The Mirr rVol. XLX, No. 24 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI March 20, 2015

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

The next issue of The Mirror will be April 3, 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 Alpha / 9

Alpha at The Cenacle draws young adults to JesusBy Jenni Horn Cape Girardeau

Two dozen young adults in their 20s and 30s are in the midst of an 11-week evangeli-zation adventure which began

this February at The Cenacle Catholic Young Adult Ministry Center in Cape Girardeau. The first diocesan Alpha Course for Young Adults was launched in collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, under the direction of The Cenacle’s Chap-lain Fr. Brendan Walsh, SAC, and Di-rector Jenni Horn.

Alpha is a series of 11 interactive sessions built around dinner, a pre-sentation, and discussion along with a weekend or day retreat. Alpha began in 1977 in an Anglican parish in Lon-don as a course on the basics of faith for new Christians. Now the course, under the leadership of Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel, is undertaken by 127 Christian denominations (including Catholic parishes in 70 countries) with more than 24 million people participating in Alpha worldwide.

The evening starts with a free dinner shared among the same table groups each week so that people can get to know one another and be com-fortable in exchanging their thoughts and deep questions. Each table has a host to welcome guests who encour-ages participation and ensures that the discussion remains free-flowing and positive.

“Alpha hospitality allows guests to share their questions and opinions

without judgment,” said Fr. Walsh. “This creates an atmosphere where people feel safe asking the big or small questions that they carry inside, as well as sharing reasons they may have lost faith or walked away from God or the Church.”

Everyone is welcome and the en-vironment reflects that.

“[The Alpha set-up] also makes people comfortable inviting friends

who may have different faith view-points or no faith at all,” Fr. Walsh said.

After dinner, the evening’s talk focuses on the foundational questions that unite us as Christians and leads participants to examine or develop their relationship with God through prayer, exploration of Scripture, and

ALPHA AT THE CENACLE—Briana Ulanowski, Jake Blatnik, and Paige Schumer posed for a photo at a recent session of the 11-week evangelization program called “The Alpha” being held at The Cenacle Young Adult Minis-try Center in Cape Girardeau. The program, designed for young adults in their 20s and 30s, is an approved program by Bp. James V. Johnston under Goal #1: Grow in Holiness, one of the three priorities under the diocesan Mutually-Shared Vision. For more information on the progress being made on diocesan-preferred programs for Growing in Holiness, read Bp. Johnston’s column on p. 3. (Photo by Jenni Horn)

1058The Church prays that no one should be lost: “Lord,

let me never be parted from you.” If it is true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4), and that for him “all

things are possible” (Mt 19:26).

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.

Pope announces Year of Mercy

HOLY YEAR OF MERCY

Vatican City

Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy.

“No one can be ex-cluded from God’s mercy,” the pope said March 13, marking the second anniversary of his pontifi-cate by leading a Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica. “I frequently have thought about how the Church can make more evident its mission to be a witness of mercy,” he said.

The Holy Year will be cel-ebrated from Dec. 8, 2015, until

Nov. 20, 2016. The biblical theme of the year, he said, will be “Be merci-ful, just as your Fa-

ther is merciful,” an admonition that applies “especially to confes-sors,” the pope said with a smile.

A holy year as a time of spiri-tual renewal has its biblical roots in the jubilees observed by the Jewish people at 50-year intervals, when debts were pardoned and slaves were freed. The term “jubi-lee” itself comes from the Hebrew word “yobel,” meaning a ram’s horn, which was used to make the trumpet that signaled the begin-ning of this time of forgiveness.

For the Catholic Church, a holy year remains a time of great spiritual significance, and empha-sis is placed on the examination of conscience and conversion, the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation, concrete acts of solidarity, and initiatives to restore justice.

The jubilee is called a holy year because it aims to encour-age holiness, strengthen faith in Christ, and inspire greater com-munion within the Church and society. The first Holy Year was proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300, when thousands of Christians from throughout Eu-rope came on pilgrimage to Rome. Among those in the Eternal City for the first celebration was the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who is commonly said to have found the inspiration for his “Divine Comedy” during that pilgrimage.

For more information, log on to the diocesan Website: www.dioscg.org. ©CNA

Dec. 8, 2015 to

Nov. 20, 2016

2 The Mirror March 20, 2015COLUMNS

St. Katharine Drexel, the Beverly Hillbillies, and detachmentBy Richard Becker

“Detachment from riches is obliga-tory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven” —Catechism of the

Catholic Church [CCC] 2544).

Admit it. You know the entire Beverly Hillbillies theme song by heart, don’t you? And you can sing it from

memory, start to finish. So can I.If you grew up on Jed, Jethro,

and Elly May like I did, then you’ll remember that one episode where the banker, Mr. Drysdale, advises the yokel millionaires to “put money in circulation.” The result? Granny toss-ing out aprons full of cash onto the streets, while Mr. Dreysdale tries to stop her.

“Wait, wait,” Mr. Drysdale pleads. “Granny, stop! You cannot throw money out the window!”

