July 3, 2026
Annual Priest Appointments R E L E A S E D J U LY 1
One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus
DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
Springfield, MO
B
ishop Edward M. Rice recently announced the following clergy assignments effective Wed., July 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted. Please keep these priests in your prayers as they adjust to their new assignments. Please pray, too, for their former parishioners and new parishioners during this time of transition. Several religious communities and apostolates announced changes in locations and assignments as well.
PA R OC H I A L V I CA R
Reverend Nick Zummo is appointed Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, in Webb City, and St. Ann Parish, in Carthage, as well as Chaplain in the Joplin Area Catholic School System. He concludes ZUMMO his assignment as Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, in Springfield, and Lead Chaplain of Springfield Catholic High School.
L EAVI N G T H E DI O C E S E
Reverend Emmanuel Dibia concludes
his assignment as Sacramental Priest of the St. John Henry Newman Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau. Deacon Mark Kiblinger will conclude his assignment as diocesan Director of the Society for the Propagation of Faith and has moved his residence to the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
KIBLINGER
OT HE R
Reverend Jesse Hiett concludes his responsibility of providing liturgical assistance at St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral and Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease. Mr. Steve Reddin is appointed as diocesan Director of the Society for the Propagation of Faith. Reverend Joseph Kearns, SMP, has been assigned by his general superior as chaplain at the Society of Our Mother of
Women Religious Updates Vol. LXII, No. 6
DIBIA
Little Portion Franciscan sisters, Sr. Cecilia Bergscheider, OSF, and Sr. Sheryl Hernandez, OSF, have left the diocese after over 40 years in ministry in southern Missouri to be closer to family in Lee’s Summit, MO. Please keep Sr. Bergscheider and Sr. Hernandez in your prayers during this time of transition. The Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament concluded their ministry in Sacred Heart Parish and School, in Poplar Bluff, and relocated to BERGSCHEIDER
Peace-Queen of Heaven Solitude in Marionville. Fr. Kearns will provide sacramental ministry for the sisters and lead retreats for the laity as needed. Reverend Denis HIETT Lemieux of Marian Acres/Madonna House Apostolate in Salem, MO, will depart the diocese on July 1, to take a new assignment for his religious order in Canada. We are grateful to Fr. Lemieux for his participation in REDDIN diocesan events and for his willingness to assist in sacramental ministry when possible. Reverend Zachary Romanowsky, Madonna House Apostolate, will serve as chaplain at Marian LEMIEUX Acres, in Salem, replacing Fr. Denis Lemieux effective July 13, 2026. ©TM
Cape Girardeau effective June 1, 2026. With their departure, their religious house in Poplar Bluff was closed, and a new religious community was canonically erected in Cape Girardeau on June HERNANDEZ 16, 2026. Sister Nelly Rivera, MC, Sr. Rocio Alcantar, MC, and Sr. Ana Lidia Gonzalez, MC, will serve in St. Vincent de Paul Parish and School; St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral; and Immaculate Conception Parish and School, in Jackson. ©TM
RIVERA
ALCANTAR
NEW CONVENT IN CAPE GIRARDEAU—
Bishop Edward M. Rice and Fr. Rick Jones welcomed the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to Cape Girardeau on June 17, 2026. (The Mirror)
The next issue of The Mirror will be July 17, 2026. Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email in digital format: Contact Debbie Thompson at (417) 866-0841, or Email: dthompson@dioscg.org.
Diocesan Eucharistic Congress
AUG. 15, 2026
WEST PLAINS CIVIC CENTER
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