr. Sharon Glumb, SLW, sglumb@slw.org; (847) ext. 233 (office); (601) (cell). Divorced, Widowed,or Separated? Beginning Experience of Springfield is offering a six-week support program, Coping with Life Alone designed to help individuals work through the trauma of losing a spouse through death or divorce. Begins Thu., Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2200 W Republic Rd, Springfield, MO. Beginning Experience programs, sponsored by the Diocese of Springfield/Cape Girardeau, offer strength and growth through a community of friendship, support, and prayer. The program s trained facilitators have themselves experienced divorce or death of a spouse. For further information, call: Viv (417) ; Diane (870) ; or Teresa (417) Sat., Jan. 21-Sun. 29, Days for Life is an annual period of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person s life at every stage of life. For more information, to subscribe to daily messages, and more, visit for the respect and protection of each person s life together in prayer, action, and fellowship with others your stories Online!

10 10 The Mirror January 6, 2017 DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING Capital Endowment Campaign heads into home stretch From Page 1 parish s campaign, the Laughners are proud that Our Lady of the Ozarks reached more than 170 percent of its target. More than that, they are thrilled with the impact the individual visits with each parish family had on them and the rest of the church. People who were acquaintances are now friends, Nancy said of the outcome. We went into their homes, learned their stories. It was awesome. Our Lady of the Ozark is a small, rural parish fewer than 100 families made up of mostly retired people. But John insists it is the best parish in the diocese. We are rock stars down here. It s not a church; it s a family, he said. Like family, Nancy wanted to make sure that those who invited her, John, and the other volunteers into their homes were properly thanked. The best way was with Nancy s delicious banana bread, so she made 90 mini-loaves and 10 full loaves for larger families, to be handed out by each of the volunteer visitors. They loved it, she said. They also shared their love of the Catholic Church and their diocese and understood the important needs that the campaign would be meeting. Forsyth was one of the 24, of a total 28, parishes to exceed its goal in Block II, with the participation of nearly all of its members. The favorite experience of the campaign for the Loughners was the 90-year-old parishioner who apologized that she had just had some repair work done on her home and was not able to contribute until January. Don t you know, she called this week and said, I m ready to contribute now, John said. Mark Otradovec, was also hesitant to be the campaign volunteer at Sacred Heart in Springfield, but the results have been worth the work, he said. The official parish has 161 families, and about half of them participated, reaching more than 250 percent of the parish s target. He was especially moved by a member who was recently widowed. She felt like the amount suggested for her pledge was too high, but when the volunteer came for a second visit, she said she wanted to make the full pledge and even take a part-time job to do it. She said, I want to do this. I need to do this. That is one of those positive stories. Someone knew the importance, Otradovec said. It reflects our faith, he said. If people know there is a need, they respond. I think that s what happened here. We saw the impact of what it can do for our future, and I think that s why we had such a good response across the diocese. If Block III proves the same generosity of the previous blocks, the diocese will be able to reach its original goal for the campaign, Fr. J. explained. The goal was scaled back from $20 million to $15 million when Bp. James V. Johnston, Jr., was assigned to the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, leaving our diocese without a visual leader. Since then, Bp. Edward Rice has been installed as our bishop. Now that we have a bishop in the chair, we are aiming for that higher goal, which we are on target to reach if the people in Block III respond in the same way, Fr. J. said. Bishop Rice, who arrived in Principal St. Andrew s School St. Andrew the Apostle Parish seeks a principal committed to Catholic Education with strong leadership, communication, and motivational skills. St. Andrew s School is a parish school serving approximately 290 Pre-K to 8th grade students with a staff of 30. St. Andrew is located in suburban Kansas City, MO, north of the river. Applicant must be a practicing Catholic, should have a master s degree in educational administration, teaching experience, and preferably three years administrative experience. This position leads school programs which ensure not only academic excellence but also the spiritual, moral, physical, and emotional development of the