The Mirr rVol. XLX, No. 18 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI December 26, 2014

One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus

567The Kingdom of heaven was inaugurated on earth

by Christ. “This kingdom shone out before men in the word, in the works, and in the presence of Christ”

(LG 5). The Church is the seed and beginning of this kingdom. Her keys are entrusted to Peter.

The Catechism in brief

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.

Christ is the bridge

CHRISTMAS

The next issue of The Mirror will be Jan. 9, 2015.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.

See Epiphany / 7

By Daniel Mulhall

After celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, Christians celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, often referred to

as the “feast of the three kings.” In the United States, the celebration of the Epiphany has been moved to the second Sunday following Christmas so that people can more easily partici-pate in the feast.

The word epiphany comes from the ancient Greek and means “mani-festation.” Typically the word is used to express what we would call an “aha” moment, when we suddenly become aware of the meaning of something that has been right before our eyes but couldn’t recognize; when the light dawns upon us and then we finally understand. So why is the word “epiphany” used to describe this important feast and how do Wise Men from afar become a manifestation?

To understand the importance of Epiphany it helps to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, to highlight what we know from the cus-toms and traditions that have devel-oped over the last 2,000 years.

First, everything we know about the Wise Men can be found in the first 12 verses of the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel account calls them Magi, men who were scholars of ancient wisdom and astrology. They followed the star to Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, searching for the new king of the Jews.

Notes in the New American Bible explain that people at this time be-lieved that a star would appear in the heavens when a new king was born. In Jerusalem they met King Herod, who then sent them to Bethlehem

The spirit of Epiphany

CHRIST THE LORD—The adoration of the Magi is depicted in a painting in the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The arrival of the Magi helps us to have that “aha” moment and to realize that in Jesus we are seeing the fulfillment of God’s promise to all of humanity to save us from ourselves. (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

where they found Jesus: “On enter-ing the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankin-cense, and myrrh” (Mt 2:11).

That’s it. We don’t know their names, how many there were, where they came from or where they went after they visited the Holy Family. However, that didn’t stop early Chris-tians from giving them names—tradi-tionally Melchior, from Persia, Caspar (or Gaspar), from India and Balthazar, from Arabia. Many stories have been told about the Wise Men, but none

can be substantiated.Surprisingly, the myths and

legends of the Wise Men provide us a clue as to the meaning of the story in Matthew and why the Church has designated this day as such an impor-tant feast. In Luke’s Gospel, the ac-count the birth of Jesus is announced first to the Jewish people, particularly to the poor shepherds in the field. In Matthew, the Wise Men are the first to recognize Jesus as a great king.

Matthew, who was writing to a Jewish/Christian audience, here makes the point that from the

At Christmas we’re re-minded that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

But it’s often difficult to know exactly how to interpret that, or to understand why Jesus became “flesh.” Why did he have to come and live among imperfect human beings?

Pope Francis offered an answer during a January 2014 homily at Santa Marta residence. When Jesus “became flesh,” he be-came a bridge between humanity and the divine. He is the bridge that takes us toward love, Pope Francis said. He does this, not by being attached to rules and laws, like the Pharisees, but by follow-ing and blazing a path of love and justice toward Christ, Pope Francis said.

“Jesus draws close to us: his closeness is the real proof that we are proceeding along the true path. That’s because it’s the path which God has chosen to save us: through his closeness. He draws close to us and was made man. His flesh, the flesh of God is the sign; God’s flesh is the sign of true justice. God was made man like one of us and we must make ourselves like the others, like the needy, like those who need our help.” ©CNS

HUMAN AND DIVINE—Two Iraqi boys hold candles as they pray for peace in Iraq and Syria dur-ing Mass in a Chaldean Catholic church in Amman, Jordan. The Christmas season is a liturgical season that begins on Christmas and ends with the feast Baptism of the Lord. (CNS photo/Ali Jarekji, Reuters)

2 The Mirror December 26, 2014COLUMNS

Only laws from God indicate whether something is right or wrongWhat is the natural law?

Catholics always have taught there are two sources of divine revelation—Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradi-

tion. If there was a third, it would be the natural law.

Natural law isn’t a code of statutes specifying what should and shouldn’t be done. It underlies (or should underlie) every law, for it’s the manifestation of the mind of God. He made everything for a reason, and that purposefulness leads to the order and harmony of the universe. It acknowledges that God created everything according to His plan and the universe functions best when it acts in accord with it. So, knowledge of the natural law helps us to under-stand God.

A sixth-grader was asked on a science test, “Why is phosphorous trichloride polar?” She answered, “Be-cause God made it that way.” That’s pretty much what natural law is:

things being the way they are because God made them so.

The laws of nature, i.e., of sci-ence and mathematics, that govern the physical world are hard to dis-cern, but we’ve come a long way. Through the work of Euclid, New-ton, Einstein, and countless others, we’ve pushed back the frontiers of awareness of these things. But when we speak of the “natural law,” we’re usually talking about the moral law, which, just like the laws of nature, also are discerned rather than de-cided. In other words, nobody voted on the temperature at which water should boil; we just sat back and observed, patiently and humbly, al-lowing nature to teach us. So, too, with the moral law. We try to figure out what’s right and wrong as God

determines and then craft our laws accordingly.

Behind natural law is the idea that things are right because they’re right and wrong because they’re wrong, as God defines it. Natural law exists in counterdistinction to “posi-tive law.” Natural law is God-given, and concerns itself with principles of right and wrong. On the other hand, positive law is man-made and con-cerns itself with the statutes that are enforced by the police and the courts.

Whereas natural law says that a thing is wrong because it’s wrong, positive law says that a thing is wrong because 51 percent of the legislature or judges thinks it’s wrong. The Deca-logue (i.e., the Ten Commandments) is perhaps the best example of the natural law. Every society and culture has enacted its decrees in one form or another, recognizing the divine wis-dom inherent in them. In a perfect world, positive law would be based on natural law, and so things that are wrong would be made illegal, good things never would be illegal, and the common and good order of society would be promoted. Sadly, our world

is far from perfect.A tyrant abuses his power by dis-

regarding the natural law through the unjust positive laws he imposes upon the people he tyrannizes. There have been many examples of such tyrants arrogantly abusing their power in the sordid story that is our recent his-tory: the death camps operated by the Nazis and Communists, the legaliza-tion of abortion by our own Supreme Court in 1973, and now that same court is redefining marriage, actually decreeing that it’s possible for some-one to “marry” another of the same sex.

They clearly had the power to inflict these evils upon us, but they didn’t have the authority. These things are wrong and always will be wrong. No human court or legislature can ever make them otherwise. We can’t change natural law because we didn’t make it; God did. Only a self-absorbed and self-deluded fool thinks he can. ©SLR

Msgr. Mitas is pastor of St. Angela Merici Parish in Florissant, MO. Reprinted with permission of the St. Louis Review.

DEARFATHERMsgr. Matthew Mitas

GUESTCOLUMNSr. Constance Viet, LSP

Waking up the world through humble service

This year Pope Francis has asked consecrated persons to “wake up the world” with their “prophetic and countercurrent

witness.” This might sound like a tall order—but religious life is, by its very nature, countercultural. For us Little Sisters of the Poor, giving the kind of witness our Holy Father is calling for means being faithful to the spirit of our foundress.

St. Jeanne Jugan lived her voca-tion without illusions: “Call me now the humble servant of the poor,” she told an old friend soon after she began welcoming the needy elderly into her home. Humility and servanthood—I can’t imagine two more countercul-tural values! Even Christ’s first disciples squabbled about who was the greatest among them!

