Catholic Extension Society has selected eight finalists for the 2025-2026 Lumen Christi Award, the organization’s highest honor given to those who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities they serve.
This year’s eight finalists were chosen from among 41 nominees submitted by bishops from Extension dioceses, including the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, recognizing the incredible work of people and institutions from their regions. From these finalists, one national recipient will be announced this fall.
“This year’s Lumen Christi Award finalists are ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the name of their faith and on behalf of the Catholic Church,” Fr. Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension Society, said. “Their stories are a reminder to us of the hope and transformation the Church brings into communities throughout America every day.”
Award finalists receive $15,000 to support and enhance their ministry. Among the finalists, the Lumen Christi Award recipient will ultimately be selected and given a $100,000 award, split between the honoree and their nominating diocese. The award recipient will be chosen from these finalists and announced in the fall.
The 2025-2026 Lumen Christi Award finalists include:
Sister
Anne Francioni, SSND Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Sister Anne Francioni, SSND, RN, MA, began Whole Kids Outreach (WKO) in 1999. The ministry serves 11 counties in southeastern Missouri, covering 80,080 square miles.
Sr. Anne Francioni, SSND, named finalist for 2025-2026 Lumen Christi Award
LUMEN CHRISTI AWARD
Sister Anne Francioni, SSND, RN, MA, is a finalist for the 2025-2026 Lumen Christi Award, Catholic Extension Society’s highest honor given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve. Sister Francioni began Whole Kids Outreach (WHO) in 1999 in Ellington, MO. (Submitted photo)
SCAN
As a result of the complexities of rural poverty that exist in the vast, Missouri Ozarks, the families WKO serves are those that experience higher than state averages for food insecurity, substantiated child abuse, inadequate prenatal care, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality rates and preventable child hospitalization.
But because of Sr. Francioni’s resourcefulness and the services provided by WKO, the statistics that support the turnaround for many families in WKO’s various programs are incredible. For example, there’s an astoundingly high rate of infant mortality in the 11 counties served by WKO. Families not served by WKO are eight times more likely to experience infant mortality than those participating in their programs. That means hundreds of children have enjoyed the gift of life, which otherwise would have been cut short, thanks to WKO’s ministry.
CONGRATULATIONS The work of Sr. Anne Francioni, SSND, with at-risk mothers in the Ozarks has substantially reduced infant mortality. Sister Francioni began Whole Kids Outreach (WHO) in 1999 in Ellington, MO. She is a finalist for the 2025-2026 Lumen Christi Award through Catholic Extension Society. (Submitted photo)
The most impactful part of WKO is its flagship program of home visits. Families experience genuine concern from the staff and are offered tangible support when needed. It is the power of those relationships that fosters families’ knowledge and skills to achieve substantial improvement in their well-being. Now in its 26th year, WKO has served over 20,000 families.
Other finalists include:
• Sister Teresa Frawley, OSF, Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Monsignor Arturo Bañuelas, Diocese of El Paso, Texas
• Christina Kihn, Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan
• Didier Aur, Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee
• Father Melvin Diaz and Carmen
• Alicia Rodríguez Echevarría, Diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Father Rafael García Molina, Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Deacon Tony Underwood, Diocese of Tucson, Arizona
Learn more about this year’s Lumen Christi finalists’ unique stories by scanning the QR code.
irst, a word of thanks to the diocese from the Franciscans of the Holy Land for the generous amount of $59,002.21 collected on Good Friday. As many of you know, these funds are used for the upkeep of the sacred sites in the Holy Land and assist with parish ministry, education, and social services. Special thanks for your generosity! As a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, I have a particular interest in the Holy Land and will be part of a pilgrimage from Springfield, meeting up with Archbishop Naumann from Kansas City, KS, September 2-11, 2025.
At the same time, Archbishop Broglio, President of the USCCB, has asked the bishops of the United States to consider taking up a special collection to provide humanitarian relief and pastoral support noting, “Our Church mourns the terrible suffering of Christians and other innocent victims of violence in Gaza and surrounding areas who are struggling to survive, protect their children, and live with dignity in dire conditions. The Holy Father continues to call for a ceasefire and for aid to enter the territory, noting with great sorrow that “Gaza is starving.” I recently sent a letter to all pastors inviting them to take up a second collection by Sept. 15. As always, I appreciate your donation and if you cannot donate, you can still pray for peace in the Middle East.
DEC IN AUGUST 2026
On Aug. 17, I announced
that while the National three-year Eucharistic Revival ended with Corpus Christi this past June, I would like to have a Diocesan Eucharistic Revival and a year of spiritual preparation leading up to our 70th anniversary next August. The Diocesan Eucharistic Congress will be held on August 15, 2026, at the West Plains Convention Center. The day will include keynote speakers such as Bishop James Conley, Lincoln, NE; Dr. Scott Hahn, Franciscan University in Steubenville; Fr. Leo Patalinghug, the Cooking Priest, and break out sessions with Paul & Kay Halfmann, of D:6 Ministries, Mari Pablo, and others.
We are “One Church, East to West,” and that unity is symbolized when people gather for Sunday Mass at the altars in our 66 parishes and 17 missions.
Pope Leo XIV’s motto, “In Illo Uno Unum” (In the One, we are one),” fits so beautifully for our
diocese. Although we are many altars spread along the lower part of the state, “In the One (Christ), we are one.” And primary in our main goals for this Diocesan Eucharistic Revival is to reclaim the Lord’s day, reclaiming Sunday, the day of the resurrection, seeing it as a gift given to us to slow down, to give to God what belongs to God as we attend Holy Mass and then spend the rest of the time on Sunday with our most valuable commodity, our family, sharing a meal together, coming to the table without your phone! And what about reclaiming Sunday through the Sunday evening rosary as a family or watching a video on the Eucharist. In the months ahead, we will offer other activities to reclaim Sunday as the Lord’s day. I invite you to please plan to attend our Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and mark your calendar for August 15, 2026, in West Plains. As we gear up for another year of faith formation through the OCIA, I remind those who head up these programs to have the “difficult conversation” regarding previous marriages or those who belong to the Masons. I thank those who have worked in our OCIA programs over these past years. In 2021, there were 102 people brought into the Church. This past year, there were 324. That is quite an amazing increase. Something beautiful is occurring in our diocese! People are looking for the answers to the hard questions of life and we have the answer: the person of Jesus, especially in the Eucharist.
