July 31, 2026 One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus
DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
Vol. LXII, No. 8
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KNIGHTS ORGANIZE PATRIOTIC MASS & ROSARY TO COINCIDE WITH NATION’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY By Paula Wright
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Cape Girardeau, MO
hen the Riverfest celebration returned to downtown Cape Girardeau for the first time in 20 years, Knights of Columbus Council #1111 saw an opportunity to ensure the nation’s 250th anniversary was celebrated not only with patriotic festivities, but also with prayer and worship. Although Riverfest was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., the Knights organized a morning Patriotic Rosary and Mass, inviting Catholics to mark Independence Day in prayer before the community celebration began. “The Knights Council #1111 were asked to be part of the festivities for Riverfest, and we started to think in terms of celebrating our 250th birthday as a daylong event,” said Dave Diveley, a Council #1111 member and former Grand Knight who served on the Riverfest planning committee. Dale Gerecke, Knights of Columbus Assembly #568 member, and parishioner of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, coordinated and planned the morning prayer and celebration, which was held in Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease, on Sat., July 4, with Bishop Edward Rice as celebrant. “The Assembly pillar is patriotism. So, it seemed to fit right in with what we were planning. I contacted Fr. Patrick Nwokoye (Rector of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral) and he invited Bishop Rice to join us for the celebration of Mass,” Gerecke said. “So, the morning schedule was set: 9:30 am Rosary with Mass at 10 o’clock, concelebrated by the bishop and Fr. Patrick. I had contacted Deacon Tony Peters, and he was involved in leading the Patriotic Rosary along with the bishop.” During the rosary, prayers were lifted for all 50 states in our nation, the citizens of every state, the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, and for the elected
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS—In conjunction with the Riverfest celebration in Cape Girardeau, the Knights of Columbus Council #1111 organized a Patriotic Mass and Rosary in Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease, on Saturday, July 4, with Bishop Edward M. Rice. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the event lifted prayers for all 50 states, the citizens of every state, the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, and for the elected officials of Missouri. (The Mirror) officials in the state of Missouri. To further the patriotic theme, Gerecke had arranged for red, white, and blue rosaries to be made for the prayer. “Johnny Azure, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter, and fellow Cursillo, made the rosaries using red, white, and blue beads,” Gerecke said. “I knew that he made rosaries. In fact, I was given a red, white, and blue rosary by him in the past, so I knew he could make these.” Following Mass, lunch was served in the Knights of Columbus Hall. “Thank you to the Knights of Columbus Council #1111 and Assembly #568 for the day’s planning and
support. Dave Dively was responsible for lunch in the hall, Bruce Zimmerman and his daughter provided music during lunch, Paul Summers served as lector, Jim Keusenkothen and his wife served as cantors, and the Knights provided an honor guard for the Mass,” said Gerecke. “I was surprised by how many people were there to pray the rosary. It was very well-attended, with even more participating in the Mass,” Gerecke said. “As the bishop said in his homily, ‘This was the best way that Catholics could celebrate the 250th birthday; to attend Mass and to participate in the rosary.’ It was a very good day of celebration and appreciation of God and his dominion over our country. What better way to celebrate the 250th birthday of our great country?” ©TM
SEMINARIANS SERVE PATRIOTIC MASS—In conjunction with the Riverfest celebration in Cape Girardeau, the Knights of Columbus Council #1111 organized a Patriotic Mass and Rosary in Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease, on Saturday, July 4, with Bishop Edward M. Rice. Servers for the liturgy included some of the diocesan seminarians. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the event lifted prayers for all 50 states, the citizens of every state, the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, and for the elected officials of Missouri! (The Mirror)