Today radi-cal feminism and a secularized culture make the concept of humble service somewhat incom-prehensible. Taking the last place, letting others have the credit for a job well-done, or putting the needs of others before one’s own—such acts are seen as servile, demeaning, even unhealthy. A young woman in discernment once told me, “I really like your community, except for the

humility thing.” I’ve had plenty of chances to tease her about this over the years, because she did, in fact, become a Little Sister of the Poor!

On the other hand, a fellow religious recently voiced her concern that if we see ourselves as bending

down to serve others (as Pope Francis asks us), we risk

getting caught in an attitude of conde-scension toward those less fortunate. The antidote to this

temptation is simple: When we accept the yoke of service in

imitation of Christ, who was gentle and

humble of heart, we can-not be vain. Christ teaches us that servanthood is the greatest demonstra-tion of love—not pride.

Before he gave his life for his friends, Jesus washed their feet and told them, “I have given you an example. As I have done for you, so you must

do.” These words are for Christians of all ages, but none more so than those in religious life. “If, on the one hand, the consecrated life contemplates the sublime mystery of the Word in the bosom of the Father (cf. Jn 1:1),” St. John Paul II once wrote, “on the other hand it follows the Word who became flesh (cf. Jn 1:14), lowering himself, humbling himself in order to serve others” (“Vita Con-secrata,” n. 75).

In his words and gestures, Pope Francis gives the world a powerful wit-ness of what it means to be a humble servant. His bending low has nothing to do with condescension and everything to do with love: “As living icons of the motherhood and of the closeness of the Church, we go out to those who are waiting for the Word of consolation,” he said to consecrated persons, “and we bend down with motherly love and fatherly spirit towards the poor and the weak.”

Writing to the whole Church in The Joy of the Gospel, our Pope Francis articulated a beautiful vision: “True love is always contemplative, and permits us to serve the other not out of necessity or vanity, but rather because he or she is beautiful above

and beyond mere appearances: ‘The love by which we find the other pleas-ing leads us to offer him something freely.’ The poor person, when loved, ‘is esteemed as of great value,’ and this is what makes the authentic option for the poor differ from any other ideol-ogy, from any attempt to exploit the poor for one’s own personal or political

interest … Only this will en-sure that ‘in every Christian community the poor feel at home. …’ ” (E. G. n. 199).

Making the poor feel at home—I find my foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan, in these words of Pope Francis. I also sense in them the counter-cultural witness we Little Sis-ters of the Poor are called to offer the world during this Year of Consecrated Life. We have received a priceless gift in the charism of Saint

Jeanne Jugan and the call to follow her, but at the same time we know that without God’s grace we can do noth-ing. Please pray for all consecrated religious, that we will live our charism authentically and offer the world a pro-phetic witness of God’s merciful love. ©TM

Sr. Constance Veit is director of com-munications for the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Christ teaches us that servanthood is the greatest demonstration of love.

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 3COLUMNS

Christmas, the gift of the baby

world. The baby that is the Son of God is truth, goodness, and beauty. This baby is an extraordinary sign for humanity.

Faith, hope, and loveIn a recent article, the reli-

gion writer Terry Mattingly used an interesting phrase, saying, “babies are statements of faith.” One could add that they are also statements of hope and love. Babies are expres-sions of the faith of the parents who believe in both God’s promises and their own marriage promises in order to give themselves without reserva-tion to one another. Jesus, the baby, is God’s gift without reservation to a world lost in darkness; a gift that would culminate on the cross.

Babies are signs of hope—literal-ly. Modern secular nations are dying because they are not having children. The United States recently was added to this list, no longer having enough children to sustain the current popu-lation (the only reason we don’t see this more drastically is because of immigration). A people without hope simply live for today and for them-selves. A people with hope for the future, who are confident in God’s promises, have babies. At Christmas, God revealed to us the reason for our hope: he came to us as a baby.

Babies are signs of love. They are the “word made flesh” of the par-ents’ word of promise, made in vows,

ON THE WAY

Bp. James V. Johnston

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” —Jn 1:4-5

As we celebrate with joy the Solemnity of Christmas this week, we should not lose our amazement at this beauti-

ful, saving action of God. To some extent, I suspect, we are all prone to be overrun with the distractions and hype of the modern machine that is “the holidays.” Don’t worry, I am not a Grinch. I like the best part of the “Christmas culture” too: the tradi-tions, music, and beautiful decora-tions, and the gatherings of family and friends. My hope is that in the midst of all of this, we are all still able to be filled with wonder and awe at what God has done for us.

Christmas is beautiful. It is beautiful because we realize that God has drawn near. He makes a surpris-ing first impression, revealing his face as a baby! Yes, a baby. Talk about meek and humble of heart. God disarms us. He comes not in power, but in innocence and human weak-ness; total dependency. The baby is powerful, but not in the ways of the

Thu., Jan. 1 Seek 2015 FOCUS Missionaries Conference, Nashville, TN

Fri., Jan. 2 Diocesan Seminarians & Family Gathering, Van Buren, MO

Mon., Jan. 5- Region IX Bishops Retreat,Mon., Jan. 12 Prince of Peace Abbey, San

Diego, CA

Public calendar

to give themselves to one another without reservation. Jesus Christ is “the Word” that “became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14) as the greatest expression of love that God could make for the human race.

So, as you enjoy the sensory pleasures of Christmas, be sure to pause in prayer and silence and con-sider what God has done in sending Jesus to us, first as a baby, born of Mary. Be amazed. Be grateful. ©TM

CONGREGATION OF MOTHER COREDEMPTRIX—Bp. James V. Johnston host-ed a Christmas visit of members with the Congregation of the Mother Core-demptrix (US Assumption Province) at his residence on Mon., Dec. 22. The religious community is headquartered in Carthage, MO. (Photo by Margaret Bishop)

CONGREGATION OF MARY, QUEEN—Women of the Congregation of Mary, Queen, had their Christmas visit with Bp. James V. Johnston at his residence on Fri., Dec. 19. The religious community is just south of The Catholic Center in Springfield. (Photo by Margaret Bishop)

4 The Mirror December 26, 2014

The Mirror: Newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau USPS Publication 117-330 Publisher: Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. Editor: Leslie A. EidsonProduction: 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. 17 December 26, 2014 Single copy price, $0.50

Copyright © 2014, The Mirror, CNS, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: www.dioscg.org

DIOCESAN NEWS/REVIEW

In the US, five million people have Alzheimer’s and the number is growing as there is no cure and longevity increases.

Much of the readabil-ity comes from O’Brien’s highly-skilled descriptive writing, a craft he developed over decades as a journalist, nonfiction author, and head of his own communications company. The “Pluto” of the title comes from a phrase he used as a journalist when go-ing deep off-the-record with a news source. He would say: “We’re heading out to Pluto where no one can see you or hear what is said.”

When diagnosed, O’Brien was no stranger to Alzheimer’s. His mother was already suffering from it and his maternal grandfather had it. In addition, his father was afflicted with a non-Alzheim-er’s dementia. In paragraphs filled with pathos, O’Brien describes how he witnessed

On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s By Greg O’Brien Codfish Press (Brewster, MA)

A book about a man’s agonizing descent into Alzheimer’s disease could easily

be steeped in negativity.Yet in On Pluto, Greg

O’Brien has poignantly chronicled a tragedy happen-ing. It’s sad and joyful; de-pressing and uplifting; tragic and touching. O’Brien clearly expresses his rage—often using the “F-word”—at the dripping away of his brain’s power and memory, but he still has enough left to recall the good things in his life.

Tucked into O’Brien’s narrative is a subtle, nonpo-lemical account of how faith nurtured in a large Irish-American Catholic family has helped three genera-tions solidify to cope with the dementia in some of its

members. “We’ve got your back,” the younger genera-tion often tells the elders.