The Holy Sepulchre pilgrimage to the Holy Land has been cancelled 3 or 4 times and even now it may not be the
ANOTHER WALK THROUGH: ‘Walking Together’
By Bishop Emeritus John J. Leibrecht
Before his retirement in 2008 as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of 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.
November 19, 1993 While leaving church after Mass, “Father, your homily this morning was really great,” a parishioner told the priest. “You interrupted my thoughts at least a half a dozen times!”
November 26, 1993 You know that you are getting old when your back goes out more than you do.
December 3, 1993 During a recent parish visitation, a girl in kindergarten was late for my visit with her friends. She came to the principal with a sad and disappointed look on her face, asking, “Did I miss the big guy?”
best time to go. Still, I have never been to the Holy Land and I look forward to walking in the footsteps of our Lord Sept. 2-11, 2025. As I do so, know that I will take you and your intentions with me, keeping you in my prayers throughout the pilgrimage.
Apply now to Holy Family School of Faith Catholic Spiritual Mentors Program
… If we are able to succeed in [awakening a yearning for holiness in the hearts of many], we will need an army of spiritual mentors who will be trained to help guide and assist others in developing a rich life of prayer…” — Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann
By Paula Wright Springfield, MO
The Holy Family School of Faith, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS, is now accepting applications for their Catholic Spiritual Mentors program which aims to “form Spiritual Mentors to serve as guides… to others on their journey to holiness.” This two-year program is “designed for Catholics who have a desire to develop a deep prayer and sacramental life, to increase their knowledge of the Catholic faith, to grow in the virtues and a desire to help others do the same.” The program combines Online and in person course studies, with sessions offered at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, KS.
more people, mentoring many students that have attended SEMO and also adults in the community.
According to the Holy Family School of Faith
Website, a spiritual mentor is “led by the Holy Spirit and faithfully adheres to the teachings of the Church while offering guidance, encouragement, and support in the spiritual life.” The program exposes participants to the three “R’s”: Reading, Reflection, and Resolution and to what is referred to as a “plan of life.” This plan helps establish balance and priority to various aspects of life, making sure God is first. (Getty)
The Diocese of SpringfieldCape Girardeau has clergy, deacons, and laity that are graduates or currently enrolled in the Catholic Spiritual Mentors program. Deacon Tom Schumer, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, is a graduate of the program and now volunteers to help as a staff member for the school.
“I’ve been a part of this for a number of years. I attended because there was a need to be more wellformed in my understanding of giving spiritual direction to the young people I was serving on the campus of SEMO (Southeast Missouri State University),” Deacon Schumer said. “It turned out to be beyond my expectations in terms of the world-class nature of the formation received. I deeply believe in the program and its ability to impact others for the good of our local Church in southern Missouri.”
Julie Schuchardt, a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, has also completed the program and is a certified Spiritual Mentor.
“I have seen the fruit of this program through the people that I mentor. I have seen how people grow in their faith and their sense of the presence of God in their lives. It is definitely producing fruit,” she said.
Since his graduation from the mentorship program in 2019, Deacon Schumer has accompanied 100 or
“They want to grow in holiness, so they seek a spiritual director, and the word has kind of gone out that I do that. I have had the great honor… and I will tell you, it has become, as a practical day-to-day look at what I do… it is my favorite thing to do,” Deacon Schumer said. “To meet someone where they are and to accompany them in their pursuit of a deeper relationship with Jesus. What more important thing can someone like me do in ministry?!”
Holy Spirit partnership
According to the Holy Family School of Faith Website, a spiritual mentor is “led by the Holy Spirit and faithfully adheres to the teachings of the Church while offering guidance, encouragement, and support in the spiritual life.”
“I am constantly reminded that I am just an instrument, because I know it is the Holy Spirit doing the real work. I am constantly praying as I listen, and it has been amazing how the Holy Spirit has worked through me,” said Schuchardt. “The Holy Spirit very much has my back. That is what gives me confidence in doing this. It has been a true gift in my life, and I am so happy to share the faith. It really is about serving people. And I love it; I absolutely love it!”
Reverend David Coon, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Dexter, will be completing the program this September.
“I’ve been offering spiritual direction for 30 years but know there is always an opportunity to do better,” he said.
Fr. Coon explained that the Catholic Spiritual Mentors program exposes participants to the three “R’s”: Reading, Reflection, and Resolution and to what is referred to as a “plan of life.” This plan helps establish balance and priority to various aspects of life, making sure God is first.
“I recommend the program for priests and deacons looking to fine-tune their spiritual direction skills or for additional resources that can help them,” said Fr. Coon. “For lay people, if through prayer they sense that God is calling them to become a spiritual companion for people in order to represent Jesus and the Church authentically, it’s a great program.”
The diocesan Endowment Fund for Lay Leadership is available for anyone enrolling in the program that may need financial assistance to attend.
COMING SOON IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE MIRROR...
