VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK Pray for vocations National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the US dedicated to promoting (and supporting those who are discerning) vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated religious life through prayer and education. NVAW began in 1976 by the US bishops. It is celebrated Nov. 2-8, 2014. Prayer for vocations Hail Mary, full of grace; all generations call you blessed. Hail Mother of God; when asked by the angel to bear the Son of the Most High, filled with faith, you responded: Let it be done unto me. Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana, you prompted your Son to perform his first sign. Be with us as we discern our life s work and guide us in the way we are called to follow in the footsteps of your Son. Holy Mother of the Savior, at the foot of the cross you mourned the death of your only Son. Bless and embrace the loving parents of all priests, deacons, brothers, and sisters. Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd, turn your motherly care to this nation. Intercede for us to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to the harvest in this land dedicated to your honor. Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Sick, inspire vocations in our time. Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim the good news of everlasting life. Amen. (CNS photo/nancy Wiechec) The Mirr r Vol. XLX, No. 14 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI October 31, 2014 One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus Catholic Charities YOU and Second collection helps our neighbors in need By Maureen Jersak Springfield Scared. Homeless. Struggling to make ends meet. No one needs to remind us that many of our neighbors in southern Missouri are facing difficult times and discouraging hardships. The goal of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri (CC- SOMO), is to respond with Christ-like compassion and treat all with dignity. It is only with your help that Catholic Charities is able to reach out, provide hope, and change lives. The CCSOMO Second Collection takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov. 22 & 23). All funds collected stay in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to help our neighbors. Why is this so important? Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri relies on donor generosity and this is its one annual collection to help deliver services to thousands in need each year in southern Missouri. CCSOMO does not receive funding through the Diocesan Development Fund (DDF) and is a separate legal entity from the diocese. CCSOMO is the charitable arm of our faith to those in need throughout southern Missouri. Catholic Charities staff and volunteers are often the only contact clients have ever had with anything Catholic. Every donation is vital It is tempting to believe that no REACHING OUT, PROVIDING HOPE, CHANGING LIVES Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri caseworker Jackie Meneses serves clients in Joplin, MO. Participate generously in the second collection for Catholic Charities the weekend before Thanksgiving: Nov. 22 and 23. The response of the faithful is vital to CCSOMO s charitable ministry on behalf of all of us in southern Missouri. (Submitted photo) individual can do much to alleviate the staggering problems people face, but through the Catholic Charities Second Collection Nov. 23 each one of us can indeed make a difference in the life of someone. Together, as a faith community, we can work together to provide for the least of our brothers and sisters. When supporting the Catholic Charities Second Collection, donors do more than just provide financial support they change lives. What your donation does Ensures that homeless, pregnant women have a place to sleep, food to eat, and the resources needed to deliver a healthy baby while working toward self-sufficiency; Resolves struggling, working families from being evicted, and help them gain financial stability; Helps individuals with Down s syndrome and autism, and their See CCSOMO / 9 The Catechism in brief 1055 By virtue of the communion of saints, the Church commends the dead to God s mercy and offers her prayers, especially the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist, on their behalf. The next issue of The Mirror will be Nov. 14, 2014. If you would like to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email in digital format, please contact Angie Toben at (417) 866-0841, or Email her: atoben@dioscg.org. 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.
2 The Mirror October 31, 2014 ADULT FAITH Advice for modern Christians: Work, pray, love New York City, NY Religious believers should acknowledge that they are now strangers in U S society, in part because of their own failures, but should nevertheless work for renewal and worship God with joy, said Philadelphia A bp. Charles J. Chaput. Our job is to be the healthy cells in a society. We need to work as long as we can, as hard as we can, to nourish the good that remains in our country and there s a deep well of good that does remain and to encourage the seeds of a renewal that can only come from our young people. A bp. Chaput s comments came in his Oct. 20 Erasmus Lecture, a Webcast event sponsored by First Things Magazine and the Institute on Religion in Public Life. We should hope because God loves us. And that s more than an empty piety, the archbishop said. The proof of it is sitting right next to you in the friends who believe, as you do, in the goodness that still resides in American life, and who want to fight for it. In Christian belief, God s Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The world changed. Our job is to echo his Word by Abp. Charles J. Chaput helping our witness become flesh in the structures, moral imagination, and bloodstream of the world around us, he added. If that happens, the world will change again. The archbishop reflected on the many changes in American society. The title of his speech, Strangers in a Strange Land, alluded to the estrangement of religious believers who once felt rooted in their communities but now feel like strangers, out of place and out of sync in the land of their birth. He said the biggest failure, the biggest sadness, of so many people of my generation, including parents, educators and leaders in the Church, is our failure to pass along our faith in a compelling way to the generation now taking our place. Radiate love of God If we want to change the culture of a nation, we need to begin by taking a hard look at the thing we call our own faith. If we don t radiate the love of God with passion and courage in the example of our daily lives, nobody else will least of all the young people who see us most clearly and know us most intimately. But the real problem in America in 2014 isn t that we believers are foreigners. It s that our children and grandchildren aren t. A bp. Chaput stressed the importance of worship and the adoration of God as more important than action. We are a people of worship first, and action second, he said. There is no real political action or social service unless it flows out of the adoration of God. Adoration grounds our whole being in the real reality: the fact that God is God, and man is his creation, he said. Christians forget at their peril that they are in the world but not of the world, he continued. Citing the French writer Henri De Lubac, the archbishop said that when the world worms its way into the life of the Church, the Church becomes not just a caricature of the world, but