1-16-26 The Mirror(digital)

Rev. King, a Baptist, lived Catholic social justice in ‘extraordinary fashion,’ says cardinal

By Tony Gutiérrez OSV News

Last year Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory became the first African American to participate in a papal conclave, which eventually elected Pope Leo XIV.

While there have been African cardinals from the earliest days of the Church, Cardinal Gregory is the first US citizen of African descent to wear the red cassock.

The history-making prelate concelebrated and preached at the Diocese of Phoenix’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mass Jan. 17 at Xavier College Preparatory High School’s Chapel of Our Lady in central Phoenix.

Following the Mass, the diocese’s Black Catholic Ministry hosted the MLK Service Awards and Prayer Breakfast, recognizing students who have found ways to embody Rev. King’s legacy of justice, compassion, and service in today’s world.

Cardinal Gregory was to also celebrate Mass the next morning at St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish in Phoenix— the diocese’s personal parish for Black Catholics.

MLK Day is Jan. 19 this year. The US federal holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of January, honoring the Civil Rights leader’s life and achievements.

Cardinal Gregory, the retired archbishop of Washington, has had several firsts as an African American, including the first to be named a cardinal and first to serve as president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. His tenure as USCCB president (2001-2004), when he was the bishop of Belleville, IL, came during one of the most difficult periods in the American Church’s history when the sex-abuse crisis rocked the nation.

Pope Francis named him a cardinal on Nov. 28, 2020.

“Each one of these ‘firsts’ has allowed me to realize how graced I have been and also the need for me to leave a heritage that makes my people proud so that whoever might be next in those same offices will have an example in which to take pride and to expand upon in achieving even more significant contributions to our Church and society,” Cardinal Gregory told The Catholic Sun, Phoenix’s diocesan news outlet.

“One comment that I have repeatedly heard, especially since becoming a cardinal and that still manages to bring me to tears is: ‘Honey, I never thought that I would live to see the day!’” added the prelate, who turned 78 Dec. 7.

Heard Rev. King speak

As a young man in Chicago, the future cardinal was among 35,000 people to see Rev. King speak at the Chicago Freedom Movement rally July 10, 1966, at Soldiers’ Field.

Ordained as a Baptist minister, the Civil Rights leader was well-versed in the church fathers, quoting St. Augustine in his famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” asserting that “an unjust law is no law at all.”

He famously locked arms with leaders of many faiths, including Catholic priests and religious sisters, when peacefully marching for the rights of all. Following an audience with St. Paul VI in 1964, Rev. King referred to the pope as “a friend of the Negro people.”

was saintly in the way that he followed the Gospel mandates to love one another as Christ has loved us,” reflected the cardinal.

Cardinal Gregory noted that some of those who are not Catholic can still be counted among the saints in heaven, referencing Eucharistic Prayer IV: “Remember also those who have died in the peace of your Christ and all the dead whose faith you alone have known.”

While he never met Rev. King, Cardinal Gregory did have the opportunity to meet his widow, Coretta Scott King, on multiple occasions during his ecclesiastical career.

When he was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago in 1983, she attended as a guest of then-Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. When he became archbishop of Atlanta—where the King family still lives—the prelate met her when participating in celebrations honoring the slain Civil Rights leader.

“Several of these encounters would have taken place at the Ebenezer Church in Atlanta during the annual observance of Dr. King’s January Commemoration,” he recalled. “I was privileged to be invited to Coretta’s funeral services.”

Throughout his life, Cardinal Gregory has experienced the sting of racism, even within the Catholic Church. People today often engage in discriminatory behavior even if they aren’t intending to, he noted.

“They might say things that suggest that they are surprised when people of color exhibit gifts that they might not have thought that we could even possess,” the cardinal said. “I have had people tell me that they were surprised that I spoke so clearly and distinctly. What did they expect?”