“Not till I get some more,” Granny answers matter-of-factly, shaking out her empty apron. Then, as Jethro runs off to fetch another boxful, she shouts, “Get bigger bills! It makes ‘em much happier!”

The Beverly Hillbillies and their seemingly naïve, even shocking dis-regard for money came to mind the other day during an exchange with Kathy, my eight-year-old. “You know, your birthday’s coming up next week,” I noted, “and that means it’ll be your feast day as well.”

“Yes, Papa,” she replied. “St. Katharine Drexel.”

That’s right, Katharine Drexel, the Philadelphia railroad heiress turned nun who lavished her vast fortune on the poor. We interpreted the coincidental timing of Kathy’s arrival on March 3, Drexel’s feast, as a providential sign, and there was little question what our baby girl’s name would be. Besides, the fantastically beneficent St. Katharine was just the kind of patron and role model we’d want for our infant daughter.

Which makes Kathy’s follow-up comment to me the other day all the more remarkable. “She was a teacher, I know,” she stated flatly, as if giv-ing a saint report at school, “and she wore glasses.” End of report.

What? That’s it? Here, let me fill in a few more details.

The missionary formedSt. Katharine and her two sisters

were raised in a devout Catholic family that happened to be wealthy, and her parents refused to allow the wealth to disrupt the devotion. The girls assisted their parents in regularly

welcoming the poor into their own home, and they were taught early on that such acts of benevolence and charity were the assumed norm for those who’d call themselves Christian.

After their financier father passed away in 1885, the Drexel girls inherited a tremendous estate, and yet their consciences would not let them settle comfortably into high society. Katharine in particular was especially moved by the ter-rible hardships endured by so many Native American and Black families throughout the country, and she started liberally distributing her own inheritance to alleviate their suffer-ing. To enlist additional help, she

traveled to Europe and lobbied Pope Leo XIII to send missionaries to help rectify the dire situation, but the Holy Father did her one better. “Why don’t you become a missionary?” he asked her.

Why not, indeed?Drexel rose to the Pope’s chal-

lenge, took up the habit in 1889, and established a religious order dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and to serving the special needs of disenfranchised American minorities. Seeing education as the key to com-batting both poverty and prejudice, Katharine Drexel devoted her patri-mony to building schools, and lots of them—approximately 60 in her lifetime. She sent sisters out west to establish mission schools for Native Americans, and for young Blacks in the South, Katharine not only built

schools but a college as well—now Xavier University in New Orleans, the only historically Black Catholic college in the US.

Schools were only the begin-ning, for St. Katharine and her community were determined to confront racism and oppression on every front, come what may. Here’s how Drexel herself expressed their commitment:

Resolve: Generously with no half-hearted, timorous dread of the opinions of Church and men to manifest my mission. … You have no time to occupy your thoughts with that complacency or consideration of what others think.

Your business is simply, ‘What will my Father in heaven think?’

Among other things, Katharine’s order cleverly skirted segrega-tion laws in the South so that Catholics of all races could worship to-gether in their churches. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (as they came to be known) were burrs in the saddle of bigots everywhere, and their conflicts with en-trenched racist interests led to bomb threats and arsonist attacks against them (http://www.kath-arinedrexel.org).

And the money? Have I forgotten about Katharine’s big jackpot legacy, one of the big-gest in the US at the time? Nope, but that’s

the beauty of St. Katharine’s story, and it’s why the Granny Clampett allusion is apropos. I have this mental image of Katharine Drexel, her habit tucked up and full of cash, standing alongside the Beverly Hill-billies and strewing money out that bank window willy-nilly. They’re all laughing and smiling, full of joy at the prospect of sharing their abundance with others—heedless of who’s paying attention or keeping track. No photo ops with oversized checks for the Drexel debutante, yet even so she managed to give away some $20 million before she died. In today’s dollars, that would amount to about half a billion—but who’s counting?

Certainly not St. Katharine. Her only interest was in being faithful to her calling to serve the poor, and her

only reward was Jesus himself. As she wrote:

My sweetest Joy is to be in the presence of Jesus in the holy Sacra-ment. I beg that when obliged to withdraw in body, I may leave my heart before the holy Sacrament. How I would miss Our Lord if He were to be away from me by His presence in the Blessed Sacrament!

She got her wish in the end. St. Katharine’s declining health led her to relinquish leadership of her com-munity in 1937, and then a stroke in 1938 left her largely immobile for the last 18 years of her life. “Though gradually becoming more infirm,” the Vatican’s newspaper reported, “she was able to devote her last years to Eucharistic adoration, and so fulfill her life’s desire.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” It’s an axiomatic Gospel principle that St. Katharine embraced with total abandonment and in marked contrast with what the world values. “What is glorified is success at any cost,” Pope Francis observed, “afflu-ence, the arrogance of power and self-affirmation at the expense of others.” St. Katharine’s life is an il-lustration of what the Pope proposed as an alternative: “Think big;” “open your hearts;” “swim against the tide;” “have the courage to be truly happy!”