O’Brien was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s when he was 61 and wrote the book while his memory still functioned, even if in slow-motion. He combines

factual information about Alzheimer’s with his practi-cal experiences of living with the disease.

“My brain was once a file cabinet, carefully ar-ranged in categories, but at night as I sleep, it’s as if someone has ransacked the files, dumping everything unto a cluttered floor,” he writes.

Once, in horror, O’Brien finds himself driving his car not knowing where he is, only to eventually figure out that instead of heading to his current home in Connecti-cut, he was heading toward his boyhood home in Rye, NY.

The book should be on the reading list of people with early-onset Alzheimer’s, their relatives and friends, and caregivers interested in an inside look as to what is going on inside a brain with decaying cells. But it also has value for a wider audience.

his mother’s brain complete-ly succumb to Alzheimer’s while they were both sitting next to his father, bleeding in a wheelchair in an emer-gency room waiting to be attended.

Also in his mind though are touching anec-dotes such as the first kiss shared with the woman who would become his wife while her overprotective brother was sleeping in another room.

But O’Brien can still look to the future with hope, the possibility that his mother is waiting on Pluto and beyond because memory isn’t all it’s cracked up to be: “While memory offers delineating context and perspective, it doesn’t define us. Definition is found in the spirit, in the soul, but one must dig for it.” ©CNS

Bono is a retired CNS staff writer.

Poignant first-person look at Alzheimer’sBook Review

Reviewed by Agostino Bono

Bishop Leibrecht celebrates 30th Episcopal anniversaryCarthage, MO

Retired Bp. Emeritus John J. Leibrecht celebrated his 30th anniversary of ordination as a bishop on Dec. 12. It wasn’t a quiet celebration, how-ever, as he joined several hundred parishioners

and Bp. James V. Johnston in St. Ann Church, Carthage,

for the annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.Ordained a priest in 1956 for the Archdiocese of

St. Louis, Bp. Leibrecht was ordained the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on Dec. 12, 1984, in Immaculate Conception Church, Spring-field. He served as Bishop until January of 2008 when his retirement was accepted by then-Pope Benedict

XVI and James V. Johnston, Jr., was named Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Even though officially “retired,” Bp. Leibrecht happily con-tinues to serve the diocese, presiding at Mass in parish-es as needed, leading retreats and days of reflections, and other events.

Happy Anniversary Bp. Leibrecht! ©TM

GREETING PARISHIONERS—Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht greeted parishioners after Mass Dec. 12 in St. Ann Church, Carthage. Bp. Leibrecht marked his 30th episcopal anniversary on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Bruce Stidham)

BLESSING—Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht blessed a baby after Mass Dec. 12 in St. Ann Church, Car-thage. Bp. Leibrecht marked his 30th episcopal an-niversary on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Bruce Stidham)

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 5DIOCESAN NEWS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Diocese/Southern Missouri—Calling all high school students!: Applications are now being taken for a diocesan summertime mission trip to Winnebago, NE, July 5-11. This mis-sion experience will offer teens and chaperones a week of growing in faith, prayer, and serving those in need. $50 will hold your place. Total trip cost is $390/participant. All high school youth in the diocese are invited to participate; adults are also needed to chaperone. For more information, contact Annette Peterson, peter-sonjoplin@cableone.net, or (417) 540-8614.

Diocese/Southern Missouri—The 42nd annual March for Life in Washington, DC, will be held Jan. 20-24. VOICE FOR LIFE invites you to join the many adults and youth from across the nation for an amazing pro-life pilgrimage . Buses depart from Springfield on Tue., Jan. 20, and travel to Cape Girardeau then to Washington DC. Pilgrims will stay overnight and participate in the March for Life on Thu., Jan. 22, Buses will return to the diocese on Fri., Jan. 23. The cost is $225 per person, includes travel, overnight stay, three meals, and a concert. VIRTUS training is required for all adults (18 and over). Call or Email for dates/location of classes. If you would like to attend, sponsor someone, or donate, for more details/information contact Kathleen Keesee, cell phone: (573) 986-3320 or Email at:kkeesee@charter.net; contact in the Springfield area: Carl Schimek, (417) 725-9444 (message) or Email: carl725@aol.com.

Belleville, IL—The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will hold its second annual “New Year, New You” event, Sat., Jan. 3, 2015, 10 a.m. Vendors of all sorts will be on-hand with products and ideas to help you kick-start the new year and all those New Year resolutions. Informative, fun, presentations throughout the day. For schedule of presentations, visit www.wayoflights.org. No charge for admission to the market area. For more information, call (618) 394-6700, or (314) 241-3400.

Belleville, IL—The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will host “Reflections on the Book of Job,” Sun., Jan. 11, 1:30-4 p.m. Join Rori Picker Neiss Maharat from Bais Abraham Congregation and Mark Etling, PhD, Affili-ate Theology Teacher at St. Louis University, as they take a look at this book of the Bible through both Jewish and Christian perspec-tives. Fee: $10. Pre-registration required. For more information, contact the Shrine at (618) 397-6700, ext. 6270; or (314) 241-3400, ext. 6270. Register Online at snows.org/programs.

New Hamburg—St. Joseph Sodality will host a breakfast, Sun., Jan. 11, 7-11:30 a.m., in the parish center. Menu will be homemade sausage, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs,

ScheduleThe next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations: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 Mon., Jan. 12, 2015 6-9 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Denis, Benton Wed., Jan. 14, 2015 6-9 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .McAuley High School, JoplinMon., Jan. 26, 2015 5-8 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Our Lady of the Lake Parish, BransonMon., Feb. 2, 2015 5-8 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape GirardeauSun., Feb. 8, 2015 5-8 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, SpringfieldMon., Mar. 16, 2015 5:30-8:30 p.m. . . . . . . . .Our Lady of the Lake Parish, BransonWed., June 3, 2015 4-7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Our Lady of the Lake Parish, BransonPreregistration 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.

and pancakes. Adults: $7; children (ages six-12): $4; children (ages five and under): free.

New Hamburg—St. Lawrence Parish will host a Euchre tournament, Sat., Jan. 17, in the parish center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; play begins at 7 p.m; suggested $10 donation. Chili and chicken noodle soup will be available at no charge. For tickets, contact Randy Kern, (573) 545-4124.

Springfield—The Secular Franciscan group will meet Sat., Jan. 31, beginning with lunch at noon (optional), and then at 1 p.m. in the day chapel at Holy Trinity. New inquirers may contact Steve Moncher, stevemoncher@gmail.com., or call (417) 861-2109.

Springfield—The Springfield Chapter of the Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will meet, Mon., Jan. 5, 7 p.m., in Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Help us work with our legislators and other concerned citizens to stop the death penalty in Missouri. For more information, call Donna Walmsley at (417) 459-2960.

Springfield—Springfield Catholic High School’s Project Graduation (May 15, 2015), is a chaperoned, alcohol-free, drug-free, all-night celebration, planned by parents of the seniors, and is funded entirely through dona-tions. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, you may pay with your credit card by accessing our Online payment account set up by the Central Office at http://tinyurl.com/SC-SPG, or write a check payable to SCHS Project Graduation and mail to Springfield Catholic High School, 2340 S. Eastgate, Springfield, MO 65809. For more information, call (417) 887-8817.

St. Louis—Mercy Conference and Retreat Center will host its annual Liturgical Composer Forum concert, Thu., Jan. 29, 7 p.m., in the chapel, 2039 N. Geyer Road, Fronte-nac, MO. Tickets: $50/person, and includes a reception after the performance with the composers. Proceeds will benefit The Liturgi-cal Composers Forum and Mercy Conference and Retreat Center. To purchase tickets visit www.mercycenterstl.org. For more information contact Dawn Stringfield at (314) 909-4656. Tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be sold at the door.