In the history of the Church in the US, there have been 29 black bishops but only four archbishops, including Cardinal Gregory, who was Atlanta’s archbishop (2005-2019) before being appointed archbishop of Washington on April 4, 2019.

Rev. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent struggle “for Civil Rights for the Afro-American population.” Cardinal Gregory referred to this use of nonviolence as a “positive and effective response to oppression everywhere.”

“Dr. King, although he was not himself a Catholic, lived Catholic social justice morality in an extraordinary fashion. He

While there are many examples of individuals who have modeled racial healing and harmony, including those of different faiths or no faith at all, religious faith in itself should be enough motivation to live justly, Cardinal Gregory said.

“That is why examples of bigotry in the behavior of those who claim a religious heritage is an amplified source of scandal

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Let our behavior be ‘a

homily of actions,’ not words COME, AND YOU

Bp. Edward M. Rice

s we prepare for our Diocesan Eucharistic Congress in August, we continue to reflect on wisdom found in Sacred Signs, by Romano Guardini:

“When a man feels proud of himself, he stands erect, draws himself to his full height, throws back his head and shoulders and says with every part of his body, I am bigger and more important than you. But when he is humble, he feels his littleness and lowers his head and shrinks into himself. He abases himself. And the greater the presence in which he stands the more deeply he abases himself; the smaller he becomes in his own eyes. But when does our littleness so come home to us as when we stand in God’s presence? He is the great God, who is today and yesterday, whose years are hundreds and thousands, who fills the place where we are, the city, the wide world, the powerless space of the starry sky, … He is so great, I am so small, so small that beside Him I seem hardly to exist, so wanting am I in worth and substance. … To appear less presumptuous, to be as little and low as we feel, we sink to our knees and thus sacrifice half our height; And to satisfy our hearts still further we bow down our heads, and our diminished stature speaks to God and says, Thou art the great God; I am nothing. Therefore let not the bending of our knees be a hurried gesture, an empty form. Put meaning into it. To kneel, in the soul’s intention, is to bow down before God in deepest reverence. On entering the church, or in passing before the altar, genuflect all the way without haste or hurry, putting your heart into what you do, and let your whole attitude say, Thou art the great God.”

The priest has a unique perspective from the sanctuary. He sees things that the people gathered in the pew for Holy Mass rarely see, at least not

from the priest’s perspective. And I am going to go out on a limb here and without intending to offend anyone, I will say that I can tell by the way a person genuflects, or not, whether they believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Some people do the “pew slide,” an awkward movement where they know they are supposed to do something before entering the pew but they are not quite sure what, and so they do this downward slide while making the sign of the cross (sometimes), landing in the pew. Others do the “who’s here” a self-conscious, awkward attempt to genuflect, while looking around to see if they know anyone. And, some do nothing at all. They walk into church as if they are walking in the mall and take their seat without acknowledging the Divine. But there are believers, people who put their heart into that moment of genuflection, directing their attention to the tabernacle, making it a statement of belief. To watch them is to watch a prayer. How do you genuflect?

I recall a letter I received a couple of years ago, a letter of complaint I shared with the clergy. A woman

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Jan. 22, 2026

was at a daily Mass, explaining to her child the importance of genuflecting before the tabernacle. In walked the priest, she said, passing in front of the tabernacle without a hint of reverence, no bow or genuflection. She said that moment destroyed everything she was trying to teach her child. I still remember her plea; Tell the priests we see their behavior. It matters.

I’ve often mentioned the old adage, “Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.” I’ve often told priests at the time of their installation as pastor, that their behavior is a homily, long before they approach the pulpit to preach. And isn’t that true for all of us? Let our actions, how we make the sign of the cross, or genuflect or kneel, be a homily of actions, not of words. January 21 is the Feast of St. Agnes, the patroness of our cathedral in

TEMPORARY ABSENCE FROM THE DIOCESE

Due to issues with US Immigration, Reverend Alex Sutachan will take a leave of absence from St. Michael the Archangel Parish, in Fredericktown, effective January 5, 2026

During this time in his home country of Colombia, he will be continuing his academic studies.