NEW ‘BOBCAT’ FAMILIES WELCOMED BACK TO SCHOOL BACK TO SCHOOL AROUND THE DIOCESE
Sixth grade teachers Leigh Ann Reyes and Becky White of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Elementary School (SVS), in Cape Girardeau, spent the morning of Aug. 15 taking signs to over 60 new students that will attend SVS during the 2025-26 academic year. An annual tradition, this is a fun chance for the school community to welcome all new families! The next edition of The Mirror will include back-to-school photos from around the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Submitted photo)
Bible School (VBS) was held at Our Lady of the Cove, Kimberling City, July 7-9, 2025. The parishes of Our Lady of the Cove, Our Lady of the Lake, Branson, and Our Lady of the Ozarks, Forsyth, worked together to present “True North” VBS for 60 young campers ages 3 through 5th grade; 15 youth helpers; and 30 adult helpers. Along with Pastor Fr. J. Friedel, participants enjoyed fun and fellowship while learning that Jesus leads us to our “True North.” A long-time tradition for these parishes, many grandparents enjoy extended visits with their grandchildren during VBS so that the youth may attend the event
Vacation
(Photo by Mary Lippert/The Mirror)
VBS HELD AT OUR LADY OF THE COVE
BECOMING CATHOLIC:
By Kate Quiñones
The recent election of Pope Leo XIV has sparked new interest in Catholicism, with Google data showing a spike in searches on “how to become Catholic” shortly after the death of Pope Francis in April. Meanwhile, across many dioceses — and especially among young people — anecdotal reports indicate an upswing in people joining the Catholic Church in recent years.
While the Church’s requirements include some terminology that may be unfamiliar, the process has its roots in the early Church. If you’re looking to become Catholic in 2025, here’s a guide on what you should know — from the stages of spiritual preparation to important terms and historical background on what Christian initiation has looked like over the centuries.
What is OCIA?
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults or “OCIA” is the normative way to receive formation and prepare to enter the Catholic Church. This process was previously known as RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, until the U.S. bishops renamed it in 2021 to reflect a more accurate translation of the original Latin.
OCIA has four phases designed to intellectually form and spiritually prepare participants — who have attained the age of reason (generally around the age of 7) — to become Catholic.
What are the stages of OCIA?
Evangelization and Prechatechumenate: The inquirer learns of Christ and is drawn to the Catholic Church; he or she takes part in a period of searching and takes the first step toward becoming Catholic by conversing with a priest or parish director of Christian initiation to become a catechumen.
Catechumenate: Usually over the course of a year or less, a catechumen or candidate takes this time to learn more about the Catholic faith and what it means for his or her life. The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Election take place during this stage.
Purification and Enlightenment:
During Lent, a catechumen anticipates his or her initiation into the Catholic Church through prayer and learning. Initiation commonly takes place on the Easter Vigil, which is the culmination of the process where catechumens and
candidates receive the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.)
Mystagogy: After being received into the Church, newly initiated Catholics continue to be formed in their faith during what the Church calls the “Period of Mystagogy.” This lasts until Pentecost, the feast 50 days after Easter in which the Church celebrates the birth of the Church, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples.
What is the ‘Rite of Election’?
The Rite of Election is the stage of Christian initiation before baptism. Catechumens gather with their sponsors and families, usually on the first Sunday of Lent.
During the Rite of Election ceremony, the local bishop asks the catechumens: “Do you wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist?” and they respond: “We do.” Catechumens write their names in the Book of the Elect, further confirming their desire to be baptized.
Through this rite, catechumens become known as “the elect.” Only the unbaptized partake in this rite, because those who are baptized are already known as God’s elect.
What’s the difference between a catechumen and a candidate?
Catechumen: A catechumen is someone who is unbaptized and seeking to become Catholic.
Candidate: A candidate is a baptized Christian seeking to come into full communion with the Catholic Church.
What did Christian initiation look like in the early Church?
While the Second Vatican Council renewed the OCIA process, Christian initiation goes back to the early Church.
In the early Church, before the fourth century, Christian initiation “would have been rather intense,” explained Timothy O’Malley, associate director for research at Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life and academic director for the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy.
In its earliest form, Christian initiation would have lasted three years or more.
“There was a real sense of required conversion: If you were an actor (involved with festivals related to the gods) or in the military, you needed to quit,” O’Malley told CNA. “Much catechesis involved moral formation in
EVERYTHING
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OCIA
a new way of life, as well as introduction to the creed.”
OCIA now is largely based on the fourth- and fifth- century model, where catechumens would have prepared for the sacraments of initiation during Lent and entered the Church during the Easter Vigil.
“During the 40 days, they would have fasted, prayed, and gone to regular sermons,” O’Malley said. “We have, for example, sermons on the creed and other dimensions of Scripture.”
Once Christianity could be practiced publicly, “there were new options for initiating people,” O’Malley explained.
“Great public catechists and preachers,” such as Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, and Ambrose of Milan, “gave public sermons encouraging people to enroll in the catechumenate leading up to Lent,” he added.
O’Malley noted that some of the reason for changes in the initiation process is that Christianity is not as unknown as it once was.
“The complication today, of course, is that we live in a culture in which Christianity, while not necessarily totally well known, isn’t the novelty of the fourth and fifth centuries,” O’Malley said. “You can get the Lord’s Prayer
online or look up the words of the creed on your own (both of these were handed on in secret as part of fourth and fifth century initiation).”
But historical Christian initiation is still connected to today in certain ways.
“But the challenge, in some sense, is always the same: How do you invite people to experience genuine conversion toward discipleship?” O’Malley said. “Christian conversion is not reducible to studying but involves a wholesale change of life: and that we possess in common with the Fathers of the Church.”
How do I join an OCIA program?
To join an OCIA program, reach out to a local Catholic parish. If you have Catholic friends, they may be able to help you with this. A priest or parish leader of Christian initiation may want to meet with you to discuss your desire to become Catholic and help to guide you through the next steps of the process.
Kate Quiñones is a staff writer for Catholic News Agency and a fellow of the College Fix. She has been published by the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register, and CatholicVote, and she graduated from Hillsdale College. She lives in Colorado with her husband.