even worse than the world in her mediocrity and ugliness. A bp. Chaput criticized several other trends in the U S, where he said freedom is more and more constrained. Freedom has been defined as the maximization of personal choice, especially through modern technology. Democracy and government has also become an expression of consumer preference, with very little space for common meaning, classic virtue, or shared purpose. The U S Supreme Court s Oct. 6 refusal to hear state appeals defending marriage amendments creates a tipping point in American public discourse, he said. The dismemberment of any privileged voice that biblical belief once had in our public square is just about complete. The archbishop said that the most disturbing aspect of the marriage debate was the destruction of public reason that it accomplished. Moderate democracy Emotion and sloganeering drove the argument, he said. People who uphold a traditional moral architecture for sexuality, marriage, and family have gone in the space of just 20 years from mainstream conviction to the media equivalent of racists and bigots. This is impressive. It s also profoundly dishonest and evil, but we need to acknowledge the professional excellence of the marketing that made it happen. The archbishop said his hard news for religious believers is that the mixed marriage of biblical and Enlightenment ideas in America is now divorcing. This separation will be bad, he said, because People who uphold a traditional moral architecture for sexuality, marriage, and family have gone from mainstream conviction to the media equivalent of racists and bigots. religious faith has a key role in sustaining America and moderating democracy, which otherwise lacks a higher authority. On another note, Archbishop Chaput said that clergy sex abuse has badly eroded Catholics confidence in their own bishops, who often deserved the resentment because they had wrong priorities and tried to protect reputations and the standing of the Church at the expense of the innocent and the suffering. The archbishop said this has shown a leadership cut off from the people it is meant to serve. He suggested that believers should thank God for this difficult moment because conflict purifies the Church and clarifies the nature of her enemies. He also counseled hope and rejected the idea that we can retire to the safety of some modern equivalent of a monastery in the hills. Joy is the mark of a person who s truly found God, he added. A bp. Chaput encouraged Christians to start by returning hatred with love and to improve their practical, working friendships across religious and confessional lines. He said Catholics should encourage the new movements and charisms in the Church, as well as Catholic groups and intellectual institutes. They should also form families who have the habit of listening for a priestly vocation We need parishes that are real antidotes to loneliness; real sources of mutual support, counseling, sharing, and friendship not just garrisons devoted to servicing the baptized pagan. We also need a Christian community much more receptive to Latino and other immigrants. A bp. Chaput also stressed the need to serve others. We re here to bear each other s burdens; to sacrifice ourselves for the needs of others; and to live a witness of love for the God who made us not only in our personal lives, but in all our p ublic actions, including every one of our social, economic and political choices, he said. CNA
October 31, 2014 COLUMNS The Mirror 3 Loving Jesus more than I do now Jesus said, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Jn 21:16 In August, as I traveled across the diocese on the Road Rally Revival, I asked those present at each stop, Do you love Jesus? The answer was a unanimous yes! I then asked, Do you think you could love Jesus even more than you do now? Without hesitation, at each parish and mission I visited, the answer was again a strong yes. We often do not have this question put so directly to us, but this is exactly what Jesus did to the apostle Peter, and by extension, to other disciples. As I announced the five year vision for the diocese, One Church, East to West, Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, and Sharing Jesus, it became even more apparent to me that loving Jesus is truly the key to everything. If that is the only thing we accomplish in the next few years, our plan will have been a great success. I also believe if we intentionally set out to do this, everything else in our midst will blossom. With this in mind, I would like to keep this in front of us as a diocesan church. Specifically, I believe we ON THE WAY Bp. James V. Johnston must spend time in thought, prayer, and discussion, pondering how we are going to go about loving Jesus more than we do now. Vision without action is simply a slogan. Love is not a sentiment, but in the end, it is a choice; and over the course of a lifetime, a series of choices with great implication. So, where might we begin? How do we set out to love Jesus more? I will begin by suggesting two Scripture passages that can guide us. The first is from Jesus himself: If you love me, you will keep my commandments (Jn 14:15). The second is from the First Letter of John, If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen (I Jn 4:20). The first passage shows that love must be connected to living Bp. Johnston s prayer intentions for November: For pregnant mothers, especially those who have difficult or at - risk pregnancies. For our elected officials, particularly those new to office, may they be guided by the truth, act with courage to better the common good, honor human dignity and the sanctity of all human life. according to the truth, the truth written into our nature and revealed by God. In essence, Jesus is showing us that we too must do the will of the Father, following his own example. In doing the will of the Father each of us makes visible the law of love that Jesus himself reveals to us. In fact, as Pope Emeritus Benedict has said, the new law or new commandment is Jesus himself, the abiding essence of what was inscribed on the stone tablets at Sinai is now written in living flesh, namely the two-fold command of love. To imitate him, to follow him in discipleship, is therefore to keep the Torah, which has been fulfilled in him once and for all. In other words, we will grow in love of Jesus the more we intentionally imitate him loving God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself (Mt 22:37-38). We love God by honoring him and giving him glory. This is what is common to those who love God. To glorify God is to adore and praise his beauty, goodness, and truth, all of which he possesses perfectly. What do the angels do who see God? They worship. This is the first order of love for God to worship. We order our other loves correctly when we worship correctly. This is where I suggest beginning if you wish to love Jesus more. Begin by worshiping him more, and intentionally order your life around his. In the words of Philippians 2:5: Put on the mind of Christ. The second passage reminds us that God wishes Wed., Nov. 5 Thu., Nov. 6 Sat., Nov. 8- Fri., Nov. 14 Public calendar The Catholic Center Staff Day of Reflection, Springfield Diocesan Development Fund Campaign Committee meeting, Springfield US Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting, Baltimore, MD Sun., Nov. 16 Mass, O Reilly Catholic 11 a.m. Student Center, Springfield; 4 p.m. 35th Anniversary event, Knights of Columbus Council #7442, Willow Springs, MO Mon., Nov. 17 Diocesan Finance Council Prayers offered for the dead spiritually