NEW PASTORAL CHANGES

Reverend Antony Thekkanath, VC, is appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, in Fredericktown, effective February 5, 2026 ©TM

ANOTHER WALK THROUGH: ‘Walking Together’

By Bishop Emeritus John J. Leibrecht

Before his

Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Bishop John Leibrecht wrote a standing column in The Mirror entitled, “Walking Together.” At the end of each article, Bp. Leibrecht would normally share a funny story referencing his travels to the schools, or time with friends, family, or other bishops. The Mirror has decided to share a few of these in an ongoing series entitled, “Another walk through: ‘Walking Together.’” We hope you enjoy them.

August 19, 1994 Tommy was a good worker in the fast-food restaurant where he had a job. But he did have a problem: he was usually 15-20 minutes late to his shift. One day when he came in only five minutes late, his boss told him: “Congratulations, Tommy! This is the earliest you have ever been late.”

September 2, 1994 The religion teacher asked fifth graders if they could think of any words of Jesus about marriage. One boy asked, “Isn’t that when he said, ‘Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing?’”

October 14, 1994 One of the bishops traveling to Rome with me said, “If I actually look like the photo in my passport, I’m probably too sick to travel.”

Springfield. May her example of fidelity in the midst of persecution inspire the young people of our diocese to consider the priesthood and religious life. On January 22, we celebrate the annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. May we always treasure and protect the gift of life from the womb till natural death.

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. ©TM

A SEASON OF SERVICE: Living the Legacy of St. Vincent de Paul DIOCESAN

Cape Girardeau

The spirit of generosity and service continues to shine brightly at St. Vincent de Paul Parish. This Advent season, the parish community once again came together to organize, collect, and donate Christmas gifts for foster children and those served through the Whole Health Outreach Christmas Project, in Ellington, MO.

IS CARING—The parish community of St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Giradeau, once again came together to organize, collect, and donate Christmas gifts for foster children and those served through the Whole Health Outreach Christmas Project, in Ellington, MO. (Submitted photo)

“Through the faithful response of our parishioners, hundreds of children were reminded that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved,” said Fr. Rick Jones, pastor. “This collective effort is a powerful witness to the heart of our parish and its commitment to serving others with compassion and care.”

This outreach beautifully reflects one of our parish anchors, Fr. Jones said. “‘Holy Service’ - uplifting others through charity and love.”

Parishioners selected gift tags representing both needs and wishes for each child, purchased the requested items, and returned them to the parish. Every gift was carefully checked for accuracy, with volunteers filling in any remaining needs to ensure no child was overlooked. Through this thoughtful and organized process, the parish provided hundreds of gifts, bringing

hope, dignity, and joy to children and families facing difficult circumstances.

“This is the true spirit of St. Vincent de Paul himself,” said Fr. Jones. “Known for seeing Christ in the poor and responding with humility and action, St. Vincent taught that faith must be lived through service.”

The Christmas project came to life through the dedication of parish leaders Debbie Baumgart, Jamie Shaffar, and Julie Schuchardt, with technical support from Danna Bruns, and the many volunteers who checked, shopped, and prepared each gift with care. Their leadership, and the generosity of the parish family, reflect a living legacy of “Holy Service.” As Scripture reminds us, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

SIX BAPTIZED IN ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST PARISH, HOUSTON

OBITUARY // Rev. Michael Vincent ‘Mike’ McDevitt

Eldon, MO

Father Michael Vincent “Mike” McDevitt, 81, a retired priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, passed away January 9, 2026.