From the Easter Vigil Mass in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, April 2025. (Photo by John McElroy)
DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING
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PRIESTS:
Rev. Denis Lemieux, Sept. 4, 21 yrs.
Rev. Allan Saunders, Sept. 12, 39 yrs.
Rev. Placid Guste, SMP, Sept. 30, 64 yrs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Forsyth—Our Lady of the Ozarks Parish will hold its Annual Fall Rummage & Bake Sale fundraiser on Sept 25 (7 a.m.4 p.m.), Sept 26 (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) & Sept 27 (8 a.m.-Noon), located at 951 Swan Valley Drive, Forsyth, MO 65653
Glennon St. Anthony Parish Fall Dinner will be Sun., Oct. 12, 11 a.m.1:30 p.m., in Glennon Parish Hall. Menu includes kettle beef, dumplings, dressing, and all the trimmings. Dessert & drinks included. Adults: $14; children (6-12): $8; ages 5 and under: free. Kimberling City— Our Lady of The Cove Catholic Parish, will have its Fall Garage Sale, Fri., Oct.10, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., and Sat., Oct.11, 8 a.m.-Noon. Clothing, furniture, appliances, tools and much more. Something for everyone!! For more information, call the church office at (417) 739-4700.
Lebanon—St. Francis de Sales Parish, located at 345 Grand Ave., will hold its Rummage Sale, Fri., Sept. 12, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., and Sat., Sept. 13, 7 a.m.-Noon. Household goods, home décor, collectables, fall and Christmas decorations, and much more!
Leopold—St. John Parish Council of Catholic Women will host its annual Hotze Mission Breakfast, Sun., Oct. 19, 7:30-10:30 a.m., at the Leopold Knights of Columbus Hall. Buffet breakfast, for your good-will donation, and bake sale. All proceeds benefit the Hotze Missions. For information, please contact Geri Geringer at (573) 208-6445. Please join us as we continue a 70-year tradition of supporting this mission!
Marble Hill Band Fest VI benefitting Options for Women will be held Sat., Sept. 20, at 10 Point Lake, CR 520. Questions: Contact Terrie Rose (573) 238-5731.
Marshfield— Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus #10844 will have its Autumn Fish Frys beginning Fri., Sept. 26; and continuing on Fri., Oct.10, and Fri., Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m., in the parish hall. Fried and/or baked fish, french fries, hush puppies, green beans, cole slaw, and dessert! Cost: adult-$12; child, ages 6-12 yrs.-$7; age five and under, eat free.
Ozark—The 2025 5K Shuffle will be held Sat., Oct. 25, at St. Joseph the Worker Church. Registration begins at 8 a.m., Race starts at 9 a.m. Enjoy a FREE pancake breakfast after the run, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus! Cost is $30 per person; for groups of 10 or more, the rate is discounted to $20 per person. For additional information and sign up: https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/MO/ Ozark/AllSaints5kShuffle
Scott City— Join us for the St. Joseph Catholic Church annual Fall Dinner, Sun., Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m.- 1 p.m., in the school gym. Kettle beef, chicken &
dumplings, chicken & dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, slaw, dessert, tea and coffee, served buffet style. Adults- $15; children, ages 6-12 yrs.- $7; children age 5 yrs. and under eat free. Carry-Out available, walk-in or drive-up. Bulk orders will be available at noon. The Country Store and Bake Shop will be open.
Sikeston—Saint Francis Xavier Grandparents Association will host its 5th annual World Day for Grandparents and Elderly, Sun., Sept. 7, 2025. All grandparents and elderly are invited to attend this special Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Sikeston—The Knights of Columbus will have a Chicken Fry, Sat., Sept. 13, 4-7 p.m. Fried chicken, potato salad, slaw, and dessert. Cost: $12. This is drive thru only, at the Knights Hall, 829 Tanner St. Sikeston—SFXCC Seasons of Hope Grief Support Group will begin a new 6-week session on Mon., Sept. 8, 2025. To enroll, please contact the parish center, (573) 471-2447.
Springfield—The annual Friends of the Poor Walk, benefitting area St. Vincent de Paul societies will be held Sat., Sept. 27-the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, at St. Agnes Cathedral. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., walk at 9 a.m. There is a one-mile walk for the relaxed and fun-loving walker, & a three-mile walk for the serious and experienced walker. Start and finish in the parking lot, rear of the building. The Friends of the Poor Walk is a unique fundraising effort organized nationally allowing community members from all walks of life across the country to participate in a simultaneous, nationwide event to raise national awareness of the challenges faced by the nation’s people in need and to raise funds for use in direct service to people in poverty. Funds raised locally will be used locally. Please join us for this fun event! Your support is much needed at this time.
Springfield—St. Agnes Cathedral will hold its annual Holiday Market, Sat., Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sun., Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in the school gymnasium, located next door at The Catholic Center. There will be a variety of crafts and other products for sale. Space is still available for new vendors! Share your talents: homemade items, crafts, and much more. Electricity is available, for more information, or to reserve your table, contact Judy at (641) 751-6632 or judyhauschildt@gmail.com.
Springfield—Holy Trinity Parish Council of Catholic Women is planning its Fall Bazaar, Sat., Nov.8 and Sun., Nov. 9, Vendors are invited to join. If interested, please contact Mary Tilton at marymtilton@gmail.com. Entries will be accepted until Sept. 12, 2025.
Parishes and organizations are invited to submit notices of future events to be printed on a space-available basis. There is no fee.
Speaker: Adam Minihan, Host of The Catholic Man Show
DIOCESAN/NATIONAL NEWS
United in prayer: A litany to be prayed
after a school shooting
“Our
By Zoe Romanowsky
Two children were killed and multiple victims injured in a shooting during an opening school year Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis on Wed., Aug. 27.
In times of tragedy, the Church turns to prayer. The Catholic Church believes that prayer can effect real change — not just in the heart of the person praying but in the world. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Prayer and Christian life are inseparable” (CCC, 2745) and that prayer is a “vital necessity” (CCC, 2743).