benefit all of us Each November, the Church begins on a high note with the celebration of All Saints Day (Nov. 1). The following day is a bit more somber as we commemorate All Souls Day and offer prayers and spiritual assistance to those who are on their way to Heaven awaiting the gift of sainthood. With those two days, the Church provides us with unique reflections upon the mystery of life and death. Death is a reality that all of us must face and accept. Our Christian Faith teaches us that there is something better and greater awaiting us when our earthly life ends. The Sacred Liturgy reflects and reveals to us important aspects of our Catholic Faith. This is certainly true when a Funeral Mass is celebrated. The Requiem Mass, which was offered before the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, was starkly different when compared to the Funeral Mass we LIVING THE LITURGY Fr. David J. Dohogne celebrate today. There was a somberness found in the Requiem Mass reflective of the sadness we experience at the death of a loved one as well as the need of seeking God s mercy for the deceased person. This was found in the music sung, the prayers offered, and the wearing of black vestments. The revised funeral rites of the Second Vatican Council provide a greater sense of hope and comfort, especially for the family. As with every liturgy, Christ and His Paschal Mystery is the focus of the Funeral Mass. We are greatly saddened by the death of a loved one, we acknowledge that the deceased person is in need of God s mercy and forgiveness and that we seek His mercy and forgiveness through prayer, our works of charity, and most importantly the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We also find a sense of comfort and hope for our departed loved one in the power of Christ s own Death and Resurrection. Many people today remark that funerals are for the benefit of the living, not the deceased. While there may be some truth in this, this attitude is not completely accurate according to our Catholic Faith. Certainly, funerals are meant to bring comfort, hope, support, and consolation to mourners. Christ ministered many times to those who were mourning. But the prayers we offer, in particular the Funeral Mass, also works for the spiritual benefit and salvation of deceased loved ones. This practice is scripturally rooted in 2 Maccabees 12:38-46. us to love not in the abstract, but in the world in which we find ourselves; namely, to love the people in our lives and communities: family, friends, co-workers, everyone, but most especially: the poor and vulnerable. We can t be like Lucy in the Peanuts comic strip who remarked: I love humanity. It s people I can t stand. We can love Jesus more by being more fully present and loving in the daily encounters we have with the people God has chosen to put in our lives. These are simply my own suggestions. I invite all of us to keep this at the forefront of our prayer and thinking. Let us help one another to realize this first and most important part or our diocesan vision: to love Jesus even more than I do now. TM The month of November is a perfect reminder that God creates us to be His Saints so that we might live with Him forever in Heaven. Fr. Oscar Lukefahr reminded us in a very beautiful way in his last article in The Mirror that in our Baptism here on earth, we become children of God. When we enter Heaven, we become His holy Saints. During these days of November, let us remember in our prayers and works of charity those who have gone before us in faith and await their entrance into God s Eternal Kingdom. Let us also not neglect ourselves as we each humbly seek from the Lord the grace of a happy and peaceful death! TM In addition to his position as diocesan Director of Worship, Fr. Dohogne serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter, MO; St. Teresa Church, Glennonville; and St. Ann Church, in Malden.
4 The Mirror October 31, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS McAuley Catholic High School marks Founder s Day Joplin, MO Three days of events recently culminated in Founder s Day at McAuley Catholic High School, Joplin. Some of the highlights included Eucharistic Adoration with Bp. James V. Johnston; a faculty and student Quiz bowl; an 1800 s Wardrobe Day; and an Assembly of Appreciation honoring all who support Catholic education in the Joplin community. Fr. Simon Enudu, associate pastor of St. Peter the FOUNDER S DAY WEL- COME Students of McAuley Catholic High School prepped the halls for Founder s Day events honoring the roots of Catholic education in Joplin, MO. Three days of festivities included a visit by Bp. James V. Johnston on Fri., Oct. 3, and an Assembly of Appreciation honoring volunteers. (Submitted photo) Apostle Parish, Joplin, and Bp. Johnston led the students in prayer and meditation during Adoration Fri., Oct. 3. Bp. Johnston then had lunch with student leadership. A good discussion of topics ensued, including Catholic identity and leadership. These discussions continued with the student body later in the afternoon at the Assembly of Appreciation. While on campus, Bp. Johnston toured the school, noting the various improvements that had occurred before the launch of the 2014-15 academic term. At the Appreciation Assembly, volunteers were honored for the renovations BISHOP MEETS WITH STUDENT LEADERSHIP After Eucharistic Adoration with students in St. Peter the Apostle Church, Joplin, Bp. James Johnston had lunch with student leaders in McAuley Catholic High School. Topics discussed included discipleship, Catholic identity, and leadership. (Submitted photo) QUIZ BOWL A Quiz Bowl contest was held on Fri., Oct. 3, as part of the Founder s Day events for McAuley Catholic High School, Joplin. The bowl consisted of a Faculty Team, with honorary member B p. James Johnston, and a student team made up of student council representatives. Pictured were faculty team members: Mrs. Jane Fethers, Mrs. Ruth Atchley, Ms. Kaara Schrader, and B p. Johnston ; and student team members: Hagen Vogel, senior class p resident ; Pa trick Riscoe, j unior class president ; Monica Onstot, sophomore class p resident ; and Chloe Kenkel, freshmen class p resident. Questions to the teams referenced Mother Catherine McAuley, the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, and the roots of Catholic education in Joplin, MO. (Submitted photo) The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Born: September 28, 1778, Dublin, Republic of Ireland Died: November 11, 1841 that took place this summer throughout McAuley Catholic High School. Those recognized were from a variety of organizations, including the McAuley Booster Club and Alumni Association. Empire Electric Company was noted for its donations of furniture for the classrooms. Students, parents, faculty, and staff were distinguished for the work done to improve the classrooms and gymnasium by refurbishing tables and chairs, painting the floors, and replacing windows. The P.E. classes and Mass Media group worked together to remodel and clean the basement area. Volunteerism was also recognized in respect to technology added to the Joplin Area Catholic Schools System. The Quiz Bowl contest, also on Oct. 3, consisted of a faculty team with honorary member Bp. Johnston and a student team made up of student council representatives. Questions referenced Mother Catherine McAuley, The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, and the beginning of Catholic education in Joplin. Prizes were awarded for the various events held over three days: The costume award went to Chloe Kenkel, a freshman; the pancake eating contest winner was James Nguyen, a sophomore; the faculty won the Quiz Bowl, the trophy for which was enthusiastically given to Bp. Johnston. TM The Mirror: Newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau USPS Publication 117-330 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 65806-3143. Address all communications to 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143; Telephone (417) 866-0841; FAX (417) 866-1140; Email atoben@dioscg.org POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Mirror, 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143. 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. XLX No. 14 October 31, 2014 Single copy price, $0.50 Copyright 2014, The Mirror, CNS, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: www.dioscg.org