St. Louis—The 16th Annual St. Louis Marian Conference will be held Jan. 9- 11, 2015, in the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Hotel. The theme for this year is “A Hunger in the Heart.” Power-packed weekend filled with wonderful speakers, Masses, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration. For more informa-tion, consult the conference Web site: www.stlmarianconference.net. For information on carpooling, contact Rita Lueckenotte, (417) 527- 3633.

Enjoy the opportunity to get away to a prayerful and peaceful wooded area while sharing in the life of a religious community: could be just for a day or for more. Room and board with a small stipend provided. Variety of work available/needed, including carpentry, maintenance, or meal cooks. For more information, contact the Society of Our Mother of Peace, (417) 744-2011, or Email smpsistersvoc@yahoo.com. To check out the grounds, visit www.marythefont.org.

Community of Religiousseeks volunteers

6 The Mirror December 26, 2014

Merry Christmas from McAuley High School, Joplin, MO

CHRISTMAS PARTY—Faculty, staff, and a couple guests posed for a photo during a recent party celebrating Christ-mas in McAuley Catholic High School, Joplin. The school celebrated Christmas with a catered meal, bowling, and a traditional “ugly sweater” contest. In addition the student council collected $230 for gifts to be purchased by Max Roark, a 2006 graduate of McAuley, to be given to a local Catholic family in need. (Submitted photo)

UGLY SWEATER CON-TEST—Miles Shelfer was the winner of the recent seasonal “Ugly Sweater” contest held in McAuley Catholic High School, Joplin. Other contes-tants included Katie Carr, Rachel Hardy, Emi Ogden, Delaney Crawford, Katie Klunk, Dominique Paje, and Nick Freitas. (Submitted photo)

DIOCESAN NEWS

Pay attention during the best part of your lifeBy Peg Ekerdt

Welcome to the quiet of Decem-ber. Yes, you read that correctly,

the quiet of December, at least at the parish office. As I encounter parishioners this season, they frequently say, “I know you are so busy.” I often feel guilty when I rather halfheartedly agree. For in truth, there are fewer meetings this time of year, less programs scheduled (the presumption is people are too busy to come), and fewer Emails, and phone calls.

To be sure, there is still the work of pastoral care, and parish musicians have extra rehearsals. But the major ministerial challenge is deter-mining how to set up enough extra chairs for Christmas liturgies without violating the building’s fire code and trying to create a sense of the holy in the midst of the bedlam that is the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.

What I have been most aware of in these Advent weeks is the tension that our people experience in their at-tempt to make the Christmas holidays fulfill the wishes of

children, the expectations of extended families, the hopes of retail merchants and mar-keters, and remain solvent throughout it all. Many, this time of year, feel their lives are out of control.

On a personal level, I become more attuned to what many of our folks must feel. I am married to a good man who chafes at the com-mercialism of Christmas. He is a tad like St. Francis in that he wants or needs little in the way of material goods. (On a day-to-day basis, if it weren’t for his personal shopper—me—he might well end up naked in the town square like the saint of Assisi.) I, on the other hand, love the Christ-mas music, shopping, cards, and gatherings. There is one more ingredient in this sea-sonal mix. We both know the prayerful watchfulness that Advent invites. But what is happening in our home each evening after work has more to do with Christmas hubbub than Advent prayer.

I think our parishioners live with the same conflicting expectations. They are faith-ful people who are focused on their families and their work. They are busy people.

Some may have hearts of St. Francis themselves. But there are innumerable distractions to what matters most, and many find themselves in a tug of war as the church calls them to embrace Advent and the culture rushes pell-mell toward Christmas.

What then do I want to say to my parish family as Christmas nears?

Some time ago I heard a

trio of women who call them-selves Red Molly sing a song written by Susan Werner. This is the first verse of the song “May I Suggest”:

May I suggest to youMay I suggest this is the

best part of your lifeMay I suggestThis time is blessed for youThis time is blessed and

shining almost blinding brightJust turn your headAnd you’ll begin to seeThe thousand reasons that

were just beyond your sightThe reasons whyWhy I suggest to youWhy I suggest this is the

best part of your life

The first verse catches the theme that unfolds throughout. It is a message of mindfulness and of gratitude. No matter what is happening in our lives, this is the best part of life.

I have used this song on retreat with our eighth-grade students. I have seen it sung as a couple promised their lives to one another. And I have read an Online tribute in which a woman wrote that she first heard the song as her husband was losing his battle

with cancer: “It didn’t seem possible that it could be the best part of my life. But I was lucky to have had him in my life and luckier still to have been there for and with him until the end. Every day can be the best part of your life. If you look for it.”

Really, with so much to do ... this is the best part of my life? Yes, it is—if we look for it. Is that not what Ad-vent is really about? Looking for God, who became hu-man and one with us in all the people and events of our days?

Be vigilant, the Advent Scriptures tell us. Prepare the way of the Lord. Conduct yourselves in ways pleasing to God. Share what you have. And live in the midst of busy-ness, and whatever else, as if this is the best part of your life. ©NCR

Peg Ekerdt is a pastoral associate at Visitation Church in Kansas City, MO. This article first appeared in the December 2012 issue of Celebration. The worship resource of the Na-tional Catholic Reporter. It is reprinted with permission. Visit the Web site at celebrationpubli cations.org.

BEST PART OF LIFE—There is much to celebrate and there is a lot to remember during the 12 days between Christ-mas and Epiphany. After hon-oring the birth of Christ on Dec. 25, the following day, on the second day of Christmas, we honor St. Stephen, deacon and martyr. (CNS photo/courtesy of the Vatican Museums)

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 7DIOCESAN NEWS

WEEK of PRAYER for CHRISTIAN UNITY held JAN. 18-25, 2015

Please join us in Springfield:

Joint Pentecostal/Roman Catholic worship service Jan. 21, 2015

A second annual joint Pentecostal/Ro-man Catholic worship service will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 in Holy Trin-ity Catholic Church, Springfield. Co-

sponsored by the Pentecostal-Roman Catholic Dialogue, the event is an opportunity for both faith traditions to come together during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and worship along with Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr.; Bishop Emeritus John J. Leibrecht; Donald Miller, Southern Missouri District of the Assemblies of God; and Dr. Carol Taylor, President of Evangel University, Springfield.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.The theme for the 2015 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

(Jan. 18-25) is “Jesus said to her: ‘Give me to drink’ (John 4:7).” When Jesus says to the Samaritan woman, “please give me a drink,” it implies an ethical action that recognizes the need for one an-other in living out the Church’s mission. It compels us to change our attitude, to commit ourselves to seek unity in the midst of our

diversity, through our openness to a variety of forms of prayer and Christian spirituality. In diversity, we enrich each other. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a privileged moment for prayer, en-counter, and dialogue. It is an opportunity to recognize the richness and value that are present in the other, the different, and to ask God for the gift of unity.

The dates for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25) have symbolic significance: They were proposed to cover the original days of the feasts of the Chair of St. Peter (Jan. 18) and the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25). More information regarding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity may be found at http://

www.atonementfriars.org/our_missions_and_ministries/the_week_of_prayer_for_chris-tian_unity.html

beginning Jesus was recog-nized by the world. While the Jews did not notice Jesus in their midst, representatives of the world’s greatest nations came to Jesus, brought him gifts fit for a king, and paid him homage.

So, this is what we celebrate on the feast of the Epiphany: that the son of God became flesh (incarnate) and lives among us. This also explains why the feast is sometimes known as “little Christmas,” when God’s love for us is fully revealed and recognized by the world. This is why in Eastern churches the feast is known also by the word “theophany,” or God revealed.