Now it’s true that very few of us will have the opportunity to douse the streets with our largesse, and all of us will devote considerable time and energy to making money in order to live. Still, Katharine’s story reminds us that our property and wealth, regardless of how much we have, are truly only tools for accomplishing greater goods. The more loosely we hold on to them, the easier it is for the Lord to have his way with us, and the more we’ll be filled with his joy.

That’s why I think my daughter neglected to mention her patron’s ex-travagant generosity, because it was so natural, almost pedestrian from her childlike perspective. For chil-dren and saints, money is something for others to worry about—dads, for instance, or our Father in heaven—and when you get some, you get rid of it pretty quick.

But being a teacher and wearing glasses? Now that’s noteworthy.

©TM

Rick Becker is a husband, father of seven, nursing instructor, and religious educator. He blogs regularly at God-Haunted Lunatic. This article is reprinted with permission of catholicexchange.com.

March 20, 2015 The Mirror 3COLUMN

Loving Jesus, serving Jesus, sharing Jesus

my road rally stops, all agreed that they could indeed love Jesus more and wanted to do so. To that end, a major goal in our One Church, East to West, is to help facilitate growing in holiness and thus, growing closer

“We love, because he first loved us.” —1 Jn 4:19

You might recall that dur-ing last August’s Road Rally Revival, I visited all of our parishes and missions in or-

der to present the diocesan Mutu-ally-Shared Vision and priorities. In talking with the faithful, one of the greatest reactions I consistently received from our people was enthu-siasm toward growing in holiness, to loving Jesus more. When I posed the question to those gathered at

Tue., March 24 Safe Environment Review Board Quarterly Meeting, Springfield;

7:30 p.m. Diocesan Development Fund Regional Meeting, Pallotti Center at The Catholic Center, Springfield

Thu., March 26 Region 1 Diocesan7:30 p.m. Development Fund Meeting, St.

Mary Parish, Joplin

Sun., March 29 PALM SUNDAY8:30 a.m. Mass, St. Agnes Cathedral,

Springfield;

Missouri Province Meeting of Bishops, St. Louis

Mon., March 30 Spring Board Meeting, Missouri Catholic Conference, Jefferson City, MO;

7 p.m. Chrism Mass, St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, MO

Tue., March 31 Chrism Mass, St. Agnes7 p.m. Cathedral, Springfield

Thu., April 2 EASTER TRIDUUM6 p.m. Holy Thursday liturgy, US

Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield

Fri., April 3 Good Friday liturgy, St. Mary7 p.m. of the Annunciation Cathedral,

Cape Girardeau

Sat., April 4 Easter Vigil, St. Mary7 p.m. Cathedral, Cape Girardeau

Sun., April 5 Easter Sunday Mass, St. Mary8:30 a.m. Cathedral, Cape Girardeau

Public calendar

to God. A main way of doing this is by providing opportunities for peo-ple to encounter Christ anew, and for many, to encounter Him for the first time. It is through an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ that our hearts are opened to love.

The goal was set that most of our parishes and missions would of-fer an encounter program approved by the diocese, either individually or with another parish or mission, by January, 2016. To make this happen, I asked a team led by Fr. David Hulshof and Mark Kiblinger, along with Fr. Hank Grodecki, CM, Fr. Shoby Chettiyath, Deacon Alan Bandy, Mary Stone, and Elva We-ber, to do some preparatory work. They researched possible options and recently provided me with their report and recommendations. Very soon, information will be provided to our pastors and parish leader-ship so that they can decide which approach will best fit their parishes and missions.

Interestingly enough, some of our parishes were eager to get started and have already begun im-plementing some of these programs with positive results. For example, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Cape Girardeau and St. Joseph Parish in Springfield are currently hosting “Alpha,” an internationally-recog-nized presentation of basic Christi-anity which is set in the context of a hosted meal every week for 10 or so weeks. Participants are led to meet the person of Jesus and the essence of Christianity. Likewise, Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Branson has been offering “Christ Renews His Parish,” a nationally-known week-end experience which leads partici-pants to a deeper encounter with Jesus and living one’s faith. Sacred Heart Parish in Poplar Bluff began the “Light of the World” program this Lent. This also takes place over a weekend, and again, leads partici-pants to a new or renewed encoun-ter with the person of Jesus Christ, and an awareness of one’s identity as a disciple.

These are just a few examples, not a complete list, of some of the diocesan-approved programs that will be recommended to all of our parishes and missions. Pastors, with the help of parish leadership, will need to prayerfully determine which offering would best suit their needs and situation.

I urge each of you reading this column to commit to participating in one of these encounter experi-ences, and if possible, assist your pastor in this project.

As we devote ourselves to reaching this goal, we see that the health and vitality of our churches hinges on the person of Jesus and

ON THE WAY

Bp. James V. Johnston Grow in Holiness:Suggested programs• ACTS (Adoration,

Community, Theology, Service)

• Alpha• Christ Renews His Parish

(CRHP)• Cursillo• Emmaus• God Is! Day of Renewal• Light of the World (LOTW)

For more information, contact your local parish.