Born July 13, 1944, Fr. McDevitt is survived by his siblings and their spouses, including: brother Ed (Mary) McDevitt; sister-in-law Julie (brother Dennis) McDevitt; sister-in-law Mary (brother Maurice) McDevitt; sister Margaret Mary (Dennis) McCarthy; brother-inlaw Steve (sister Marie) Neville; brother Jim (Karen) McDevitt; sister Kathy (Jim) Bredenkoetter; and brother Larry (Sherri) McDevitt; along with 27 first-generation nieces and nephews; 60 second-generation nieces and nephews; 12 third-generation nieces and nephews; and extended family members, clergy, friends, and parishioners.

He is preceded in death by his father Edward

J. McDevitt and his mother Margaret R. McDevitt; brother Dennis (Julie) McDevitt; brother Maurice (Mary) McDevitt; and sister Marie (Steve) Neville.

From as far back as he could remember, Fr. McDevitt wanted to be a priest. He entered the seminary at age 15 and pursued his calling with unwavering devotion, deep intellectual curiosity, and an enduring belief that ministry is ultimately about serving people and meeting them with humility, compassion, and a true servant’s heart. His faith was shaped by his love for St. Francis, and those closest to him saw that spirit in how he lived: with simplicity, compassion, and a devotion to others.

Father McDevitt attended Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, where he received a Master’s in Phenomenology of Religion. He received his Master of Divinity in 1971 at Saint Meinrad School of Theology, in Rockport, IN.

He remained a lifelong learner and voracious reader, with a deep love of theology, philosophy, and history.

Father McDevitt was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1971, at his family’s home parish of St. Thomas More, Bel-Ridge, MO, by then-Bishop William W. Baum for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Over the course of his priesthood, Fr. McDevitt

served across southern Missouri in many roles — pastor, associate pastor, chaplain, teacher, and diocesan leader. For more than 50 years, he served the people of the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau with devotion and humility, always willing to step-in wherever the need was greatest.

While his priesthood reflects decades of roles and titles, those who knew him best remember something simpler: he cared about people and he served with sincerity.

Throughout his years of ministry, his assignments included (but were not limited to) the following parishes, schools, and diocesan roles:

• St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Cape Girardeau (Associate Pastor)

• Notre Dame High School, Cape Girardeau (Religion Teacher)

• St. Augustine Parish, Kelso (Associate Pastor)

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Springfield (Pastor)

• Our Lady of the Ozarks, Forsyth, MO (Pastor)

• Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Poplar Bluff (Pastor)

• VA Hospital, Poplar Bluff (Chaplain)

• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and School, Springfield (Administrator, Pastor, Sacramental Priest)

• St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield (Pastor)

• Springfield Catholic Schools (Director)

• Holy Trinity Parish, Aurora (Canonical Pastor)

• Sacred Heart Parish, Verona (Canonical Pastor)

During his years of service, he also served as an Instructor/Spiritual Moderator at Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau; Director of the Diocesan Council of Youth; Spiritual Moderator of Springfield Catholic High School; diocesan Director of Vocations and Seminarians; diocesan Director of Youth; diocesan Director of the Permanent Diaconate; Moderator of Region 9 of the diocese, Director of Springfield Catholic Schools, Marriage Encounter, Council of Family Ministry, and Teens Encounter Christ (TEC).

Father McDevitt retired from active ministry on July 6, 2017. In September of 2018, he became Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart, Poplar Bluff, and St. Benedict, Doniphan. He re-entered retirement on July 2, 2019. Father McDevitt moved to Eldon, MO, in June of 2025. After battling a case of pneumonia, Fr. McDevitt passed away at the hospital in Jefferson City on January 9, 2026. May he rest in peace.

To family, he was simply Uncle Mike — a beloved presence and in so many ways the glue that helped hold generations together. He was there for life’s most important moments, presiding over weddings, baptisms, and funerals, and reminding all of what it means to show up for one another.

The Funeral Mass for Fr. McDevitt will be celebrated on Mon., Jan. 19, 2026, in St. Mary Magdalen Parish, in St. Louis, MO (Brentwood), at 9:30 a.m.

Graveside Service will be held on Mon., Jan. 19, 2026, at Lake Charles Park Cemetery, in Breckenridge Hills, MO, at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the Knights of Columbus Bldg., in Cottleville, MO, at 1:30 p.m.