Fr. Louis J. Cameli, a theologian in the Archdiocese of Chicago and author of the new book The Archaeology of Faith: A Personal Exploration of How We Come to Believe, points out that the Wise Men show, “that Jesus was destined to be the savior of all people.” He also points out that Jesus’ mother, Mary, is the Christ

The spirit of Epiphanybearer. “Not only is she the one who gave Jesus birth, she is also the one who presents him to the world,” he writes. This is why Mary has recently been called “the star of the new evangelization.”

Fr. Cameli suggests that the feast of the Epiphany gives us the opportunity to “contemplate and understand the mystery of the Incarna-tion” with new eyes.

The arrival of the Magi helps us to have that “aha” moment and to realize that in the baby Jesus we are see-ing the fulfillment of God’s promise to all of humanity to save us from ourselves. In Jesus we see God’s love, mercy ,and compassion expressed in the most personal of ways: He became one of us.

The feast of the Epiph-any helps us to understand that Jesus is the real star of Bethlehem. As the carols of the season say, “O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.” ©CNS

Mulhall is a freelance writer and a catechist for adults. He lives in Laurel, MD.

From Page 1

Epiphany: Contemplating Jesus’ divinity and humanityBy Janelle Alberts

In the Catholic Church, Epiphany celebrates sig-nificant events in the life of Jesus in which his di-

vinity “manifests” or “shows forth” through his humanity. Essentially, the feast cele-brates not only Jesus’ divinity on earth, but beyond that his ushering in of an official welcome to the world, invit-ing every nation to come to know his Father.

The feast itself is largely centered on the visit by the Wise Men, or Magi, and the only place we hear about them in the Bible is in Gospel account of Matthew: “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, say-ing, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’”

They were longing to worship the king of the Jews even though they were gentiles.

In Matthew’s account we hear that a troubled King Herod gathered the scribes

and the chief priests to ask “where the Messiah was to be born.”

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Beth-lehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Herod tries to trick the Magi and tells them to set out to look for him and “when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” The Magi are “overjoyed at seeing the star,” Matthew tells us, and they pay homage to the Messiah; but “having been warned in a dream not to re-turn to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.”

As Christians, there is much to learn from the feast of the Epiphany, says author Elsa Chaney.

“After contemplat-ing the staggering fact that God has become a human child, we turn to look at this mystery from the opposite

angle and realize that this seemingly helpless child is, in fact, the omnipotent God, the king and ruler of the universe,” Chaney says. “The feast of Christ’s divinity com-pletes the feast of his human-ity. It fulfills all our Advent longing for the king ‘who is come with great power and majesty.’”

“For many years in the

English-speaking world the feast of Epiphany has been overshadowed by that of Christmas,” Chaney says. “But unless we realize the significance of this great day, we see only one side of the mystery of the Incarnation.”

Lights that illuminate the way

“Our life is a journey, illuminated by the lights that brighten our way, to find the fullness of truth and love we Christians recognize in Jesus, the Light of the World,” said Pope Francis in a Jan. 6, 2014, homily to mark the feast of the Epiphany.

Like the Magi, we often search for a light to follow, the pope said, and some-times we may momentarily lose sight of it, as the Magi did when they visited King Herod in his palace, a place

“gloomy, filled with darkness, suspicion, fear, envy.”

“The Magi were able to overcome that dangerous moment of darkness before Herod because they believed the Scriptures, the words of the prophets that indicated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And so they fled the darkness and dreariness of the night of the world,” he said.

The Magi serve as our guides when we lose sight of the light.

“Their example helps us to lift our gaze toward the star and to follow the great desires of our heart. They teach us not to be content with a life of mediocrity, of ‘playing it safe,’ but to let ourselves be attracted always by what is good, true and beautiful,” the pope said. ©CNS

8 The Mirror December 26, 2014

word to bind yourselves to it in the way you live, and to renew your covenant with God in the Eucha-rist. This is what the Mass is, the celebration of the New Covenant. This is what Jesus speaks about to the Samaritan woman in tonight’s Gospel when he says that the time is coming for a new worship “in Spirit and truth.” The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is exactly what Jesus is speaking of.

Coupled with the Gospel and the reading from Nehemiah is the reading from first Corinthians, in which St. Paul makes clear that

those who worship in Spirit and truth, the baptized, those who are members of the Church, are God’s building. This beautiful church which we dedicate tonight is im-portant and sacred because of what it houses, the Body of Christ, the Temple of God. We are the Body of Christ, because we receive the Body of Christ. The Eucharist makes the Church.

Much of what we believe about God and ourselves is reflected in the ritual of dedication.

Ritual entranceYou may have noticed when

we came into the church, none of the ministers acknowledged the altar. We did not bow or genuflect because it has not been dedicated. Up until the time it is dedicated, and especially until after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered on it, the altar is simply a big slab of marble. You will see me kiss it a bit later, just after it is solemnly dedicated.

Sprinkling of the people and the church

Just after we entered the water was blessed and you along with the church were sprinkled with holy water recalling your baptism, and

DIOCESAN NEWS

Joplin, MO

St. Mary Catholic Church in Joplin, MO, celebrated its happy and historic dedication and bless-ing on Dec. 17, 2014. Bp. James V. Johnston, Bp. Emeritus John J. Leibrecht, Fr. Justin Monaghan, pastor, and a host of area priests, deacons, religious, guests, and parishioners marked the end of what has been an exile of sorts since the former parish plant was destroyed in a May, 2011 tornado. With the help of the parish family and neighbors, some local, some from across the globe and never met, St. Mary Parish has rebuilt its place of worship under the exper-tise of RDG Planning and Design and Crossland Construction. The photos taken by photographer Bruce Stidham speak for them-selves. Readers may find a descrip-tion of the art and architecture of St. Mary Church Online at www.dioscg.org as well as additional photos.

Homily at dedication Mass

What a glorious and joy-ful day for this parish faith community of St. Mary Parish! You

all are to be congratulated for what you have accomplished here, and I hope that you realize it. Under the leadership of your pastor, Fr. Justin Monaghan, you have built a beautiful church. In this building, for generations to come, you and your descendants, and those who will come into the Catholic Church here, will worship God and be nourished by God’s Word and the Sacraments of his Church.

It has been exactly 1,305 days (3 years, 6 months, and 25 days) since your former church, school and other parish buildings were destroyed—but who’s counting? Because of the dramatic way the parish and Joplin were affected, this evening’s event has been antici-pated by our entire diocese, and yes, much of the Church across the United States. Thousands of indi-viduals, parishes, dioceses, Knights of Columbus Councils, Councils of Catholic Women, prayer groups, Catholic schools, and other or-ganizations large and small, sac-rificed for you and your future; first, through a spiritual solidarity of prayer, and by a material sacri-fice of donations. Everywhere I go across the country, people ask me how things are going in Joplin; or, they ask me how that priest in the bathtub is! So, this celebration has been anticipated by many beyond St. Mary Parish and Joplin.

I speak for countless others in not only expressing my congratula-tions, but in telling you how proud I am of what you have done. I have to express special thanks for the lay leadership of the parish, and in par-ticular to the man who has born a

great deal of the burden of respon-sibility during those 1,305 days, Fr. Justin Monaghan. Fr. Justin, thank you.

In many ways, our Scriptural readings that we just heard help illuminate our celebration tonight. I want to reflect on them and then on some of the particular parts of the rite of dedication itself, since it is not often we are able to experi-ence the rite for a dedication of a new church.

It is fitting that the first read-ing tonight comes from the Book of Nehemiah. This book is a com-panion with the Book of Ezra. They tell the story of the return of the Jews to their homeland following their 70 years of exile in Babylon. St. Mary Parish has been in a kind of exile, and tonight marks a return for you too.