The law of fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. “The law allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit the taking of some food in the morning and evening” (Code of Canon Law, C. 1251). Everyone age 18 through

age 59 (one’s 59th birthday begins one’s 60th year) is obliged to follow the law of fasting.

The law of abstinence is to be observed on all Fridays of Lent. The law forbids the use of meat

on these days. All persons age 14 and above are bound by the law of abstinence.

Lenten fast and abstinence regulations

our love for Him. We love Him, and we want to love Him more. Togeth-er, let’s strive to do just that. ©TM

Mutually Shared VisionDiocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

OUR SACRED PURPOSE:The sacred purpose of the Diocese of Springfield Cape-Girardeau is

to joyfully live our Catholic faithas intentional disciples,

leading all to a full life in Jesus Christ.

OUR FIVE-YEAR VISION:

One Church, east to west: loving Jesus, serving Jesus, and sharing Jesus.OUR THREE (3) PRIORITIES:

Grow in HolinessGoals: 65 -75 parishes/missions individually or collaboratively participate in an on-going diocesan–recognized conversion program by January 1, 2016.

Institute “The Light is on for You” diocesan-wide by Lent 2015.

Form Intentional DisciplesGoals: Strategic re-envisioning of the structure and plan for all formation of Catholic youth by May 31, 2016.

Sent to WitnessGoals: 72 persons, encompassing at least eight pastors and their parishes, begin training in Evangelization by July 1, 2016.

✓

4 The Mirror March 20, 2015

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: $14 per year.Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MO, and additional mailing offices. Vol. XLX No. 24 March 20, 2015 Single copy price, $0.50

Copyright © 2015, The Mirror, CNS, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: www.dioscg.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advance—St. Joseph Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will host a plant, yard, and bake sale, Fri., April 10, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sat., April 11, 7 a.m.-noon, in the Knights of Columbus Hall next to the Church. Garden plants, flowers, homemade baked goods, and yard sale items will be available for purchase. For more infor-mation, contact Teresa Jansen, (573) 733-4155.

Belleville, IL—The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will present a Lenten Bible Study looking at the Gospel of Mark. Mark Etling, PhD will lead this discussion on March 26. Cost: $5. Pre-registration required. Information and registration at www.snows.org/scripture, or contact the shrine at (618) 397-6700, ext. 6281; or (314) 241-3400, ext. 6281.

Belleville, IL—The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will begin Holy Week, Sat., March 28-Sun., April 5. Two special services, unique to the shrine, will be pre-sented during Holy Week: “We Were There,” a dramatic, prayerful presentation of Pope John Paul II’s scriptural Way of the Cross will be on, Tue., March 31, 7:30 p.m., in the Church of Our Lady of the Snows. “Journey of Decision,” a Way of the Cross presenta-tion at the Outdoor Stations of the Cross, will be on Good Friday, April 3, 1 p.m. For more information, contact (618) 397-6700, ext. 6275, or (314) 241-3400, ext. 6276. For a complete Holy Week schedule, visit www.snows.org/holyweek.

Buffalo—St. William Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will hold a rum-mage sale, Thur.,-Fri., May 7-8, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., in the parish hall. Full price first day; half-price, May 8, 8 a.m.-noon; $2 bag sale May 8, noon-close. For more information, contact Helen Crowder (417) 345-2883, or (417) 880-2521.

Cape Girardeau—SEMO Cursillo ULTREYA will be Fri., April 27, 7 p.m., in St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral. For more information, contact Tim Coad, tim coad@drivecoad.com, or call, (573) 225-0692; or Sharon Essner, smessner735@gmail.com, or call (573) 334-0373. For more information, visit the SEMO Cursillo Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SEMOCursillo or email the Cursillo group at semo-cursillo@googlegroups.com.

Carthage—St. Ann Parish will host an auction, Sat., April 18, in the CMC Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. The

ScheduleThe next safe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations:Sat., Mar. 28 10 a.m.-1 p.m. . . . . . . . .St. Vincent de Paul, Cape GirardeauSun., Mar. 29 4-7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, SpringfieldSat., Apr. 18 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. . . .Nativity of Our Lord, Noel (Spanish)Tue., Apr. 28 5:30-8:30 p.m. . . . . . . . .St. Vincent de Paul, Cape GirardeauWed., June 3 4-7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Our Lady of the Lake Parish, BransonSat., July 18 10 a.m.-1 p.m. . . . . . . . .St. Vincent de Paul, Cape GirardeauSat., Oct. 24 10 a.m.-1 p.m. . . . . . . . .St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau

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.

evening includes live and silent auction, DJ, and dance, dinner, and entertain-ment. Tickets are $40 until April 1; $45 after April 1 (includes dinner, drinks, $15 auction credit), and may be purchased Online at www.stannscarthage.org, at the church or school office, or by calling (417) 358-2674.