school community. This person is supervised by the pastor of the parish and the assigned Superintendent of Schools. Job Responsibility Ensure quality of Catholic religious instruction of students at all levels through the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Promote Catholic community with parents, student, faculty, and staff. Applies a Catholic educational vision to the daily activities of the school. Implements, identifies, and monitors annual goals and strategies to ensure quality of academic program. Works with parish to ensure financial processes for the school and maintenance. Recruits, interviews, selects, and provides orientation for school staff. Works with parish to provide marketing and development for the school. Applicant must be a practicing Catholic should have a master s degree in educational administration, teaching experience, and preferably three years administrative experience. This is the job link: the diocese shortly after Block I was completed, responded to the results of the first two blocks. I continue to be astonished by the generosity and dedication of our parishioners in southern Missouri, he said in a letter to the parishes. We are truly blessed to be serving the Church here in our diocese. The bishop encouraged the parishioners of Block III. It is my hope and prayer that these parishes will be just as successful, Bp. Rice said. I firmly believe it is our responsibility to give every family an opportunity to grow spiritually by sharing their gifts in this remarkable and historical effort. For campaign materials and videos, consult the diocesan Website at or your local parish. Capital Campaign Block III Parishes The third and final block of the Capital Endowment Campaign, Grateful for Our Past Preparing for Our Future, begins Jan. 9, 2017, in the following parishes and missions: Region 1 St. Ann, Carthage St. Mary, Joplin St. Peter the Apostle, Joplin St. Mary, Lamar St. Canera, Neosho Nativity of Our Lord, Noel St. Mary, Seneca Sacred Heart, Webb City Region 3 Sacred Heart, Bolivar St. Catherine of Siena, Humansville Region 5 St. Leo the Great, Ava Christ the King, Bunker St. Michael, Cabool St. Sylvester, Eminence St. William, Gainesville St. Mark, Houston St. John the Baptist, Licking Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mansfield Sacred Heart, Mountain Grove St. John Vianney, Mountain View St. Vincent de Paul, Roby Sacred Heart, Salem Sacred Heart, Thayer St. Mary, West Plains St. Joseph, White Church Sacred Heart, Willow Springs Region 6 St. Michael the Archangel, Fredericktown Ste. Marie du Lac, Ironton Our Lady of Sorrows, Lesterville St. Catherine of Siena, Piedmont St. George, Van Buren St. Philip Benizi, Viburnum Our Lady of Sorrows, Williamsville Region 8 St. Cecilia, Kennett St. Eustachius, Portageville Region 9 St. Benedict, Doniphan St. Teresa, Glennonville St. Ann, Malden Sacred Heart, Poplar Bluff 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, MO (417)

11 January 6, 2017 The Mirror 11 Columbia Construction Co. PO Box 1332 Cape Girardeau, MO (573) NATIONAL NEWS/ADVERTISING Fr. Benedict Neenan elected 10th abbot of Conception Abbey Conception, MO Fr. Benedict Neenan, OSB, was elected as the new abbot of the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey, Conception, MO, on Tue., Nov. 22, He becomes the 10th abbot in Conception Abbey s 143-year history, succeeding Abbot Gregory Polan, OSB, who was elected Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation in early September. Polan had served as abbot since The election of Abbot Neenan took place within a private meeting of the monks of Conception Abbey. Before the election, the monks of Conception Abbey gathered in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit, invoking the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance in the election process. The Right Rev. Vincent Bataille, president of the Swiss-American Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation, was the principal celebrant for the Mass and oversaw the election. The new abbot assumed his responsibilities as the spiritual and temporal leader of the community immediately. As is custom, the abbatial blessing of The Right Rev. Benedict Neenan, OSB, will be by The Most Rev. James V. Johnston, Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph, at 2 p.m. on Jan. 15 in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of Conception Abbey. Abbot Neenan, 67, was most recently assigned Business Manager BISHOP & NEW ABBOT Bishop Edward M. Rice celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception at Conception Abbey with the newly-elected Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB. The abbatial blessing of The Right Rev. Neenan will be Jan. 15 by Bp James V. Johnston. (The Mirror) of Conception Abbey since 2008 and Development Director since In these roles, Abbot Benedict oversaw the management of Conception Abbey s apostolates and development. Born in