The popular global prayer app Hallow has launched a prayer campaign for “healing for the injured, comfort for students, staff, and families, and the peace of Christ to be with all who were present.”
The Church also calls on the prayers of Mary and the saints to intercede for us. Below is a litany written specifically to be prayed after a school shooting.
Litany of prayer after a school shooting
Our Lady, Help of Christians, we turn to you, who watched your Son give his life for us, and stood strong at the foot of his cross, to ask for your consolation, your guidance, your motherly arms to embrace us. We stand in silence, praying beside you.
St. Joseph, great protector, pray for us. Archangel Michael, defend us in every battle.
Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents who lost four children, pray for us.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, missionary to the United States, pray for us.
St. Emilia, mother of saints, pray for us. St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, pray for us.
Servant of God Dorothy Day, defender of all who lack protection, pray for us.
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, mothers who left their infants to die for Christ, pray for us.
hearts are broken as we hear of the shooting at Annunciation Parish School in Minneapolis, MN. Our prayers go out to the families of the two children who lost their lives, and we remember those who were injured. Our thoughts especially are with the children who experienced this horrific event, and whose tender hearts must be attended to now. We fervently hold the entire Twin Cities community in our prayers and vehemently decry this senseless violence and the violation of our sacred space during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”
—The Most Rev. Edward M. Rice, Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, August 27, 2025
St.Junipero Serra, lover of peace, pray for us.
Blessed Lucien Botovasova, a dad, a teacher, and a martyr, pray for us.
St. Rita of Cascia, mother, patron of impossible causes, pray for us.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who lost two children and is the first saint of the United States, and patron of educators, pray for us.
Sts. Jacinta and Francisco, sweet children, pray for us.
Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Girogio Frassati, soon to be declared saints and inspiring examples for all young people, pray for us.
Virgin Mother, we know that as a mother, you never took your eyes off of your children in Annunciation School, especially in those moments of dramatic confusion and fear; you accompanied them with your tenderness.
This litany was first published at Aleteia. It is reprinted here with permission and has been adapted by CNA
Catholic school shooting’s aftermath: ‘Hold onto Jesus’s hand’
By Maria Wiering Minneapolis
As the sun set the evening of Aug. 28, mourners lingered in front of Annunciation Catholic Church before a robust memorial of flowers, stuffed animals, toys, and candles.
Visitors of all ages wrote messages on large pads of paper, others in chalk on the sidewalk.
“Our hearts with you,” read one.
“You are in my prayers,” read another.
A third: “There will be a day with no more pain or suffering. Hold onto Jesus’s hand until that day. He’s got you.”
Since the morning, parishioners and school families, neighbors and others had come to the church, many with bouquets, some cut from their own latesummer gardens, all aiming to express solidarity with a Catholic community grieving the loss of life, health and sense of security in the aftermath of a school shooting.
“Your mind just can’t leave those parents who lost kids,” said Megan Kirchner, 40, who tearfully walked around the church exterior in the waning light with her partner and three children.
That afternoon, the father of a slain child, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, stood before the memorial to address the community. Jesse Merkel recalled his son as a boy who loved family, fishing, cooking and sports.
“Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life,” said Merkel, with the hand of Annunciation Catholic School Principal Matt DeBoer on his shoulder. “We love you, Fletcher. You will always be with us.”
Fletcher was one of two students killed in church pews Aug. 27 when a shooter fired with three guns through the church’s exterior windows into an all-school Mass. The other student was 10-year-old Harper Moyski, whose parents recalled her as “bright, joyful and deeply loved.”
Eighteen others—15 children and three adults in their 80s—were also injured and treated at nearby hospitals. On Aug. 28, one victim remained in critical condition, with two others in serious condition, according to the emergency medical team at Hennepin County Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center in downtown Minneapolis.
The 23-year-old suspected shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the church’s parking lot, according to law enforcement, who were working to pinpoint a clear motive for the act of violence.
Boards covered seven of Annunciation’s narrow stained-glass windows, behind another memorial set
against a young oak tree.
“Just words don’t work any more,” read a sign tucked into clusters of hydrangeas, sunflowers, and roses.
Stunned community
The memorial was a spontaneous response for a reeling community, one frequently described as “tight-knit”— both as a parish and preK-8 school, and also as a neighborhood, where many school families live within walking distance.
Or running distance—as evidenced by how many parents literally ran to the school when they heard of the shooting, which occurred around 8:30 a.m., as Mass attendees were preparing to sing the “Alleluia.”
Father Erich Rutten witnessed those parents rushing on foot to the school as he followed a barrage of police cars to the church that morning. The pastor of two nearby parishes and chaplain of their shared elementary school, Fr. Rutten happened to be driving through the neighborhood and stopped, without knowing what had transpired, to provide pastoral assistance at Annunciation—a parish where he had served on staff decades ago, before entering seminary.
When he arrived on the scene, parents did not “know if their child was alive or dead,” he said. “They’re just panicked and scared.”
For 45 minutes, he tried to offer support to parents, especially those who appeared to be alone, and prayed the rosary with some of them. Ultimately, he spent almost three hours at the parish, and was with one family as they were informed their child had died.
“Just that kind of the bottom-ofyour-soul scream of despair—that was really, really awful. Awful,” he said.
Father Rutten recalled the previous day’s events following an evening ecumenical prayer service Aug. 28 at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. The service drew a range of Minneapolis religious leaders as well as hundreds of mourners who filled the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ co-cathedral.
Among them were Mary Perez, 32, and her son, Felix, a first-grader at Annunciation who had been at the all-school Mass and witnessed students shot and injured. Mary brought Felix to the prayer service so he could find comfort in the community’s support.