Everton—The Beginning Experience Recovery Retreat Weekend will be Fri.-Sun., April 10-12, at the Maranatha Retreat Center. The retreat is for anyone widowed, divorced, or separated who is looking for healing, hope, and support. Trained facilita-tors present the faith-based weekend, designed to be a time of closure on the past and renewed hope for the future. Cost: $100. Scholarships and transporta-tion available. For more information or to register: Springfield area call Mary Alice, (417) 887-5221 or (417) 838-4651; or, call Vince, (417) 793-9730.

Frontenac—“Thomas Merton: Contemplative Prophet,” a workshop led by Don Goergen, OP, will be held Sat., April 18 in the Mercy Center, Frontenac. Registra-tion: 8:30 a.m.; program: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: $60 (includes lunch) due April 2. For more information, contact Bonnie Green, bgreen@mercycenterstl.org, or call (314) 909-4677.

Gainesville—St. William Parish will host a Friday fish fry, on March 27, 4:30—6:30 p.m., in the parish hall. Menu includes fish cooked on-site, homemade desserts, and beverage. Cost: $7.50/per-son; children (ages 12 and under): $3.50. For more information, contact Theresa Kguzik, tkguzik@yahoo.com.

Lamar—St. Mary Parish will host a fish fry, Fri., March 27, 5:30 p.m.—until fish is gone, in Memorial Hall, 1100 Broad-way. Menu includes fish, fried potatoes and onions, pinto beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, hush puppies, cornbread, drink and dessert. Adults: $8; children: (ages 12 and under): $5. Pick-up orders will be ready at 5 p.m. Call (417) 682-4959, or (417) 682-2007, by 4 p.m. for take-out. For more information, call Dixie Johnson, (417) 682-5432.

Leopold—St. John Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) will host its annual rummage sale in the Leopold Knights of Columbus Hall, Tue.-Wed., April 7-8, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. All proceeds will help fund various projects supported by the PCCW. For more information, contact Geri, (573) 208-6445.

Monett—The annual charity auction to benefit St. Lawrence School will be April 11, 5 p.m., in the parish center. Cost: $40 for a pair of tickets (includes dinner dance and live auction). For more information, con-tact the school at (417) 235-3721.

Scott City—St. Joseph Parish will host a spring dinner on Palm Sunday, March 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., in the parish center. Buffet-style meal consists of fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, chicken and dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, slaw, dessert, tea, and coffee. Adults: $9; children (ages six-12): $5; children (under age six): free; carry-outs available. For more information, contact Donna Anderson, (573) 450-1451.

Springfield—The Secular Franciscan group will meet Sat., March 28, beginning with lunch at noon (optional), and 1 p.m. in the day chapel at Holy Trinity Parish. Con-tact for new inquirers is Steve Moncher, stevemoncher@gmail.com., or call (417) 861-2109.

Springfield—A live Stations of the Cross on Park Central Square will be held Good Friday, April 3, at 12-noon. All Christian churches that serve the poor in our city and community are invited to participate. Bp.-Emeritus John J. Leibrecht will offer the closing reflection in the com-memoration of the Way of the Cross. The public is invited to participate. For more infor-mation, call Sr. Frances Wessel, SSND, at fwes sel@ssndcp.org.

Spring-field—Con-templative Outreach of Springfield presents “An Introduction to Centering Prayer,” Sat., April 25. Check in: 8:30 a.m.; workshop: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Advance regis-tration: $20 (before April 15); at the

door: $15; attended a previous workshop: $10. For more information, contact Mary at (417) 844-1318, or Email maryelli son@sbc.net; or Barb at democatsx2@gmail.com, or (417) 881-1381.

Springfield—A Silent Saturday will be held, April 11, 9:30 a.m.-noon, in Holy Trinity Church. Join us for a time of peaceful prayer and reflection. For more information, contact Barb or Mike at democatsx2@gmail.com or call (417) 881-1381.

Springfield—Join in celebrating the International Knights of Columbus Day of Prayer for the Unborn Child, and pray for the closure of the last abortion facility in MO, Wed., March 25, 11 a.m.-noon, in front of the Planned Parenthood office on Battlefield. For more information, contact Carl Schimek,(417) 725-9444, or (417) 496-1235.

Springfield—St. Elizabeth Ann Se-ton Parish will sponsor a retreat for women of the diocese, Fri., March 27, beginning with Mass at 8:30 a.m. Explore “Themes of Pope Francis,” with Speakers, Sr. Frances Wessel, SSND; Cheryl Hall, and Fr. Mike McDevitt. A light lunch will be served, and the day will conclude with Stations of the Cross at 2:45 p.m. There is no charge, but please reserve your space by calling Kay Maloney, (417) 881-4687.