October 31, 2014 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mirror 5 Carthage St. Ann Parish will hold a Chili Supper on Thu., Nov. 13, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and 5-7 p.m. Cost: adults: $6.50; children: $3.50; carry-out orders, bulk chili and soup available. For more information, call (417) 358-4902; (417) 358-1841; or Email stannschurch@ sbcglobal.net, or visit www.stannscarthage.org. Chaffee St. Ambrose School Dinner/ Auction will be Sat., Nov. 8, in the VFW hall. Doors open/silent auction begins at 4 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m.; oral auction, 7 p.m. Tickets: $25/ person, includes smoked chicken, pork steak, and all the trimmings. For tickets, call (573) 318-5101. Monett St. Lawrence School will host Jogging for Jesus 5K Run/1Mile Walk, Sat., Dec. 13, 2 p.m., beginning at St. Lawrence Church. Registration: $20 before Dec. 1; $25 after; family rate: $65 (4 participants); $15/ person for additional family members. T-shirts guaranteed to those registering before Dec. 1. Event pick-up will begin Dec. 12, 5 p.m., St. Lawrence Parish Hall. For more information, Email bethluebbering@gmail.com, or call (417) 236-3969. Proceeds to benefit St. Lawrence School. Poplar Bluff Sacred Heart Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will host St. Ann Bazaar, Sat., Nov. 8, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in the parish center. There will be arts and crafts, sewing, white elephant, Marie s mystery booths, baked goods, including the Walz family bread, country store, homemade candy orders in time for Christmas, jewelry, and religious goods. Cape Girardeau Notre Dame Regional High School will present The 39 Steps, a comedy based on an Alfred Hitchcock thriller, Thu., Fri., Sat., Nov. 6, 7, and 8, in the high school Cafetorium. Tickets are available for $10/person, all seats. For more information, call (573) 335-6772. Breakfast and lunch served. Proceeds support charities, parish school, and altar and parish needs. For more information, contact Cassie Willey, (573) 429-1824, or Email cassie_ willey@att.net. Springfield The next Re-Marraige Preparation seminar for Regions 1-5 will be Sat., Nov 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., in The Pallotti Center at the Catholic Center, 601 S. Jefferson. Lunch will be provided. To register, call Katie Newton, Office of Family Ministries, (417) 866-0841. Springfield Holy Trinity Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will hold a Fall Bazaar, Sat., Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sun., Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in the church hall. The men s group will be serving donuts, coffee and juice, Sat. morning; smoked meats and sides by the Knights of Columbus for lunch on Saturday; spaghetti and meatballs, Saturday evening; and a K of C pancake breakfast Sunday morning. For more information, call the parish office at (417) 883-3440. Springfield The Sacred Heart Fund (FUN) Raising Committee in conjunction with the Midtown Victorian Home Tour, will hold a vendor/craft sale, with cookies by the pound, Fri., Dec. 5, 5-9 p.m., and Sat., Dec., 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. If you would like to participate as a vendor or crafter, contact Sue Frey at (417) 619-5308. Springfield Immaculate Conception Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will have a Holiday White Elephant/Bake Sale, with the bistro serving snacks, lunch, and drinks, Sat., Nov. 22, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sun., Nov. 23, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. For white elephant information, call Sandie DeFrank, (417) 300-1930, or Diane Hendley, (417) 889-1554; for bake sale information, call Noreen Penn, (417) 881-1234, or Karen Soetaert, (417) 887-7929. Springfield Sacred Heart Parish will host a Chili Cook-off, Sat., Nov. 1, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., in the parish hall. Attendees will be the judges. Admission: $7 for all the chili you can eat. For more information, contact Ellen Chindlund, (417) 860-8054. Springfield St. Joseph Parish Ladies Group will hold a Parish Bazaar/Bake Sale, Sat., Nov. 15, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the parish hall. For more information, contact Velma Wagner at (417) 742-7459, or (417) 742-3179. Springfield Prepare for the Season of Advent by participating in the Bible Belt Studies Online course beginning after Thanksgiving. For more information, contact S r. Frances Wessel, SSND, at fwessel@ssndcp.com. Springfield The Secular Franciscan group will meet Sat., Nov. 22, beginning with lunch at noon (optional), and then at 1 p.m. in the day chapel at Holy Trinity Parish. Contact for new people is Steve Moncher, stevemon cher@gmail.com, or call (417) 861-2109. Sixth Annual Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocesan Council, Friends of the Poor Walk Thank You! Donors, Walkers, and Sponsors More than $8,000 contributed for our mission to help those in need. Benefactors Patrons & Friends KHJM Schedule The next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations: Tue., Nov. 4 6-9 p.m.... Our Lady of the Cove Parish, Kimberling City Sun., Nov. 9 2-5 p.m.... Nativity of Our Lord, Noel (Spanish) Mon., Nov. 10 5-8 p.m.... Immaculate Conception Parish, New Madrid Mon., Nov. 10 6:30-9:30 p.m.... St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau Sat., Nov. 15 10 a.m.-1 p.m.... Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield Sun., Nov. 16 1-4 p.m.... Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson Sat., Dec. 6 10 a.m.-1 p.m.... St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau Tue., Jan. 6, 2015 12:30-3:30 p.m.... The Catholic Center, Springfield Sat., Jan. 10, 2015 10 a.m.-1 p.m.... St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau Wed., Jan. 14, 2015 6-9 p.m....mcauley High School, Joplin Mon., Jan. 26, 2015 5-8 p.m....our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson Mon., Feb. 2, 2015 5-8 p.m....notre Dame Regional High School,...Cape Girardeau 89.1 FM Catholic radio for Southeast Missouri From Jackson to the Bootheel KHJM 89.1 FM brings the heart of Catholic Radio to the area. Heart of Jesus and Mary radio Sun., Feb. 8, 2015 5-8 p.m....st. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield Mon., Mar. 16, 2015 5:30-8:30 p.m....our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson Wed., June 3, 2015 4-7 p.m....our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson Preregistration is necessary; go to www.virtus.org and click on registration on the left or call your parish/school office for assistance; or call Ken Pesek at The Catholic Center, (417) 866-0841; or Email 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 www.dioscg.org, or at www.virtus.org.