Kansas City, MO, on Jan. 3, 1949, Abbot Neenan professed vows as a Benedictine monk on Oct. 18, 1980, and was ordained a priest on Aug. 20, He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Colorado State University in 1971 and a Journeyman s Degree from the Bavarian State School of Wood Carving and Sculpture in Germany in He then earned a masters degree in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America in 1988 and a PhD. in Church History from the Catholic University of America in From Abbot Neenan was the Prior of Conception Abbey, second in leadership in the monastery. From , Abbot Neenan served as President-Rector of Conception Seminary College and as a professor of theology and church history at the seminary since He has also served as a spiritual director for seminarians and lay people, the monastic Vocations Director, and has given retreats in the Abbey Guest Center. Abbot Neenan is the author of Thomas Verner Moore: Psychiatrist, Educator and Monk, a publication concerning Moore s work in psychology in relationship to the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1873 from a monastery in Engelberg, Switzerland, Conception Abbey strives to continue it s mission of prayer and service to the Church. The 54 monks of Conception Abbey operate Conception Seminary College, which educates future priests and permanent deacons, the Abbey Guest Center, and The Printery House, a producer of Christian greeting cards and vendor of Christian gifts. The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has four men in discernment and formation at Conception Seminary: Joshua Carroll, Charles Peirano, Jacob Mezzacapa, and Judson Beam. 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

12 12 The Mirror January 6, 2017 ADULT FAITH Resolution: remember that the world will not satisfy Here s another New Year s resolution: Remember that the world has only trinkets; God has treasure. It s amazing how much effort we put into pursuing things that are like sand running through our fingers. In the end they cannot satisfy or last. In this new year, resolve to remember that the world we know cannot satisfy us and it is passing away. Teach this to your children as well. The video at org/2017/01/resolution-remember-worldwill-not-satisfy/ is good for teaching both children and adults. It is a humorous depiction of the utter frustration of seeking fulfillment in or from this world. The video features a pig, Ormie, who goes to ridiculous lengths to obtain some cookies that are just beyond his reach. Many people are like this, sparing no expense in search of illusory happiness. Some practically self-destruct in their quest to fill the God-sized hole in their heart. But it never works, because our desires are infinite; a finite world will always leave us unsatisfied. Complete fulfillment can only be found with God. For now, we walk by faith toward Him of whom our heart says, Seek His face. Seek always the face of the Lord! Seeking the Lord does several things for us. It helps us to stop thinking that finite things can really satisfy us. It increasingly ends our frustrating, futile, intense pursuit of those things. As our prayerful union with God deepens, our satisfaction with Him also increases and He becomes more desirable than the things of this world. More and more we can say that God really does satisfy us. In the video, Ormie is a very unhappy pig because no matter how hard he tries, he can t get what he wants. And the world seems to taunt him as he tries again and again. Frankly, even if he did get the cookies, they would probably only satisfy him for about 20 minutes. Allow the cookies to represent happiness. Ormie expends all his effort on pursuing something that this world can t give him. An awful lot of people live like Ormie, forever chasing butterflies. Somehow they think that if they can just get the thing they seek, then they will be happy. They will not at least not in the infinite sense their heart really desires. Wealth brings comfort, not happiness. The finite world just can t provide what many want it to provide. Enjoy this amusing video. Often humor registers in us because it contains an element of truth that we recognize in our own self. Laugh and learn with Ormie the Pig! COMMUNITY IN MISSION Msgr. Charles E. Pope Most of us have those handheld devices. The antiquated cell phone has become a multifunction unit. It s an internet portal, camera, computer, er, texting device, music and game center, GPS unit, and advisor ( Hey Siri! ). You might even use it to make a phone call! Devices, can t live with them, can t live without them. But we can learn to set proper boundaries and avoid the rudeness that can accompany their use. Too often, we allow the virtual to eclipse the actual and we pay insufficient attention to those physically present with us. The word device comes from the Old French word, devis, meaning division or separation. Without doubt, our hand-held devices divide our