March 20, 2015 The Mirror 5MCC SUPPLEMENT

6 The Mirror March 20, 2015MCC SUPPLEMENT

March 20, 2015 The Mirror 7MCC SUPPLEMENT

8 The Mirror March 20, 2015MCC SUPPLEMENT

March 20, 2015 The Mirror 9DIOCESAN NEWS

For more information, or to register Online visit www.DioSCG.org

You may also call Katie Newton in the Office of Family Ministries at

(417) 866-0841, knewton@dioscg.org

Alpha at The Cenacle draws young adults to JesusChristian community. As the talks focus on the discipleship questions of who Jesus is, why he died, and how to bring our Christian faith into our everyday living, topics are both rel-evant and compatible with Catholic teaching.

Guest Erin Miller was initially skeptical about the Alpha’s broad Christian context but has found it fruitful.

“Because I’m a devout Catholic, it has not taught me anything new,” Miller said, “but Alpha has framed my existing knowledge in a new way. It has changed my understanding of my relationship with God. The group structure is really resonating with me.”

As a newcomer to The Cenacle, Lisa Berryhill agrees: “I like the peo-ple and the great talks.”

Kelli Foster, a table host, has been involved at The Cenacle since the young adult ministry center opened in the fall of 2012.

“The community has been a great addition to my life and there

have been different events and gath-erings that have helped me grow in my faith,” Foster said. “I see Alpha as a reawakening and a fresh push in the right direction for us. It pro-vides the structure for great conversa-tion and fruitful actions in our lives. I can’t wait to see what God does in the hearts of those involved and those who join us in the future.”

Although Alpha is diverse, com-munity builds among participants that includes people from all walks of life: accountants, consultants, teach-ers, physical therapists, grad students, engineers, chiropractors, VIP and childcare workers, lawyers, priests, pharmacy techs and writers.

“The combination of the dinner table conversation, the Alpha talk, and the relaxed and open atmosphere fosters frank discussion of the night’s topic over dessert,” said Wayne Di-erker, an Alpha table host. “In four weeks, friendships have developed and deepened.”

“Friendships develop, but the most important relationship that deepens—or in some cases develops for the first time—is their relationship

with God,” Fr. Walsh said.“We are already seeing the fruits

of Alpha. In 10 years of young adult ministry, we have never seen a process or program that creates this comfort-able of an opportunity for profound conversion for all of us involved,” said Fr. Walsh.

Although the current Alpha ses-sion closed to new people after the fourth week, Alpha will be offered again.

“Alpha works, and it is fun. We will definitely be offering it again in the fall and possibly in the summer,” Fr. Walsh said.

The Alpha program is endorsed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (and its counterparts in vari-ous parts of the world) as well as Vati-can leaders in the Pontifical Councils for the New Evangelization and the Promotion of Christian Unity. Al-pha is also a recommended program by Bp. James V. Johnston to all par-ishes and missions in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in order to meet Goal #1: Grow in Holiness, one of the three priorities under the diocesan Mutually-Shared Vision.

To pre-register for future sessions or other questions, contact Jenni Horn at jenni@capecenacle.com. To find out more about The Cenacle, join “Cape Cenacle” Facebook group or visit www.capecenacle.com. For more information about what others say

about Alpha, please see www.alpha.org/catholic-context/endorsements. ©TM

Maple Mount, KY— S r. Mary Ei-leen Howard, 87, an Ursu-line Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died March 8, 2015, in Owensboro, KY, in her 67th year of reli-gious life.

A native of Whites-ville, K Y , Sr. Howard taught in St. Teresa School, Glennonville (1973-74), and schools throughout Kentucky.

Survivors include one sister, Ita Belle Howard of Whitesville, and four brothers: James Howard of Louisville,

Sr. Howard

Robert Howard of Whitesville, Dan-iel Howard of Philpot, KY, and Brice Howard of Owensboro.

The funeral Mass was March 12 in Mount Saint Joseph. Glenn Fu-neral Home and Crema-tory, Owensboro, wa s in charge of arrangements.

Gifts in memory of Sr. Howard may take the

form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings R d. , Maple Mount, KY 42356. ©TM

Former Glennonville educator dies at 87

KHJMCatholic radio for Southeast Missouri

89.1 FM

From Jackson to the Bootheel, KHJM 89.1 FM brings the heart of Catholic Radio to the area. Heart of Jesus and Mary

From Page 1

ALPHA: WHY AM I HERE?—Alpha is a series of 11 interactive sessions built around dinner, a presentation, and discussion along with a week-end or day retreat. The evening’s talk focuses on the foundational ques-tions that unite us as Christians and leads participants to examine or develop their relationship with God through prayer, exploration of Scripture, and Christian community. (Photo by Jenni Horn)

10 The Mirror March 20, 2015DIOCESAN NEWS

Weekend Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m. & Sun. 8:30 a.m.: “Where is God?”Sun. 7 p.m.: “Being Catholic is Knowing Jesus”Mon 7 p.m.: “The Bible & Catechism: Listening to Jesus”Tues 7 p.m.: “The 4 Levels of Happiness: Following Jesus”Wed 7 p.m.: “Mass & Holy Communion: The Peal Presence of Jesus” (with celebration of Mass)For more information, call(573) 546-2611

Fr. Lukefahr is a Catholic priest, theologian, writer,

and Chris-tian apolo-gist. With more than 40 years experience

as a religious educator, he is one of America’s most popular interpreters of the Catholic faith.