6 The Mirror October 31, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS Cherub garden dedicated at St. Eli By Jessica Sunnenberg On Oct. 1, 2014, parents, grandparents, famil ies, and friends, gathered to bless and consecrate the holy ground where the Cherub Garden is located at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Springfield, M O. The Cherub Garden was designed as a prayerful place of beauty, reflection, and honor in memory of babies and children who have preceded us in death. It is the hope of the community at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish that the garden lends support to all families who suffer from the loss of a child by providing a place to reflect and pray. Not only has the garden touched the lives of parishioners, but also to the larger community of Springfield and beyond. The Cherub Garden is located on the west side of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton s parish grounds. Concrete pavers display the names of some of the little saints who have been lost to this earth. T he se little ones who, though no longer with us in body, are forever with us in Spirit, said Msgr. Thomas Reidy, pastor, at the blessing and dedication. T hey will be the first to greet us when our own time in this beautiful and fragile earth is complete. T hose in attendance were lead by the Pasc al Candle from the sanctuary to the Cherub Garden for the dedication. John Deeken grew up in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish. Although he, his wife, Corey, and their son reside in St. Louis, Deeken still carries f ond memories of his Costume potluck held in Sacred Heart Parish, Caruthersville ATTENTION ALL GUYS & GHOULS Around 80 people attended a Halloween costume potluck dinner held Sun., Oct. 26, in Sacred Heart Parish, Caruthersville. Pictured were Mary Stutzman, Fr. Jaroslaw (Jarek) Skrzypek, pastor, Connie Whitener, Ella Brands, and Ron Stutzman. (Submitted photo) time at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Deekens lost their daughter, Genevieve Rose, in September, 2014. While reflecting on the paver that was laid in memory of their daughter, they shared that they believe it is such a beautiful way to remember Genevieve Rose with the dignity and respect that every life deserves. Monsignor Reidy blessed the pavers with Holy Water and all in attendance lit their candle from the Easter Paschal candle. Each candle was placed in the sanctuary during the Mass celebrating the dedication. All were invited after the Mass to take their candles home t o remember their loved one. Although Krista & Corey Thompson are not parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, friends had wanted their little girl, Kamry Ann, to be remembered in a special and meaningful way. Personalized pavers were laid in Kamry s memory. The Thompsons and members of their family have made several visits to the C herb G arden to pray and reflect on the impact Kamry has made on so many people. It has been a place of peace and comfort as we remember our daughter Kamry, who went to Heaven at nine days old, the family said. The peaceful garden is a place to be able to reflect on CHERUB GARDEN DEDICATED Msgr. Th cated the Cherub Garden at St. Elizabeth 2014. Located on the west side of the paris as a prayerful place of beauty, reflection, dren who have died. It is the hope that th God s beautiful creation of life no matter what stage the child was at. I am thankful for a place that is open to the public to be able to sit in prayer to remember our sweet little ones. For so many people not having a place to go to remember your child is a difficult thing and the Cherub Garden is a gift to all of us. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton welcomes anyone in the parish and beyond to participate in having a paver engraved and/or to utilize this garden of beauty and peace in honor and memory of God s precious blessings who are safely in the palm of His hands. I was privileged to witness the faith of these parents who have lost a child, Msgr. Reidy said. Along with them, I was moved by the prayer and ritual we shared. I trust this experience brought comfort to their hearts that grieve the loss of their child. TM
DIOCESAN NEWS October 31, 2014 The Mirror 7 zabeth Ann Seton Parish Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin Springfield The dedication of the Cherub Garden at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, was held Oct. 1, the Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin. Here is a portion of the Rite: omas Reidy, pastor, and parishioners dedi- Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, on Oct. 1, h grounds, the Cherub Garden was designed and honor in memory of babies and chile garden lends support to all families who suffer from the loss of a child by providing a place to reflect and pray. Concrete pavers display the names of some of the little saints who have been lost to this earth. After the dedication, Mass was celebrated and families were encouraged to light a candle in remembrance and to take their candles home to remember their loved one. (Photos by Anne Denton and Dean Curtis) Saints come alive in Oran parish Presider: We gather this night on the Memorial of St. Thérèse Lisieux also known as the Little Flower to remember to remember the little ones who God gifted to us for but a brief moment in time. We gather to remember that our God is a merciful God who will never forget us. And, we gather this night to bless and consecrate this holy ground a place for us to visit and remember, celebrate, and pray in the confidence that these little ones who, though no longer with us in body, are forever with us in Spirit. We live in the confidence that they will be among the very first to greet us when our own time in this beautiful and fragile earth is complete. Let us pray [Pause] Good and gracious God, move us in ways to deepen our love for you and all who grace our presence. Gather our hearts, minds, and voices as one in remembering the children the cherubs forever in our hearts and minds who have been called home to your embrace. In all of life s mysteries we seek to describe and know the indescribable: We yearn to know you and to bear you to others. Give us the words and deeds to make kindness, love, and understanding known to all. And, in these words that cannot possibly contain you, Hear the humanity that sings in whispers The love that we desire in the deepest yearnings of our own selves. Bless this Cherub Garden filled with the names of the innocent who, though taken from us too soon, live forever with you. Bless these innocents and make us fierce defenders of life, especially those who are most vulnerable Collect us to yourself as one this day ALL SAINTS EVENT In order to commemorate the annual celebration of All Saints Day on Nov. 1, the eighth grade class of Guardian Angel School, Oran, MO, presented a Saints Program in the church Wed., Oct. 29. Picture d were ( front row ) Miranda Menz as St. Gemma Galgani, Mollie LeGrand as St. Agnes of Rome, Allison Lynch as St. Frances of Rome, and Connor Overfield as St. Stephana ; ( back row ) Jackson Diebold as St. Tarcisius, Carter Dame as St. Eustachius, Samuel Gebhardt as St. Sebastian, and Thomas Crippen as St. Thomas Becket. Planned under the direction of religion teacher Michelle Priggel, each student researched a favorite saint, dressed like the saint, and presented research on the saint to the remainder of the student body, faculty, staff, parents, and grandparents. (Submitted photo) As we gather in this time and place to remember and celebrate cherubs whose names appear in this garden of peace, respite and contemplation. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ as we sing these names to you who love us beyond our understanding. Amen.