attention, separating us from the people with whom we should be interacting. In a typical meeting, many in attendance are gazing down frequently at their little units. Soon enough, thumbs are typing away and attention is waning. The same is often the case during conversations, walks, meals, movies, and car rides. We are often divided from those with whom we should be present and unified. Our devices also drive a sense of urgency, a feeling that information has to be shared at once. This is especially true with texting. There is a general expectation that a text will elicit a quick reply. When this doesn t happen we re often either irritated or anxious: I hope he s all right; I texted him and he didn t answer! Never mind that the person might be busy; there s still the expectation that he ll reply quickly regardless of what he s doing. Do you remember the old busy signal? If you called someone who was on the phone with someone else you got the busy signal, which in effect said, I can t talk to you right now, I m busy talking to someone else. Imagine that! Then came call waiting, that irritating clicking sound indicating that someone is trying to reach you. This created distraction, stress, and even the expectation that you should interrupt your current conversation and multitask or break away from the current caller entirely in order to talk to someone more deserving of your attention. Today it seems that nothing can or should wait. Everyone needs your immediate attention, or We are often divided from those with whom we should be present. New Year s suggestions regarding your device such is the prevailing expectation. Resentment can follow quickly when expectations are not met. In addition, many people have developed a kind of obsession with staying informed and connected. Not only are there the personal messages, but also the constant alerts indicating breaking news or something else of which you must be immediately aware. Group text messages can be especially obnoxious, with dozens of replies and replies to replies back and forth between all the recipients. In short order, the text message queue is filled with long threads of often extraneous commentary. The demand for instant information and quick response can cause a number of other problems such as impatience, imprudence, rash judgment, and becoming gossips and busybodies. Somehow we have to get back to a more reasonable pace in our life. Many things can wait. Most interruptions we accept as necessary are not. It really is possible to go to a meeting or to Mass with your device turned off; you don t need to be checking your messages or s constantly. Your presence and your undivided attention is a great gift to those around you. New Year s resolutions you might consider: 1. Be less anxious or angry if someone doesn t text or you back right away. Remember, he or she might be busy. 2. Don t feel the need to apologize so much for not getting back to someone right away. Nearly instant access to people is a fairly new concept; not so long ago we managed to survive just fine without it. 3. Turn off some or all of the sounds that signal a new text, , or the availability of some other information. Do this permanently if possible, or at least with enough frequency that you can break the obsession with always knowing what is going on. 4. Check for text and messages a reasonable number of times each day, but not when you are in meetings, in conversations with others, at lunch with friends, etc. 5. Take out those earbuds as often as you can and just walk the old fashioned way: greet people, make eye contact, give some indication to people you pass by that you care that they exist, rediscover background noises or the sounds of nature, maybe even enjoy a little silence. 6. Designate an occasional day when you completely unplug from your device and just chill. 7. Make use of the do not disturb feature on your device. Most devices allow you to specify a limited set of people/circumstances under which the device will alert you to incoming calls or notifications. Carefully consider who belongs on the list and let the rest of the messages wait. Sometimes less is more. We ought to consider pacing our day, having times when we gather information, times when we do our work without a lot of distraction, and times when we rest. It is too easy to allow the urgent to eclipse the important. Consider making a resolution to do a little more triage. Many things that seem urgent or requiring immediate attention can in fact wait. Although God could solve everything all at once with the snap of His fingers, He does not do so; He has His reasons. Learn from God; let things have their time. Waiting and silence are key concepts in the spiritual life and in God s world. A priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, Msgr. Pope is pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church. Among his many ministries, he conducts a weekly Bible study at the White House.