“I thought it’d be important for Felix to know that he’s not alone in this, that this is a safe place,” said Mary, a Catholic. “We’re all going to come back from this, and he has people behind him, and I don’t want him to be afraid of the church.”
Six-year-old Felix said that he remembers “all of it,” especially how Principal DeBoer told the students to get
down. Eighth-graders protected some of the younger students, Mary said.
“A friend of mine got hit in the forehead,” Felix said. “When I was hiding, I saw somebody covered in blood, and they were wearing a green sweatshirt covered in blood.”
Mary ’s brother, 24-year-old Benjamin Bozer, wept next to his wife, Penny, as he heard his nephew recount the events.
“Growing up, I was always worried that it could happen to me; but the fact that it could happen to someone so young, it’s just senseless,” he said. “Nobody should have to go through this. Nobody should have to witness this.”
DEADLY SHOOTING MINNESOTA CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Candles, flowers and stuffed animals are seen in a community memorial outside Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis Aug. 28, 2025. A shooter opened fire Aug. 27 through the windows of the adjacent church during an all-school Mass, killing two children and wounding 18 other victims. (OSV News photo/Maria Wiering)
Annunciation parishioner and former teacher Janet Parker, whose now-grown children once attended the school, also attended the basilica’s prayer service.
“It’s so strange to see your community in the news framed this way,” she said. “It was numbing.”
Solidarity & Jesus
Jiyun Kim, whose Korean Catholic St. Andrew Kim Parish has worshipped at Annunciation’s church since 2023, felt similarly. The 40-year-old brought her two children, ages 10 and 13, to visit Annunciation’s memorial the evening of Aug. 28.
While her children do not attend the school, their ages make her “feel really connected and related to what happened to the families and the community,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine how I’m going to feel during the Mass every weekend.”
Yet, she said, “when I see those flowers and the people crowded here, I feel we get stronger. We support each other, and that’s how our community heals each other. So when somebody falls, somebody will hold their hands, and then somebody will support their back. That’s how we make our community.”
The Twin Cities’ Catholic clergy have played an important role in supporting Annunciation’s families. St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda has repeatedly praised the response of Annunciation pastor Fr. Dennis Zehren, who became the parish’s pastor in June, as well as Deacon Kevin Conneely, who was ordained in 2023.
After ministering at Annunciation to families in the hours after the shooting, Father Rutten headed to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he sat in the waiting room with families. St. St. Paul and Minneapolis Auxiliary Bishop Kevin T. Kenney, who serves as pastor of a downtown Minneapolis church and grew up
attending Annunciation, also headed to HCMC that morning, immediately after hearing the news of the shooting.
“I was there in the waiting room as families were rushing down there, and they didn’t know what state, what condition their child was in, so they’re all panicking,” he said.
He was “just trying to give them a presence, a calm presence, a supportive presence to know they were not alone,” he added.
Meanwhile, fellow Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Izen was called to nearby Children’s Minnesota Hospital to offer anointing of the sick to an injured Annunciation student.
In responding to a tragedy, “there’s always an initial, ‘What am I going to say? What can I do?’ And then you realize that people are just comforted and pleased by your presence” as a priest, he said.
Across the Mississippi River in St. Paul, both bishops preached Aug. 28, along with Archbishop Hebda, at a noon prayer service at the Cathedral of St. Paul.
Bishop Izen addressed key questions on the minds of many Twin Cities Catholics, especially with the shooting having occurred during Mass.
“ Where was Jesus yesterday? Where was Jesus at 8:30 in the morning at Annunciation?” he asked. “Why during a school Mass? Why an 8-yearold and a 10-year-old? Why right here in the Twin Cities?”
“There’s no shortage of questions, but only one answer: Jesus Christ,” he said.
Mark your calendars for September 20, 2025! Join us at the White River Conference Center for Magnolias & Miracles : an evening of dinner, live entertainment by the The Get Down Band, & so much more! 2025 sponsorships, tickets, and tables are available now! To purchase, visit the event site by clicking Please consider a donation to Fund Our Mission—a matching gift is available up to $65,000! 70% tax credits are available. The auction closes Sat., Sept. 20. Information may be found at: https://onecau. se/lifehousesgf25 .
NOVEMBER 1, 2025
2025 LifeHouse Gala, Cape Girardeau: NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS
Mark your calendars for November 1, 2025! Join us at the Drury Plaza Hotel Conference Center for Night of a Thousand Stars : an evening of dinner, live entertainment by the Nashville Blue Tones, & so much more! 2025 sponsorships, tables, and tickets are available now! To purchase, visit the event site by clicking: https://onecau.se/lifehousecape25 70% tax credits are available. For more information, contact Cameron Borders at cborders@ccsomo.org or (573) 803-5433.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE The footings have been poured for all the foundation walls, interior columns, and the linkage building (links church to the rectory) for Immaculate Conception Church, Jackson, among other updates. Final completion and occupancy is now expected in November 2026. (Submitted photo)
DURING THIS EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL, FR. DAVID COON OFFERS THE FOLLOWING QUOTE FOR THE REFLECTION ON THE EUCHARIST:
“Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you? He burns with the desire to come into your heart.”
—ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
Father Coon is Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter. He serves the Diocese as Priest Minister for Spiritual Deliverance & Exorcism and the Confraternity of Priest Adorers of the Eucharistic Face of Jesus.
U.S. bishops identify several policy priorities in Congress this fall
By Chris Casquejo Washington, D.C.
As lawmakers prepare to return next week from their August recess, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) wants them to get to work on immigration reform and bolstering federal safety net programs, among other issues, framing its advocacy work around protecting human dignity and supporting the most vulnerable.
“As a nonpartisan organization, the USCCB is engaged with members of Congress, their staff, and the White House and the administration to advance the common good for all and uphold the sacredness of human life and the God-given dignity of the human person,” Chieko Noguchi, the USCCB’s executive director for public affairs, told CNA.