8 The Mirror October 31, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS Gorgeous Ozarks sun brings gold to 50th celebration By Joyce Arnold Forsyth, MO Our Lady of the Ozarks Catholic Church, Forsyth, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary on a sunny Sunday. A rededication and jubilee Mass was held Sept. 14, 2014. What began in 1964 as a mission church with 25 registered families has grown to a vibrant parish, home to 115 registered families. Attended by some 200- plus, the sunny Sunday s 10 a.m. Mass was celebrated by Bp. James V. Johnston, Jr. He was joined by Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht and others in attendance: Fr. Rick L. Jones, pastor; Fr. Joji Vincent, OSB, associate pastor of Our Lady of the Ozarks; Fr. William Hennecke, former associate pastor of Our Lady of the Ozarks (2007-2009); Fr. Phil Conlon, retired priest in residence; Fr. Mike McDevitt, rector of Springfield Catholic High School, who served as the first pastor of Our Lady of the Ozarks (1980-1982); and Deacon Daniel Vaughn. It was under the direction of Fr. Mark Ernstmann (pastor, 1989-2004), that property on Swan Valley Drive, Forsyth, was purchased. The present church s construction began in May 2002. The dedication of the new building was on Feb. 26, 2003, and according to parishioners it was a dream come true. Highlights of the golden jubilee celebration were pictures taken outdoors of parishioners, the mood of which was enhanced by a singing procession that took place around the exterior of the church building. Afterward, attendees enjoyed a delicious catered dinner that was served in the Marian Parish Hall. Our Lady of the Ozarks is one of two Catholic churches in Taney County, the other being Our Lady of the Lake, Branson. TM MASS OF THANKSGIVING Bp. James V. Johnston was the main celebrant of the jubilee Mass marking the golden anniversary of Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish, Forsyth, MO. Pictured on the altar with Bp. Johnston were Deacon Daniel Vaughn, Fr. William Hennecke, Fr. Mike McDevitt (partially obscured), Fr. Rick Jones, pastor, Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht, and Fr. Phil Conlon, retired. Held Sun., Sept. 14, the jubilee was attended by over 200 people. (Photo by Joyce Arnold) OUTDOOR PROCESSION An outdoor procession around the Our Lady of the Ozarks Church on the occasion of its 50th anniverary was enhanced by the beautiful weather and song. Founded in 1964 as a mission church, Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish is home to 115 registered families. (Photo by Joyce Arnold) REDEDICATION AND RECEPTION A catered meal was enjoyed by parishioners and guests after the 50th jubilee Mass and rededication held Sept. 14 marking the golden anniversary of Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish and its rich spiritual history in Forsyth, MO. (Photo by Joyce Arnold)
October 31, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS The Mirror 9 Young adult retreat affirms gift of womanhood Belleview, IL Inner beauty is the best part of being a girl. Anonymous Twenty-one high school junior and senior ladies from Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau, recently attended the Capture My Heart women s retreat. Held Oct. 6-8, 2014, the retreat is based on the format from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH: Song of Songs 7:10 I am my Beloved s and His desire is for me forms its heart. Every talk, every activity, even the structure itself, has been purposefully designed to lead up to the most intimate relationship that God desires to have with each one of his creatures. The retreat was led by Meg Garner, Geri LeGrand, Marissa Huff, and Christine Ostendorf. Also present were Fr. John Harth, pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, families, find the resources they need to achieve greater independence and a fuller life; Assists military BELOVED OF GOD The Capture My Heart women s retreat was attended by 21 high school juniors and seniors from Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau. Jackson; Fr. Michael Casteel, pastor, St. Denis Parish, Benton, and St. Lawrence Parish, New Hamburg; and the Rev. Mr. Joe Kelly, currently ministering as a deacon in St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, until completing his seminary studies. Designed to be a celebration of women by affirming their dignity and femininity, (Photo by Deacon Joe Kelly) the focus of this retreat remains on the truth of who women are, of who God has created them to be, and on helping women understand their femininity as a beautiful gift which they are called to share with the world. The retreat provided an opportunity for God to show each woman how much He loves her, intimately and personally. Talks were given on what it means to be a woman in the eyes of God, on the Father s love, on true beauty, on how much our Lord desires a real relationship with us, on Mary as the Crown of Creation, as well as how to call young men to holiness. The retreat included Mass, reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration. Open community-wide to all females who are high school juniors and seniors, regardless of school affiliation, the young women represented at the retreat attend Immaculate Conception Parish, Jackson; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau; St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Cape Girardeau; Sacred Heart Parish, Poplar Bluff; St. Joseph Parish, Scott City; and St. Henry Parish, Charleston. TM Catholic Charities and YOU Helping our neighbors in need From Page 1 veterans and their families who are homeless or on the brink of homelessness to achieve housing and financial stability; Repairs and rebuilds homes for survivors of natural disasters and low-income seniors; Unites at-risk rural youth with adult mentors to guide them in making better decisions for their futures; Supplies support and guidance to young women facing an unplanned pregnancy through our Healthy Moms/Healthy Babies program; Provides professional counseling for those struggling with depression, family stress, and other life challenges; And, so much more. Please partner with Catholic Charities in Southern Missouri in reaching out, providing hope, and changing lives: Donate generously to the second collection on Nov. 22 and 23. Pray, too, for those who are served by CCSOMO. For more information on Catholic Charities, log on to www.cc somo.org. TM Jersak is Director of Communications and Development for Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. Springfield/Main Office 424 E. Monastery St. Springfield, MO 65807 (417) 720-4213 Cape Girardeau 937 Broadway, Ste. 304/PO Box 760 Cape Girardeau, MO 63702 (573) 335-0134 Cape Girardeau 1812 Carondalet Suite 106 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (573) 335-0905 Joplin 403 East 4th Street, Joplin, MO 64801 (417) 624-3790 Joplin GoodFinds Resale Store 706 S. Main St. Joplin, MO 64801 (417) 623-2200 Sikeston 205 W. Malone, Ste./PO Box 662 Sikeston, MO 63801 (573) 481-0659 Van Buren 504 Ash St./PO Box 681 Van Buren, MO 63965 (573) 323-4044