The Grace of Being Catholicwith Fr. Oscar Lukefahr, C.M. atSte. Marie Du Lac Catholic Church, Ironton, MOApril 11-15, 2015

Theology On Tap—Vocation Edition

Several opportunities for vocation discernment will be held in various seminaries during the month of April. These days serve as occasions for young men (age 16 and older) to attend Mass, pray, interact with seminarians, take part in discussions and presentations with other men in order to better understand God’s movement in their lives. For more information about these dates, including transportation, please contact your local pastor, or Fr. Patrick Nwokoye, Director of Voca-tion Promotion, (573) 200-1814/Email: pnwokoye@dioscg.org, or Fr. J. Friedel, Director of Vocations/Seminarians, jfriedel@dioscg.org.

April 10-11, 2015 “Quo Vadis” Kenrick Glennon SeminarySt. Louis, MO

April 17-19, 2015 “Exploring Priesthood Weekend” Mundelein SeminaryMundelein, IL

April 18-20, 2015 “Encounter With God’s Call” Conception Seminary CollegeConception, MO

April 24-26, 2015 “Discernment Retreat”St. Meinrad SeminaryMeinrad, IN

Please join us for a presentation on Vocation and Life of a Seminar-ian by diocesan seminarians Josh Carroll and Charles Peirano at Katie O’Farrels in Cape Girardeau, MO, o n Tue ., April 7 at 8 p.m. For more information, please contact Fr. Pat-rick Nwokoye at (573 ) 200 - 1814 or Email pnwokoye@dioscg.org. Josh Carroll Charles

Peirano

Office of Vocations announces discernment weekends in April

McAuley undefeated in Ozark 7 competition

WARRIORS RANKED FIRST—The McAuley Catholic High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team went undefeated in the recent Ozark 7 com-petition to bring home the Ozark 7 Conference Title. In addition to the team award, individual players and the coach were also honored for accomplishments over the 2014-15 basketball season: Lathan Vlasin named Conference Player of the Year; Adam Robertson named 1st Team All-Conference; Jake Dole named 2nd Team All-Conference; and Coach Randy Robertson named Ozark 7 Conference Coach of the Year. In com-pleting the season, the McAuley Warriors had 12 wins and 6 losses.

St. Joseph Parish, AdvanceSt. Joseph Parish, BillingsOld St. Vincent Church, Cape GirardeauSt. Ann Church, CarthageSt. Francis de Sales Parish, LebanonSt. John the Baptist Mission Church, Licking Sacred Heart Church, Mountain GroveImmaculate Conception Church, New MadridSacred Heart Church, Poplar BluffSacred Heart Church, SalemImmaculate Conception Church, Springfield

Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12The following parishes w ill celebrate Divine Mercy

Sunday celebrations beginning at 3 p.m. on Sun. , April 12:

Congratulationsto Fr. Rick Jones for his

25th Anniversaryon March 24From his brothers at Father Paul McHugh Council 6470 Knights of Columbus in Branson, MO

March 20, 2015 The Mirror 11DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING

Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral HomeLocally-owned & operated u Dedicated u Caring u Professional

Offices of the Catholic CemeteriesPaul & Lynn Wunderlich

David Fenton • Louis Lohmeyer • Charlene Harris-BengschGene Lohmeyer • Mary Ann Johnston • Joel Champ

500 E. Walnut - Springfield (417) 862-4433www.hhlohmeyer.com

PO Box 1332Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

(573) 335-6443

Columbia Construction Co.

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. WilliamsDon R. Lohmeyer Clint W. MeaseMarquis Howell, Sr. Angela N. CollinsHeather 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

CONTEMPLATIVE

M O N KTrappist Cistercian

A small self-supporting community in the Ozark

foothills of Missouri.Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056, Ava, MO 65608 (417) 683-5110www.assumptionabbey.org assumptionabbey@usa.net

Charles Dunn makes deacon promises Meinrad, IN

Charles Dunn was among sev-enteen seminarians study-ing at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St.

Meinrad, IN, who made their deacon promises on March 5, 2015. Dunn is in his third year of theology studies.

Operated by the Benedictine monks, St. Meinrad offers initial and

ongoing formation for priests, perma-nent deacons, and lay ministers.