A Memorial Mass will be held in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, in Springfield, MO, on Mon., Jan. 26, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception. ©TM

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Carthage Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend—March 20-22, 2026. Make a good marriage a great marriage! The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend experience is the perfect way to renew, refresh, and reignite your marriage! The next weekend will be held March 20-22, at the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Carthage. For more information or to register Online, go to: https://wwme.org/.

Carthage & Fredericktown Upcoming Men’s and Women’s Cursillo Weekends: The Cursillo® Movement pursues two purposes or objectives. The immediate purpose is to provide a conduit for living what is fundamental for being a Christian, namely, the on-going and total conversion of the person. The end purpose is to vertebrae Christianity in society by means of these persons who live what is fundamental for being Christian (the love of God and neighbor) in their daily lives. Simply explained, the purpose of the Cursillo Movement is that we become the Good News, and that our actions naturally turn out to be evangelical in our daily lives. Upcoming Cursillo Weekends in the diocese: Men’s Weekend: Feb. 26-March 1, 2026, Fredericktown. Women’s Weekends: March 19-22, 2026, Fredericktown; April 23-26, 2026, Carthage. For more information or to register Online: https://dioscg.org/cursillo/.

Chaffee—St. Ambrose Men’s Club will have a Whole Hog Sausage Breakfast, Sun., Feb. 1, 7:30-11am, in the St. Ambrose Parish Center. Sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy. Dinein and carry-out available.

Sikeston—The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Grandparents Association (CGA) will hold a CUPID BASH Sat., Feb. 14-Valentine’s Day, after the 5pm Mass, in the Parish Center. Families are invited to enjoy a spaghetti dinner and activities for children. Cost is your good-will donation. Proceeds will be used for VBS and CGA activities.

Springfield—Participate in the Eucharistic Pilgrimage! Each month,

January 2026 through July 2026, a parish in a different diocesan deanery will host a Holy Hour to pray for the people of our diocese during this time of preparation for the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and our upcoming 70th Anniversary. You are invited to join Bishop Rice for the first Holy Hour to be held on Thu., Jan. 22, around 6 pm (immediately following the 5:30pm daily Mass), in St. Agnes Cathedral

Springfield LOCATION CHANGE! All couples who plan to attend the special Diocesan Anniversary Celebration in the Springfield area—Due to the construction at St. Agnes Cathedral, the celebration in Springfield will now be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, located at 2200 W. Republic Rd., Sun., Feb. 8, 1:30-3:30 pm. There is still time to RSVP to attend, by completing the Online Registration at https://docs. google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdz4Lg d3jTPY56jQT8JPLyN1BLSb10ZLm0t70 92H7mjYmt_CA/viewform or by calling the diocesan Family Life Office at (417) 866-0841.

Springfield—Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) will hold its 37th Annual Jack Frost 5K, RUN/WALK, Sat., Jan. 24, 2026. Race begins at 9am. Cost: $25 students; $25 group (10+); $45 Early Registration (Until Jan. 23, 4:30pm); $50 Day of Race. Register at: https:// runsignup.com/Race/MO/Springfield/ JackFrost165kRun25KWalk. Questions? Contact Bev Franklin at (417) 860-6329 or bfranklin@ccm847.org.

Springfield 40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. The Spring 2026 campaign will run Feb. 18-March 29 in front of Springfield Planned Parenthood, located at 626 E. Battlefield Rd. Find information, and sign up to participate at https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/ springfieldmo.

Parishes and organizations are invited to submit notices of future events to be printed on a spaceavailable basis. There is no fee.

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For more information contact: Karen@proximotravel.com.

To register call 855-842-8001 or at www.proximotravel.com.