10 The Mirror October 31, 2014 DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING Safe Environment Review Board QUARTERLY MEETING Members of the diocesan Safe Environment Review Board recently met to review policies, procedures, and best practices ensuring a safe environment for all youth. Pictured were (front) Mary Stone, St. John the Baptist Mission Church, Licking; Carol Strattman, St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau; (back) Joan Burke-Kelly, St. Agnes Cathedral Parish; Fr. J. Friedel, pastor, St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Joplin, and diocesan Director of Vocations/ Seminarians; Bill Holtmeyer, Victim Assistance Coordinator; and Judy St. John, Victim Assistance Coordinator. Not pictured were John Layton, Chair, Safe Environment Review Board, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau; and Maura Taylor, Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield. The board and Victims Assistance Coordinators meet quarterly and assess the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau s continued adherence to the US Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Bp. James V. Johnston is a member of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Child and Youth Protection. (Photo by Karen Pesek) Math teacher earns Chamber honor Cape Girardeau, MO The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce announced its 2014 Educators of the Year on Oct. 21, 2014. Among the five recipients was Mathematics teacher, Lenny Kuper, Notre Dame Regional High School. The five outstanding educators were honored at the Educator Appreciation Reception on Tue., Oct. 21 at the Show Me Center Arena in Cape Girardeau, MO. The honorees received the prestigious Crystal Apple Award, a $500 check, resolutions of honor from the Missouri Legislature, and a commemorative video at the reception. This is the 21st year the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce has bestowed the Educator Lenny Kuper of the Year Awards to well deserving educators from the area. The selection process opened for nominations in late April, nominees submitted applications in July, and then a selection committee, made up of volunteers from the Cape Chamber membership, made final review and selection of the honorees. The Educator of the Year Award is very significant to receive, said Angie Umfleet of the Educator of the Year Selection Committee. She added, This is an award the business community selects and honors the hard work and dedication of educators in our community. On behalf of the members of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce we would like to thank all area educators for their service in educating our future workforce. TM Columbia Construction Co. PO Box 1332 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (573) 335-6443 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) 862-4433 www.hhlohmeyer.com PARTS l SALES l SERVICE 2979 Boutin Dr., Route W Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (573) 334-5856 l TA s l Water Pumps l Clutches l F r o n t E n d P a r t s l Pressure Plates for all makes l PTO Shafts l IH Salvage l Hitch Parts HOURS: Tuesday thru Friday 9:30-5:30 Saturday til 2pm - Closed Sunday & Monday 210-J West Sunshine Springfield, MO 65807 417.831.4630 Toll-free: 1-800-365-5170 Email: catholicbookstore@sbcglobal.net www.desalescatholicbookstore.com 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 65804 (417) 886-9994 fax (417) 886-9996, gormanscharpf@mchsi.com
October 31, 2014 NATIONAL NEWS/ADVERTISING The Mirror 11 Want to prevent threats like ISIS? Religious freedom key Washington DC Promoting religious freedom abroad is vital for US national security interests in preventing the rise of threats such as ISIS, said the chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Many of our most dire national security threats are founded and have their origins in countries, in regions, societies, that fail to provide this most fundamental human protection, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett said on Oct. 27, International Religious Freedom Day. The day marked the 16th anniversary of the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The commission, created by the act, is an independent, bi-partisan advisory group that monitors religious freedom around the world and makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. With a world in flames, it is imperative now more than ever for the US to encourage and nudge and push allies and adversaries alike to promote religious freedom, Dr. Swett emphasized. If you take a look at where our greatest national security threats derive from, nine times out of 10 you ll also find a place that does a terrible job protecting religious freedom for its citizens, she argued. All we have to do is look around the Middle East with what s going on with ISIS to recognize that when society fails to secure this fundamental human right of freedom of conscience and belief for all their citizens, it can give rise to extremism, which can breed violence and terror of the sort that we re seeing in too many regions of the world. On the contrary, societies that protect religious freedom are more tolerant, more peaceful. Interestingly, they are more economically successful and vibrant, she said, citing social science evidence. In its foreign policy, the US should make religious freedom a priority at every level of government, Dr. Swett insisted in Congress, the State Department, and the Dr. Lantos Swett White House. We benefit greatly from having top leadership at every level, not only making sure religious freedom has a seat at the table when our foreign policy is being hammered out and being discussed and being debated, but also it would benefit it greatly to have our top leadership, from the President and the Vice President and Secretary Kerry, and our top leadership in Congress, putting this at the top of their agenda in their dealings with foreign leaders, in their travels abroad. Dr. Swett made two other recommendations Congress must re-authorize the International Religious Freedom Act and the Senate should approve the Obama administration s nomination of Rabbi David Saperstein to be the Ambassador at-large for International Religious Freedom. Men attend White House Retreat Oct. 23-26 The ambassador position has been vacant for the majority of Pres. Obama s time in office. It was empty from the time that Obama took office at the start of 2009 until June 15, 2010, when the president tapped Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook for the job. She was not approved by the Senate until April 2011. After Dr. Cook resigned the position in October 2013, the administration did not nominate a candidate until July 28, 2014, when Rabbi David Saperstein was named for the position. Rabbi Saperstein s nomination has received a mixed response. The Senate has yet to confirm him. CNA JESUIT RETREAT A group of 21 men from the Cape Girardeau area attended a retreat Oct. 23-26 at the Jesuit White House in south St. Louis. Pictured were (first row) Ron Kirby, Stan Irwin, Gary Welter, Jim Riley, Rick Winschel, Jim Govreau, and Morrell Diebold; (second row) John Tiffany, Greg Connor, Mark Loos, Gene Beussink, David Diebold, Brad Diebold, Joe Struckenschneider; (in back), Robert Basler, Randy Herbst, David LeGrand, Josh LeGrand, Charles Grojean and Jerry Drury. (Submitted photo) C O N T E M P L A T I V E MONK Trappist Cistercian A small self-supporting community in the Ozark foothills of Missouri. Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056, Ava, MO 65608 (417) 683-5110 www.assumptionabbey.org assumptionabbey@usa.net