The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau currently has three semi-narians in formation at St. Meinrad: Colby Elbert from St. Peter the Apos-tle Parish in Joplin; Joseph Stoverink from St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau; and Dunn, who is from St. John Parish in Leopold. ©TM

DEACON PROMISES—Charles Dunn affirmed his Declaration of Freedom as he laid his hand on the Book of Gospels during the deacon promises ceremony on March 5, in St. Meinrad Seminary. Also pictured are Fr. Tobias Colgan, OSB, Vice Rector of St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology; and Fr. Julian Peters, OSB, Director of Permanent Deacon Program and Director of Liturgy. Mark your calendars: Dunn is slated for ordination to the diaconate on June 5 in St. Vincent de Paul Church, Cape Girardeau. (Photo courtesy of St. Meinrad)

Part-time music teacherSt. Augustine School, Kelso,

is in need of a part-time music teacher. Preference given to a practicing Catholic. For more information, contact Deborah McCann, (573) 264-4644. Appli-cation deadline is 3/23/15.

12 The Mirror March 20, 2015ADULT FORUM

Washington DC

Four US Catholic publications with a broad range of audi-ences have come together in a joint editorial citing Church

leaders in calling for an end to the death penalty in the US.

“Capital punishment must end,” stated a March 5 editorial by America magazine, the National Catholic Register, the National Catholic Reporter, and Our Sunday Visitor.

The death penalty is both “ab-horrent and unnecessary,” the pub-lications said, arguing that the prac-tice of capital punishment drains resources in court battles that would be “better deployed in preventing crime in the first place and working toward restorative justice for those who commit less heinous crimes.”

The joint editorial comes a month before the US Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case chal-lenging lethal injection protocol as cruel and unusual punishment. Last

‘Capital punishment must end’Catholic publications unite in rare joint statement

year saw a string of botched execu-tions: inmates in at least three dif-ferent states were observed gasping for breath, choking, convulsing, and clenching their fists. In one case, an inmate took nearly two hours to die. In another, an inmate died of a mas-sive heart attack half an hour after the lethal injection.

In their editorial, the Catholic publications highlighted the words of Church leaders in opposition to the death penalty. They pointed to St. John Paul II’s 1997 addition to the catechism, which teaches that cases where the death penalty is necessary “are very rare, if not practically non-existent,” as well as Pope Francis’ ex-hortation last year for Catholics “to fight … for the abolition of the death penalty.”

Within the US, the editorial also referenced the words of numer-ous bishops against the use of the death penalty in recent decades.

Abp. Paul Coakley of Oklaho-ma City called for a re-examination

of the death penalty after a botched execution in his state last year.

Last month, Philadelphia Abp. Charles Chaput reiterated his repeat-ed statements on the subject, saying, “When we take a guilty person’s life we only add to the violence in an al-ready violent culture and we demean our own dignity in the process.”

Earlier this year, Miami Abp. Thomas Wenski, who chairs the US bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, stressed that “the use of the death penalty devalues human life and di-minishes respect for human dignity.”

Boston Card. Sean O’Malley, head of the bishops’ pro-life commit-tee, echoed these words, emphasiz-ing that society can protect itself in other ways than the death penalty, and adding that “institutionalized practices of violence against any per-son erode reverence for the sanctity of every human life.”

“We, the editors of four Catho-lic journals … urge the readers of our

diverse publications and the whole US Catholic community and all people of faith to stand with us and say, ‘Capital punishment must end’,” said the publications.

Addressing the claim that the death penalty brings closure to the families of victims, the editorial pointed to the words of a Mercy Sis-ter, whose order holds an annual ser-vice for Families and Friends of Mur-der Victims.

The sister said that the mothers who attend the event never ask for the death penalty, because they say that they do not want another fam-ily to suffer what they have suffered.

Jeanette De Melo, editor-in-chief of the National Catholic Register, explained the joint editorial as an effort to embrace the Gospel of Life proclaimed by St. John Paul II and his successors.

“(W)hile we recognize that the Church has allowed for the legiti-mate use of the death penalty for so-ciety’s self-defense, we find that it’s harder and harder to argue that a particular act of capital punishment is circumstantially necessary today in contemporary America,” she said.

“Unity among Catholics in defense of life can send a powerful message. Euthanasia, abortion, war, and capital punishment differ in moral weight, but they all threaten human dignity and we must work to end them,” she said, adding that “we look forward to the day we can stand in unity with the other Catho-lic publications on each of these life issues.”

“The readerships of our vari-ous publications represent a wide spectrum of views on the Catholic church,” said National Catholic Re-porter editor Dennis Coday.

“That we can forge a joint state-ment in opposition to the death pen-alty is a testament to the lasting soli-darity Catholics show on all issues that touch on the sanctity of life.”

The editorial noted that Flori-da, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have all put a temporary halt to the death penalty.

Noting the importance of the Supreme Court decision expected this summer, the four publications voiced their hope that the ruling will expand this moratorium to be-come a broader ban.

“We join our bishops in hoping the court will reach the conclusion that it is time for our nation to em-body its commitment to the right to life by abolishing the death penalty once and for all.” ©CNA

SOLIDARITY FOR LIFE—Four US Catholic publications have come together in a joint editorial citing Church leaders calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. “We join our bishops in hoping the [Supreme] court will reach the conclusion that it is time for our nation to embody its commitment to the right to life by abolishing the death penalty once and for all.” (Photo by Matteo Parrini via Flickr)