“This means that the care for immigrants, refugees, and the poor is part of the same teaching of the Church that requires us to protect the most vulnerable among us, especially unborn children, the elderly, and the infirm,” Noguchi noted.
Addressing the conference’s ongoing public policy priorities,
Noguchi referenced a letter to members of Congress earlier this year from USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio that in addition to immigration reform called for legislation that supports vulnerable communities, especially children and low-income families.
But following this summer’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act spending package, Broglio faulted that measure for including “unconscionable cuts to health care and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation.”
A recently emerging issue for the bishops is digital safety. In a joint letter this July with other faithbased and family organizations, the USCCB voiced support for the Kids Online Safety Act. The measure would place greater responsibility on technology companies to design platforms that protect minors from harmful content and addictive features. The bishops described the legislation as consistent with their commitment to safeguarding children and promoting environments where families can thrive.
ONLINE SAFETY A recently emerging issue for the bishops is digital safety. In a joint letter this July with other faith-based and family organizations, the USCCB voiced support for the Kids Online Safety Act. The measure would place greater responsibility on technology companies to design platforms that protect minors from harmful content and addictive features. (Getty)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING Assisted by local pastor Fr. J. Friedel, Bishop Edward M. Rice blessed tiny homes at Elevate Branson on May 30. Housing is also an increasing policy focus of the US Bishops. In an Aug. 8 letter, the bishops pressed Congress to strengthen funding for affordable housing and community development in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process.
(Photo by Leslie Eidson/The Mirror)
Republican lawmakers cosponsoring the House bill and would authorize the continuation of lawful nonimmigrant status for certain religious workers affected by the current backlog for religious worker immigrant visas.
The bishops have been strongly supportive of congressional efforts to ensure that federal programs such as Medicaid do not fund abortion. In July, a federal judge blocked a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood for one year and ordered the federal government to resume Medicaid reimbursements to the abortion giant while litigation over the law continues.
The USCCB also supports expanding access to maternal health services, pediatric care, and palliative care. Broadly on fiscal policy, the USCCB has called for a federal budget that prioritizes the poor and reflects Catholic principles of solidarity centered on the common good.
The bishops also continue to press for robust support for international humanitarian aid. As global crises intensify, the bishops have asked Congress to provide funding for humanitarian and development assistance in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Funding for the current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. The USCCB frames these legislative priorities as connected parts of a single mission.
This fall, immigration remains central to USCCB advocacy efforts. The bishops continue to press Congress to provide permanent protections for socalled “Dreamers,” referring to people who were brought to the U.S. as children.
“The continued uncertainty associated with the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program is untenable and unjust, depriving hardworking people the ability to be fully recognized members of our society,” the conference maintains.
The bishops also oppose changes to social safety net programs that would limit eligibility for mixed-status families (those with both legal and unauthorized members). They cite, for example, the Child Tax Credit, which currently only requires the benefiting child to have a Social Security number.
“This is consistent with the goals of such programs, which exist to empower families and to prevent them from falling into poverty,” the USCCB asserts.
Religious Workforce Protection Act
The bishops are also urging passage of the Religious Workforce Protection Act, which as of Aug. 22 had 10 Democrat and three
A similar bill in the Senate now has five Republicans and one Democrat cosponsoring. Numerous Catholic institutions such as parishes and schools depend on international clergy. In an Aug. 7 interview with EWTN, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is committed to fixing the ongoing backlog of religious worker visas.
Despite the fact that earlier this year the USCCB ended its decades-long partnership with the federal government to resettle refugees due to funding cuts and suspended agreements that made the program unsustainable, the bishops continue to call for generous resettlement policies and humane border enforcement.
Housing is also an increasing policy focus. In an Aug. 8 letter, the bishops pressed Congress to strengthen funding for affordable housing and community development in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process.
Meanwhile, the USCCB’s advocacy around health care policy remains linked to the Church’s pro-life stance.
Chris Casquejo is a freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C. He previously worked at Voice of America and in numerous U.S. television newsrooms. He lives in Northern Virginia.
DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING
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.
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.
Eucharistic Procession at Guardian Angel Church launches school year
Oran, MO
There is no better way to start a school year, then to participate in Mass first thing in the morning, followed by a Eucharistic Procession from church to school. That is how Guardian Angel Catholic School in Oran started the 2025-26 school year.
The first day of school, Thu., Aug. 21, students in grades K-8 attended Mass along with the faculty and staff. Many parents attended this first Mass, also.
EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION KICKS OFF SCHOOL YEAR Guardian Angel Catholic School began its 2025-26 academic session with Mass, Eucharistic Procession, and the blessing of classrooms. Father Joseph Kelly began the Eucharistic Procession on Aug. 21, holding the monstrance which holds the Blessed Sacrament. Proceeding before him are Maverick Seabaugh, Tucker Hahn, Dylan Levan, and Owen Morrison. (Submitted photo)
At the end of the Mass, Fr. Joseph Kelly prepared the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament. He and the four servers, Dylan Levan, Maverick Seabaugh, Tucker Hahn, and Owen Morrison, processed with the Blessed Sacrament down the middle aisle of church, out the back door, across the parking lot, into the school hallway, and down to the gym, where an altar had been prepared. Everyone sang as they followed Fr. Kelly and the servers
from Guardian Angel Church to the Guardian Angel School gym. The PK-3 & 4 students were waiting in the gym for everyone to arrive.
The students and faculty knelt on the floor before the altar that held the Blessed Sacrament. Father Kelly prayed, swung the thurible allowing incense to rise, and made the sign of the cross with the monstrance as each individual made the sign of the cross on him or herself.
Father Kelly and the servers processed from the gym and down the hallway. Father Kelly stopped at each doorway and gave a blessing to each classroom. From the school, Fr. Kelly and the servers processed across the parking lot and returned to church.