12 The Mirror October 31, 2014 ADULT FAITH Living joy with Pope Francis Trio of lessons from The Gospel of Joy By Jennifer Manning Pope Francis is a master teacher for today s world. On Twitter, he has a knack for summing up sagacious teachings in 140 characters or less, he organizes the main ideas of his homilies and teachings in groups of three to make them easy to follow and to remember, and he gets the attention of his students by living Christ s message in an exceedingly radical way. Who better to look to, then, as a model for effectively teaching the Catholic faith? I ve spent the last few days poring over Evangelii Gaudium ( The Joy of the Gospel ), and frankly I have been overwhelmed by the magnitude of this apostolic exhortation. As someone who teaches about the Church and the Gospels and morality for a living, I felt incredibly humbled and challenged by The Joy of the Gospel. I decided to take a page out of the Pope s playbook and to try to summarize three key lessons about teaching that I gleaned from The Joy of the Gospel. Lesson #1: Be a joyful messenger As for the moral component of catechesis, which promotes growth in fidelity to the Gospel way of life, it is helpful to stress again and again the attractiveness and the ideal of a life of wisdom, self-fulfillment, and enrichment. In the light of that positive message, our rejection of the evils which endanger that life can be better understood. Rather than experts in dire predictions, dour judges bent on rooting out every threat and deviation, we should appear as joyful messengers of challenging proposals, guardians of the goodness and beauty which shine forth in a life of fidelity to the Gospel. (168, emphasis added) As I read this paragraph, the phrase joyful messenger played repeatedly in my mind. On a good day, I am a messenger, but honestly, am I always a joyful one? Am I a joyful messenger? Admittedly, mainstream culture makes it difficult to pitch the Catholic lifestyle as an attractive one. Don t get me wrong, I love being Catholic, but the Catholic faith is so radically countercultural that at times even my own family members look at me like I m crazy. There are many days when I feel discouraged and rundown by the struggle for religious liberty, the seeming complacency with regard to respect for human life and human dignity, and stories of horrific poverty and war. Some days I find myself explaining a particular teaching or doctrine almost reluctantly, apologetically. In spite of it all, how am I called to be a joyful messenger of the Gospel? I can be a joyful messenger by acknowledging that the Gospel is challenging. Christ s teachings call me beyond myself, beyond my own notions of good and evil, of right and wrong. I can acknowledge, with my students, that the Gospel is challenging and that we are all on a path to understanding. I can remind them of Tom Hanks s character in the movie A League of their Own: It s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it. I don t know that Catholic moral teaching is supposed to be hard. I m sure it wasn t intended to be. But the reality is, living the Gospel can be an incredible challenge. So often I wish that I could sugarcoat the message, explain that there are exceptions to every rule. But most days I like that as a teacher of Catholic morality, I m not in control of the message I am responsible for the delivery. Which brings me to Lesson #2: Lesson #2: Jesus Christ loves you Lest I ever lose sight of what my job as a catechist is truly, Pope Francis is clear: On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen, and free you. it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment. (164, emphasis added) That, right there, is the lesson above all other lessons. Card. Timothy Dolan remarked recently, If they fall in love with Jesus and the Church, then we The Catholic faith is so radically countercultural that even my own family members look at me like I m crazy. can begin to do a lot of the conversion and the tough moral teaching. The point is not that the moral teachings are not important they are it s just that the primary message is necessarily Christ s love for us. Is that not the beauty of Catholicism? That God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rm 5:8)? If we know and are assured of the fact that Christ loves us even in our sinfulness, we can begin to trust in his commandments, in his teachings, in his will for us. If my students leave my classroom and cannot quote the Catechism, but they are assured that Jesus loves them and is with them in every moment and in every struggle, then I have done my job. The Holy Spirit will take it from there. Lesson #3: Live the joy of the Gospel Proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to follow him is not only something right and true, but also something beautiful, capable of filling life with new splendor and profound joy, even in the midst of difficulties. (167, emphasis added) This reminds me of the adage You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips. Somehow, the job of a catechist is to convey that to follow Christ, to obey Christ s teachings, will lead one to a profound joy, even in the midst of great difficulties. The only means to effectively do this is to live one s own life in the joy of Christ. Pope Francis himself is a paragon of the joy that can come only from a radical love for Christ. Many are captivated by his antics taking the very first papal selfie with a group of teens, posing with a newlywed couple wearing a clown nose to raise awareness for a charity, and casually continuing with his address while a young boy clung to his leg in St. Peter s Square. Pope Francis has caught the world off guard with his joy and his authenticity. He guides the faithful to the truth that Christ is the true Master teacher. It is imperative that we remember that living the Gospel with joy is more important than teaching the Gospel. CNA Manning is a Catholic schoolteacher in Massachusetts and a volunteer with Catholic Voices USA.