What many don’t realize is that when the Jews were released from Babylon by King Cyrus of Persia and allowed to return, most did not. It is estimated that of the nearly three million Jews that were allowed to go back, only around 50,000 did. This was due in part to the length of the journey—around 900 miles, and there were no buses or cars. It was due in part to not wanting to give up the comfort of Babylon for freedom. But it was also due to the fact that there was not much to go back to, except ruins, which meant rebuilding. At the time, it appeared that Israel’s glory days were behind them. But, that was not true. Their real and greatest glory was to be realized in their role of being a prophet to the nations and for being the instrument of God as the people that would pre-pare for the coming of the Savior of the World.

The passage from Nehemiah is about part of the rebuilding that the people had to do once they returned from exile. It was not only a physical rebuilding, but a spiritual rebuilding. This was capped-off with an amazing, even miraculous discovery of a copy of the Scrip-tures, the Book of the Law. When this happened, there was a near all day session of Scripture reading. When the people heard the Word of God, they were overcome with emotion, and they determined to bind themselves to it, and to their covenant with God.

Brothers and sisters, I would say this is very instructive for this parish. You too, have accomplished a great physical rebuilding. You’ve come a long way. But, it would be a mistake to neglect the spiritual rebuilding that God is calling us to. In this church, day-by-day, Sunday-after-Sunday, listen to the Word of God speak to you, and allow your-self to be formed, changed … to be moved by it, as God’s people were in this reading tonight. So often, in our jaded world, we can be deaf or indifferent to the voice of God speaking to us. Be moved by God’s

St. Mary Parish returns home

HOMILY—Bp. James V. Johnston gestured toward the altar in St. Mary Church, Joplin, on Dec. 17, 2014. “This [the altar] is where the most important thing in Jo-plin will take place each week,” Bp. Johnston said. “It is here that Christ’s sacrifice is offered for the salvation of the world.”

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 9DIOCESAN NEWS

St. Mary Parish returns home

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE—St. Mary Church, Joplin, easily seats 750 and there was a standing-room-only crowd at the blessing and dedica-tion Mass held Dec. 17. The stained-glass windows remain to be installed, but the result of a community’s rise from devastation is stunning. “[This church] was built deliberately larger than what you had,” said Bp. James V. Johnston. “You’re back home, no longer in exile, and the work of spiritual renewal and mission now awaits.”

See Homily / 10

that, again as St. Paul reminded us, you are the Temple of God and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. It also should remind us that this church is dedicated to Divine Wor-ship. This building will never be used for anything else. The holy water also is a sign of the banish-ment of all the power of evil from this place.

Litany of SaintsThe Litany of Saints reminds

us that, as the Church, we are part of the Communion of Saints, the heavenly witnesses who also make up the Body of Christ. It is most es-pecially in the Mass that we become conscious of their presence, along with Mary, the Mother of God. Our statues, and the stained glass win-dows will serve as visible reminders of their invisible presence.

Depositing of the relicsJust after the Litany, I will

deposit the relics of three saints, martyrs in fact, in the base of the altar: St. Clement, St. Irenaeus, and St. Aurelius. This is another reminder that we are always united to the saints, but it also serves as a reminder that in the earliest days

of the Church, and even today, the Church faces fierce persecution. In those early days in Rome, the first Christians gathered for security in the catacombs to celebrate the Mass over the tombs of the martyrs. These relics here in this altar will be a vivid reminder of that unbroken link that stretches back 2,000 years.

Prayer of dedicationNext, we will solemnly dedi-

cate the church and altar with one of the most beautiful prayers in the Church’s liturgy. It will set this place apart as a house of worship and the altar as the place where the offering of the sacrifice of our Redemption will take place. Listen closely to the beauty of the prayer of dedication when it is prayed.

Anointing the AltarThen, I will anoint the altar

with the same oil that you and I were anointed with at baptism and confirmation, the sacred Chrism, the Christ oil. This anointing of the altar sets it apart as the place for of-fering sacrifice. While it is true that it is also the banquet table of the

ANOINTING OF THE ALTAR—Bp. James V. Johnston poured sacred chrism on the middle of the altar and on each of the four corners. After the entire altar is anointed, Bp. Johnston then anointed the walls of the church, dedicating both the altar and the church to the honor and glory of God.

10 The Mirror December 26, 2014

dwell here, to be near you.

A final observation: this church was built deliberately to be a larger building than what you had. It was built for you to grow the kingdom. Like the Jew-ish people in the Book of Nehemiah, take up the great hope that the greatest days of this parish still lie in the future. Your challenge, is the chal-lenge that I have shared for our whole Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau—to be mission oriented: loving Jesus, serving Jesus and sharing Jesus.

Fr. Justin recently mentioned that over the last few years, some of the parishioners simply stopped attending Mass and fell away from parish life. I urge you to use this joyful time to warmly seek them out and accompany them back home. What better time to do this than now, and with the ap-proach of the Christmas season. You’re back home, no longer in exile, and the work of spiritual renewal and mission now awaits.

This is an historic and happy day for all of you. I am grateful and happy that I can share it with you.

—Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr. Dec. 17, 2014

participate in as the redeemed, uniting our life with His, as He offers Himself in a sacramental way to the Father for our salvation. This is the sacrifice of the New Covenant. You will renew this New Covenant at every Mass.

This is why, architecturally, the altar is at the center of everything. In fact, this is where the most important thing in Joplin will take place each

week. It is here that Christ’s sacrifice is of-fered for the salvation of the world. The altar also represents Christ, which is why we anoint it. This is why, from now on, we will bow to it, and why the clergy will kiss it rever-ently at the beginning and end of every Mass. It represents Christ in our midst and it will be set aside solely for the offering of His sacrifice.

Anointing the walls of the churchThe walls of the church are

anointed too, setting aside this place for God and His worship.

Incensing and lighting of the altar and church

The incense will be placed on the altar in a way that will not be repeated; it will be in a large brazier with coals recalling the passage in the Book of Revelation in which the incense rising from the Church are the prayers of God’s people. We will incense the altar and then you the people, and then the walls of the church.

Lighting of the churchWe will then light the candles at

the altar reminding us that Christ our Light is present, and recalling for us that now, because we belong to Him, we are to be the light of the world, driving away darkness through our holiness of life, and our witness to the love and mercy of Jesus.

Celebration of the EucharistFinally, then, we will offer on

this altar for the first time, the Holy Eucharist, the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in this church. And, having received Him in Holy Communion, we will reserve the Blessed Sacrament, our Lord Jesus Christ—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the tabernacle. Christ will abide with a living presence in this beautiful new Temple dedicated to Him. You will come here to be in His presence to pray, to rest in Him. He will

Lord where we are fed with His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, it is first an altar: an altar is where sacrifice is offered. To be exact, it is the once-and-for-all sacrifice that Jesus offered on the “altar” of the cross, for our redemption. This is the sacrifice that is made present again at every Mass, for us to actively

From Page 9

St. Mary Parish returns homeDIOCESAN NEWS

ALTAR READIED FOR MASS—After the altar was wiped clean of the chrism oil of dedication, the altar cloth was placed (below), flowers were brought for-ward, and Deacon Dan Vaughn, of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Branson, lit the candles around the al-tar as a visual reminder that Jesus is our true light.

FROM RUIN TO REJOICING—Pastor Fr. Justin Monaghan beamed at the blessing and dedication of St. Mary Church, Jo-plin, Dec. 17, 2014. The former parish plant was destroyed in the May 2011 EF-5 tornado. Fr. Monaghan rode out the event in the bathtub of the former rectory.

The dedication and blessing of the new

St. Mary Church was Dec. 17, 2014.

The dedication and blessing of

St. Mary Church destroyed by the

2011 tornado was Dec. 17, 1967. Fr.