The students and faculty returned to their classrooms to begin the new school year, energized with Jesus in their hearts and studying in their newly blessed classrooms.
ATTENTION: CATHOLIC MEN You are invited to the Southeast Missouri... Thu., Sept. 18 | 6:30-9:00 pm Sacred Heart Poplar Bluff, MO To help plan for food, please
An evening of Adoration, Confession, & a Manly Meal with discussion to follow.
to
BLESSING OF CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS, FACULTY Faculty and students in Guardian Angel Catholic School, Oran, knelt in adoration in the gym before the blessed sacrament sitting on the altar on Aug. 21, the first day of school, as Fr. Joseph Kelly added incense to the thurible that Tucker Hahn held. (Submitted photo)
DIOCESAN NEWS
OBITUARY // Fr. Peter J. Morciniec
Springfield, MO
On Wed., Aug. 27, 2025, retired Fr. Peter J. Morciniec, 80, passed away.
Having retired from active ministry 2017, Fr. Morciniec resided at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett, MO. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Mon. Sept. 22, in SS. Peter and Paul Parish, in Pulaskifield, where his cremains will be placed in the parish cemetery.
Father Morciniec was born on September 23, 1944, in Opole, Poland, to John and Gertrud (Kotz) Morciniec. He attended the Seminary of Pauline Fathers, in Kraków, Poland. He was ordained June 13, 1970, by The Most Rev. Stefan Barela, Bishop of Czestochowa at the Black Madonna Shrine in
Czestochowa, Poland, for the Order of St. Paul the Hermit (Pauline Fathers).
“During the 1960s and 1970s, many US Polish parishes were asking for Polish-speaking priests. The US bishops were not able to fulfill this request and asked the bishops of Poland if they could send several priests to America,” said Fr. Morciniec told The Mirror in a previous interview. “I was one of the priests asked to leave my homeland and engage in this new mission.”
In 1976, Fr. Morciniec went to Doyleston, PA, where he stay for three years, serving in Polish churches in Philadelphia, PA, and Trenton, NJ, and many others.
“ When I decided to stay permanently in the States, I applied for admission to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, and petitioned the Holy See in Rome to change my status from a religious priest to a diocesan priest.”
Father Morciniec began his first assignment for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau as Associate Pastor of St. Canera Parish and Nativity of Our Lord Mission Church on Dec. 6, 1979. On Dec. 4, 1981, Fr. Morciniec became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He then ministered in St. Mary Parish, Seneca, on Jan. 28, 1987. On March 24, 1983, he was incardinated into the Diocese of SpringfieldCape Girardeau.
Father Morciniec has served as Pastor at Sacred Heart, Verona; Holy Trinity, Aurora; St. Mary, Pierce City; St. Agnes, Sarcoxie; and SS. Peter and Paul, Pulaskifield. He also served as Moderator of thenRegion Two from Sept. 6, 2000, to March 1, 2009.
RENEWED IN HOPE’ CATHOLIC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE IN SPRINGFIELD
Registration is now open for the 2025 Catholic Women’s Conference, “Renewed in Hope Catholic Women’s Conference,” on Sat., Oct. 11, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Springfield, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.! Plan to attend for a day of faith, fun, and fellowship with other Catholic women from the diocese. Keynote speaker is author and Podcaster Danielle Bean, who offers faith-filled encouragement for Catholic women navigating family, marriage, and motherhood. The conference fee of $25 includes lunch and a T-shirt. Please register by Sept. 12 to receive a t-shirt. To register, scan the QR code or visit bit.ly/CWCreg-2025
DIOCESAN SEMINARIANS
TOTAL 9 AS SUMMER DRAWS TO A CLOSE
SEMINARIANS WITH OUR LADY OF LA’VANG—At the end of the annual diocesan Seminarian Gathering in August with Bishop Edward M. Rice, nine seminarians posed for a photo in front of the beautiful statue of Our Lady of La’Vang on the campus of St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield. Pictured are (front) Victor Zatorski, of Holy Trinity Parish, Marshfield, who is attending Kentick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis; Damian Criddle, of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, who is attending Conception Seminary, in Conception, MO; Thomas Dittmer, of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, who is attending Conception Seminary; Bishop Edward M. Rice, Ezekiel Ahern, of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, in Fredericktown, who is attending Conception Seminary; Nathan Haak, of Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield, who is attending Conception Seminary; and Jackson Gaeta, of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, who is attending Conception Seminary; (back) Daniel Dunn, of St. John Parish, Leopold, who is attending Sacred Heart School of Theology, in Hales Corner, WI; Jared Koehler, of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, who is attending Kenrick-Glennon Seminary; and Michael Eftink, of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, who is attending Conception Seminary.
(Photo by Bruce Stidham/The Mirror)
AUG. 15, 2026 | WEST PLAINS CIVIC CENTER
Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of our diocese (Aug. 24, 1956) during our first ever Diocesan Eucharistic Congress to be held in the West Plains Civic Center. All people of the diocese are invited to participate in a year of spiritual preparation for these momentous celebrations by participating in the activities listed at www.dioscg.org/diocesan-eucharistic-congress
• Celebration of the Holy Mass with Keynote speaker Bishop James Conley, Bishop Edward Rice, and the priests of our diocese
• National Speakers: Author & Theologian Dr. Scott Hahn; Award-winning chef, radio & TV host Fr. Leo Patalinghug of “Plating Grace,” and more!
• Youth speaker tracks for kids and teens
• Exhibit Hall with displays, games, Catholic products
What is Manna?
Manna is the official app of the National Eucharistic Congress — a growing hub of Eucharistic formation, prayer, and mission.
Inside the app, you’ll find:
• Talks and sessions from the Congress
• Small group series like Jesus and the Eucharist and BECOME
• A brand new Holy Hour check-in feature
• Small group content for leaders and parishes
• A way to support the mission and fuel future content