DIOCESAN NEWS/ADULT FAITH

DIOCESE TO SPIN-OFF FROM CHRISTIAN BROTHERS PENSION PLAN

By Paula Wright Springfield

The Defined Pension Benefit Plan managed by Christian Brothers Services, Romeoville, IL, has experienced a significant shortfall affecting all participating member organizations, to include the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. According to the company’s Website, Christian Brothers offers retirement services for over 40,000 member employees. Everyone participating in the Defined Pension Benefit Plan has been impacted. For the diocese, locally, this includes both current and former lay personnel such as teachers, staffers in parish and school offices, and employees of The Catholic Center. Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri previously withdrew from the plan.

On July 1, 2021, the Christian Brothers Defined Pension Benefit Plan had an adequate funded ratio of 77.83%. In April of 2024, the diocese received information from Christian Brothers that the plan funded-ratio had dropped to 66.02%. This news was very concerning, and at the time. Bishop Edward Rice and the Diocesan Finance Council formed a committee to study the pension plan and to meet with Christian Brothers regarding potential changes.

By August 2025, the Christian Brothers Summary of Financial Condition for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan year ending June 30, 2025, identified a funded-ratio in the amount of 68.56% and an unfunded shortfall amount in the Defined Pension Benefit Plan for all participating organizations of $744 million. Specifically for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, the funded ratio is only 58.6% with an unfunded shortfall amount of $25.6 million. Along with the recent reporting,

Christian Brothers provided three options for participants: stay in the plan, withdraw from the plan, or spin-off from the plan.

Staying in the plan would involve increasing the contributions of participants from a 7.52% rate to 14.91% rate in order to decrease the unfunded amount, an option that is not affordable for diocesan parishes and schools. This option also includes a small reduction in retirement benefits from the current accrual of 1.62% to a new benefit accrual of 1.57%.

Withdrawing from the plan would involve paying Christian Brother an estimated unfunded withdrawal liability of $36 million.

“Again, the committee did not think this was a feasible option,” said Doug Kissinger, diocesan CFO.

The third option, a spin-off from the plan, requires the Diocese to take its assets and its liabilities and develop a new retirement plan. After much consideration, the retirement pension committee concluded that the spin-off was the only viable option.

TRANSITION TO A NEW PLAN

Arthur J. Gallagher & Company has been retained to help transition to a new plan. Gallagher has worked with over 50 diocesan clients in the United States on a wide range of insurance, pension, and retirement needs. It currently works with the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. They were hired last spring to negotiate the health insurance coverage for diocesan employees. They are also assisting several other dioceses and religious organizations navigate the move from the Christian Brothers Defined Pension Benefit Plan.

There will be no immediate changes for current employees and retirees.

Christian Brothers will continue to pay benefits to retirees. Existing employees will continue to accrue benefits at the current accrual rate of 1.62% through June 30, 2026.

TIMELINE FOR TRANSITION

The committee has developed a timeline for this transition with the intent to have information on the new plan by the end of January. The targeted date to implement the new retirement plan is July 1, 2026.

The diocese anticipates that retirees and employees will be presented with options in this transition period. In the upcoming weeks, the diocese will send additional information about the new retirement benefits package to current and former employees. The diocese also intends to host in-person and virtual meetings to further educate employees and retirees about the changes being made to the retirement benefits package.

One of the largest employee groups impacted by the pension plan changes are the Catholic Schools teachers, staff, and administrators.

UNDERFUNDED PENSION

—The Defined Pension Benefit Plan managed by Christian Brothers Services, Romeoville, IL, has experienced a significant shortfall affecting all participating member organizations, to include the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. For the diocese, locally, this includes both current and former lay personnel such as teachers, staffers in parish and school offices, employees of The Catholic Center, and Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. (The Mirror)

“I believe that those working on the pension plan changes for the diocese have the welfare of our employees as a priority,” said Deacon Rob Huff, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, who is a member of the diocesan study committee. “The results of their efforts will have a significant impact on our diocesan schools. I am confident that the diocese will be able to develop a program that meets the needs of both current and future retirees.”