Monaghan said the date for the new dedication was not chosen

with the prior date in mind; it was a

coincidence.

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 11ADULT FAITH

THE GRACE OF BEING CATHOLICFr. Oscar Lukefahr, CM

Garfield the cat says: “Life is like a hot bath: It feels good while you’re in it, but the longer you stay, the more

wrinkled you get.”In last month’s column, I dis-

cussed Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s article in the October issue of Atlantic, “Why I Hope to Die at 75.” He gave three reasons. First, living past 75 brings increasing physical limitations, a body that falters and declines, or, as Garfield would say, a body that’s wrinkled. Second, old age “robs us of our creativity and ability to con-tribute to work, society, the world.” Third, people won’t remember us as “vibrant and engaged, but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic.” Dr. Eman-uel writes from a secular viewpoint, without considering questions about God, heaven, hell, or the meaning of life. He admits he does not have answers to these questions.

I pointed out that Jesus does have the answers, and they can pro-foundly change our attitudes toward old age. Now I’d like to show how belief in Jesus can help us see the limitations of age, including wrin-kles, in an entirely new way.

What hope can doDr. Paul E Ruskin, MD taught

a class of graduate nurses studying care of the elderly. In the Journal of the American Medical Association, he described how he started his intro-ductory lecture with the following case presentation:

“The patient neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes she babbles incoherently for hours on end. She is disoriented about persons, place and time. … I have worked with her for the past six months, but she still shows complete disregard for her physical appearance and makes no effort to assist in her own care. She must be fed, bathed and clothed by others. Because she has no teeth, her food must be pu-reed. Her shirt is usually soiled from almost incessant drooling. She does not walk. Often she awakes in the middle of the night, and her scream-ing awakens others. Most of the time she is friendly, but several times a day she gets very agitated without any cause. Then she wails until someone comes to comfort her.”

I asked how the nurses would feel about taking care of such a pa-tient. They said: “frustrated,” “hope-less,” “depressed,” and “annoyed.” When I said that I enjoyed it and

thought they would too, the class looked at me in disbelief.

Then, he said, “I passed around a picture of the patient: my six-month old daughter.”

Dr. Ruskin asked the nurses why it is easier to care for a six-month old than a 90-year old. The big difference is that the infant represents hope and new life, while the elderly adult seems to represent the opposite.

To make all things newOn Dec. 25, we celebrate the

birth of a child destined to change darkness into light, death into birth. He can change the way we view old age, death, and life.

Fr. Bernard Basset, SJ wrote: “The religious man … must surely believe that he is not as old as his arteries but as young as his soul. … A 70th birthday is very much nearer to the beginning than to the end. The soul does not age. It wears no wrinkles, its voice does not tremble, it carries itself with more assurance at 70 than at 17.”

Renee told me about her friend Myrtle, then 99 years old: “I was in my late 40s when I was visiting Myrtle on a regular basis. I remarked to her that as I was aging I was surprised that I didn’t feel older. She said that even at 99, she still felt the same on the inside, that the way she felt on the inside had not changed at all.”

Perhaps that’s because no mat-ter how long we live on this earth, we are just getting started. Garfield and Dr. Emanuel don’t like wrinkles, but the wrinkles disappear when we are transformed into new spiritual bodies, remade in the image of the risen Christ (1 Cor 15). Jesus says in Rv 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.” Jesus, born of Mary on the first Christmas, turns death into new life that lasts forever.

Meaning in sufferingJesus also shows that the in-

conveniences and pains of old age need not be as dreadfully useless as Dr. Emanuel supposes. Suffering has

meaning and value, thanks to Jesus:

Suffering can bring union with God. Some people erroneously feel that pain separates them from God. John, a good man who experienced many health problems, said, “All this sick-ness makes me feel tired. But the worst part is that I used to feel close to God, and don’t anymore. Some-thing is wrong with my spiritual life.” Actually, John may have been very close to God. Jesus experienced a sense of desolation on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46). In these words from Ps 22:2, Jesus expressed the desolation of all people who in their suffering feel abandoned by God. On the cross Jesus denied him-self the consolation of divinity. He let his physical sufferings flow into his mind, soul, and emotions. He then committed himself and all hu-manity into God’s care: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). We may feel that we are far from God when we suffer, but feelings are not facts. The facts are found in Jesus, who assures us that suffering does not separate us from God. St. Paul realized this: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:19-20).

Suffering can help us grow in holiness. Holiness is the union of our will with God’s, even when this is very difficult. In the Garden of Geth-semane Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Mt 26:39). We achieve holiness in the acceptance of suffer-ing and the afflictions of old age. I was visiting Sr. Frances, a nun in her late 90s, confined to a wheelchair, yet vibrant and cheerful. I remarked, “Sister, you seem very happy.” “O yes!” she said. “They take such won-derful care of me here. Everyone is so kind. The food is excellent. I have lots of time to pray. God is good to me!” Here was a woman unable to walk, completely dependent on oth-ers, yet so holy and happy that she radiated joy to all she met.

Suffering can be a prayer for others. St. Paul found happiness in his union with Christ crucified and in the realization that suffering could be a powerful prayer. He wrote to the Colossians: “I am now rejoic-ing in my sufferings for your sake,

and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (1:24). In God’s plan, we can join our suffering to Christ’s to help bring his grace to people today. Christ’s sufferings and death were sufficient to redeem humankind, but he needs the suffering members of his Body to direct his redemptive love to the world. Love joins us to God, and when we offer our suffer-ings in union with Christ to God, we express our love for God and convey that love to others. Just as a mother who stays up all night caring for a sick child communicates God’s love to her child, so our suffering can communicate God’s love to others. Marguerite, an elderly woman with diabetes, was confined to bed after both legs were amputated. When asked if the days didn’t seem long to her, she replied, “Not at all. The days are never long enough for me to say all the prayers I want to offer for my family and friends.” Marguerite found joy, as did St. Paul, in joining her sufferings to those of Jesus for the sake of his body, the church.

Union with God, growth in holiness, and ministry to others are blessings brought by Jesus to those who suffer. He speaks to us the words he addressed to his apostles on the night before he died: “So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn 16:22).

Is Dr. Emanuel right when he says that 75 is a good age to die? No. But any age is a good age to be born to eternal life. Because all things are made new by Jesus, who was born of Mary on the first Christmas, we sing with the angels who rejoiced at his coming: “Glory to God in the high-est, and on earth peace to people of good will.” ©TM

A Vincentian priest in Perryville MO, Fr. Lukefahr directs Catholic Home Study Service (CHSS), sponsored by the Missouri Knights of Columbus and their Religious Information Bureau. He may be reached at frlukecm@gmail.com.

Christ is bornAll things are made new

12 The Mirror December 26, 2014DIOCESAN NEWS

KHJMCatholic radio for Southeast Missouri89.1 FM

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Mass ends year-long 225th anniversaryNew Madrid, MO

A Mass of Celebra-tion was a very ap-propriate and fit-ting way to end a

year-long celebration of the 225th Anniversary of the es-tablishment of Immaculate Conception Parish in New Madrid. Held Dec. 7, 2014, Bishop James V. Johnston was the principal celebrant of the liturgy. Concelebrat-ing the Mass with Bp. John-ston were Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht, Fr. Jaroslaw Skrzypek, pastor; Msgr. Rich-ard Rolwing; Msgr. William J. Stanton; Fr. Normand G. Varone; Fr. David Hulshof; Fr. Allan Saunders; Fr. Maria Thumma; and Deacon James Darter.

Originally part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Fr. Pierre Gibault, the ‘patriot priest of the west,’ was the first resident priest at Immaculate

Conception Church, arriving in 1789. The first church was built in 1799.

Immaculate Concep-tion Parish, New Madrid, is the oldest church in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, ministering in the beginning to primar-ily French settlers who were

PAPAL BLESSING—Bp. James Johnston looked on as Fr. Ja-roslaw (“Jarek”) Skrzypek, pastor, held a framed Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis dated Dec. 7, 2014, that read, “The Holy Father Francis cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing to Reverend Jaroslaw Skrzypek, pastor, and the pa-rishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish, New Madrid, Missouri, on the occasion of the 225th Anniversary of its Foundation.” (Submitted photo)

fur-traders. In the 225-year-history of Immaculate Con-ception Church, the physical structures for Immaculate Conception were aggravated by earthquake, fire, flood, quick sand, and another flood. However, the spirit of the community cannot be vanquished. ©TM

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 13DIOCESAN NEWS

Mass ends year-long 225th anniversary

MASS OF THANKSGIVING—A Mass marking the 225th anniversary of Immaculate Concep-tion Parish, New Madrid, was held Sun., Dec. 7, 2014. Concelebrating the Mass with Bp. James V. Johnston were Fr. Normand Varone, retired; Fr. David Hulshof, pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau; Fr. Allan Saunders, pastor, St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau; Msgr. Richard Rolwing, retired; Deacon James Darter, Immacu-late Conception, New Madrid; Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht; Fr. Maria Thumma (partially obscured), associate pastor, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Sikeston; Fr. Jarek Skrzypek, pastor, Im-maculate Conception Parish, New Madrid; and Msgr. William Stanton, retired. Immaculate Conception, New Madrid, is the oldest parish in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. (Submitted photo)

Immaculate ConceptionTimeline: 225 Years

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCHNEW MADRID, MO.

Built by Rev. M. J. Taylor in 1911THE OLD CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Built in 1869 by Rev. Francis McKenna

RECEPTION—Parishioners and guests enjoyed a reception after the 225th Anniversary Mass closing the church’s year-long celebration of activities. Pictured are (left photo) Ed Riley, Kevin Carlisle, Tommy Riley; (right photo) Christy Jones and her mother, Patti Powell, and Emily Carlisle. (Submitted photos)

This is the last print issue of The Mirror in 2014. The next print edition will be dated Jan. 9, 2015.

Glenn Leslie Angie Eckl Eidson Toben

Merry Christmas andNew Year’s blessings

from the staff of yourdiocesan newspaper

(CNS photo/Paul Haring)

14 The Mirror December 26, 2014DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING

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THE O’REILLY FAMILY—David O’Reilly, Tim O’Reilly, Brooke O’Reilly, Charlie O’Reilly, Mary Beth O’Reilly, Lindsay O’Reilly - French, Landree French (held), Justin French, and Bp. James V. Johnston were photographed surrounding a plaque that will remain in Spring-field Catholic High School in memory of C.H. “Chub” O’Reilly, Sr., and his long-standing commitment to Springfield Catholic Schools. The late benefactor’s trust recently distribut-ed a generous gift to Springfield Catholic Schools for the purpose of satisfying the remain-ing balance of the Springfield Catholic High School Capital Campaign. (Submitted photo)

Generous donation from local family closes capital campaignSpringfield

Springfield Catholic Schools Sys-tem recently announced that the late Charles H. “Chub” O’Reilly Sr., Marital Trust FBO Kenna Lou

O’Reilly, distributed a generous gift to Springfield Catholic Schools for the purpose of satisfying the remaining balance of the Springfield Catholic High School Capital Campaign. Char-lie O’Reilly, Trustee, along with his wife Mary Beth, Rosalie O’Reilly-Woo-ten, Larry O’Reilly, and David O’Reilly stated the gift was made in honor of O’Reilly’s longstanding commitment to Springfield Catholic Schools.

“Our Dad was dedicated to the Catholic Church and Springfield Cath-olic Schools during his lifetime, and this gift was in accordance with his wishes to help the school system and ensure that it maintains a solid foun-dation into the future, said Charlie O’Reilly. “He would be very proud of this gift, and we all know he is smiling down on all of us right now.”

Under the theme, “Honoring our past … Building our future,” the $13.1 million dollar capital campaign was launched in recent years and was co-chaired by John Ghirardelli, Tim O’Reilly, and Dave Duncan. Goals of the renovation and expansion include:

• Additional class-room space to accom-modate enrollment increases

• Four state-of-the-art science labora-tories. These facilities will allow teachers and students additional space and updated equipment as they learn and allow us to meet the demands of science classes. Updat-ed equipment safety features to enhance lab rigor and experimental design.

• Renovated and enhanced athletic fa-cilities. This includes a brand new field house with locker rooms and offices for coaches as well as a gymnasium to hold 2,000 for athletic events, school events (i.e. graduation, school assem-blies, etc.), and Catholic community events. Additional practice gymna-sium giving more time for all sports to use the facilities and eliminating the necessity for 6 a.m.-10 p.m. practices.

• Central air conditioning and a new roof all designed with LEED cer-tification for green energy efficiencies.

• A renovated and enlarged cafetorium, akin to a college student union, for not only meal times, but also for gathering spaces.

• New administrative offices to

consolidate work efforts for the entire Springfield Catholic School System.

The O’Reilly familyChub O’Reilly was born Feb.

13, 1913 to Charles F. and Clara Ma-rie O’Reilly in St. Louis, Missouri. Af-ter living for several years in St. Louis and Indiana, the family moved to Springfield, Missouri where Chub was enrolled in St. Agnes High School at the age of 14. After high school, Chub started to work with his father at Link Motor Supply in Springfield, where they worked together for over 25 years.

In 1933, Chub married Isabel Stief-vater, and they lived happily together for many years while raising Charlie, Rosalie, Larry, and David. In 1957, in response to a consultant for Link that wanted C.F. to retire and move Chub to Kansas City, father and son decided to start their own company; O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. was born. The family worked diligently to propel the compa-ny to success and in doing so, relied on their faith and a commitment to fair-ness and integrity in business. O’Reilly Auto Parts now has over 4,300 loca-tions in 43 states. ©TM

December 26, 2014 The Mirror 15DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING

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McAuley s enior a warded Mercy Student Excellence Award

STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARD— James Nguyen, a senior in McAuley Catholic High School, Joplin, recently received the Mercy Student Excel-lence Award in a ceremony held in St. Peter the Apostle Church. Making the presentation was Connie Walters of Mercy Hospital and Gene Koes-ter, Principal of McAuley Catholic High School. Nguyen is involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities including National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, sports , and mass media. (Submitted photo)

Students wrap gifts for families in need

CHRISTMAS GIFTS—Student Council members in Springfield Catholic High School wrapped coats and other gifts for families in need at Sacred Heart Parish, Springfield. (Submitted photo)

Branson Knights donate to Salvation Army

2,400 POUNDS OF FOOD—Knights of Columbus Council 6470 Grand Knight Patrick Guidry (left) and Joe Andrle (right) presented Salvation Army Lieutenant Shawn DeBaar (center) with a check for $520. The home parish for Knights of Columbus Council 6470 is Our Lady of the Lake, Branson. The money was collected at the Knights Christmas Party rather than the usual gift exchange. “We wanted to reach out in a meaningful way,” Guidry said. “Ours is a church that strives to live out the Gospel, and the Knights hope to show we care about our com-munity.” Lt. DeBaar said the donation will be used to purchase over 2,400 pounds of food that will be distributed to people in the area over the holidays. This is the second year the Knights of Columbus Council 6470 has assisted the Salvation Army during the Christmas season. Last year, the Knights donated numerous toys to the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. (Submitted photo)

16 The Mirror December 26, 2014CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

It’s never too late to donate through your parish!