“Bishop Rice’s number-one priority is to take care of employees and retirees in this transition,” Kissinger said. “The committee is working with this goal in

Diocesan Eucharistic Congress

AUGUST 15, 2026 WEST PLAINS CIVIC CENTER

Monthly Resources—Year of Spiritual Preparation

To encourage everyone to spiritually prepare during the months leading up to the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, we have compiled a resource list for each month, January through July of 2026, with suggestions for Church documents to read, music to sing or with which to

meditate, sacred art to contemplate, movies to watch, and activities which can be done with family and friends. All of the monthly resources are available on the diocesan Webpage at: https://dioscg.org/diocesaneucharistic-congress/.

mind during this transition period.” There are approximately 1,400 past and present employees involved in the diocesan pension plan, with 513 currently receiving benefits. Information regarding the changes have been sent to all retirees and former employees eligible for the pension plan. If you are a retiree or former eligible employee of the diocese and have not received information regarding these changes, please contact Doug Kissinger at The Catholic Center directly by calling (417) 866-0841, or Email him at dkissinger@dioscg.org.

Please keep the pension committee in your prayers as they work to bring about a successful conclusion to this difficult situation. ©TM

“Christ is reserved in our churches as the spiritual center of the heart of the community, the universal Church, and all humanity, since within the veil of the species, Christ is contained, the invisible heart of the Church, the Redeemer of the world, the center of all hearts, by Him all things are and of Whom we exist .” — POPE ST. PAUL VI MYSTERIUM FIDEI

CARDINAL GREGORY // Continued from page 1... and shame,” he said.

Embracing all cultures

Sister Thea Bowman’s address to the US bishops in Newark, NJ, in June 1989 “describes eloquently how the Catholic Church must throw open our doors and hearts to cherish and embrace the many cultures and gifts that people of color have to offer to the entire Church,” he reflected.

Sister Thea, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, was nationally known as a dynamic evangelist before she died of cancer in 1990. As a candidate for sainthood, she has the title “Servant of God” and is among seven Black Catholics with active sainthood causes— dubbed the “Saintly Seven.” Evangelization means to be open to welcoming people as they are in order to introduce them to Christ, Cardinal Gregory said. One of the biggest challenges to this is inviting people to bring their own gifts to the

DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING

Church.

“ We have not done this perfectly throughout the centuries. A sad sign of racism is the attitude that one must ‘become like me’ in order to fit within the Church,” he said. “If that were the case, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific lands would never be received and welcomed. It is the obstacle that too often prevents people of color to feel at home within the Church.”

Evangelization means to be open to welcoming people as they are in order to introduce them to Christ.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit called the Church to welcome people from throughout the world and to spread the good news of the Gospel to all corners of the earth. This is still a challenge today, the cardinal said, exhorting the Church to “welcome the stranger.” ©OSV News

Tony Gutiérrez writes for The Catholic Sun, the news outlet of the Diocese of Phoenix. This story was originally published by The Catholic Sun and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.

The VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children Safe Environment training for adults is available online.

Preregistration is necessary: If you are a new registrant please go to www.virtus.org and click on “first time registrant” on the left, and follow the prompts to register for Online training. Instructions for the registration process can also be found on the Child and Youth Protection Page of the diocesan Website.

www.dioscg.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Register-for-a-VIRTUS-withOnline-Option.pdf

Both in-person and online training sessions are for adults only.

Before engaging in activities involving minors and/or vulnerable adults, new volunteers or employees are required to complete the VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training for adults, submit a current Background Disclosure and Authorization Form, and read, sign and submit the annual Code of Conduct, which are available on the VIRTUS Website and the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Child and Youth Protection Webpage: www.dioscg.org/childyouth-protection/

For more information, please contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection, childandyouthprotection@dioscg.org; or Bill Holtmeyer, billholtmeyer@dioscg.org; or Shelly Ferry, sferry@dioscg.org, (417) 866-0841.