Bishop 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.
PAROCHIAL VICAR
his assignment as Sacramental Priest of the St. John Henry Newman Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau.
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 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 his assignment as Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, in Springfield, and Lead Chaplain of Springfield Catholic High School.
LEAVING THE DIOCESE
Reverend Emmanuel Dibia concludes
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.
OTHER
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
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
Reverend Denis 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 diocesan events and for his willingness to assist in sacramental ministry when possible.
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)
ZUMMO
DIBIA
KIBLINGER
HIETT
REDDIN
LEMIEUX
BERGSCHEIDER
HERNANDEZ RIVERA
ALCANTAR
ADo you hide from God? COME,
AND YOU WILL SEE
Bp. Edward M. Rice
t our recent clergy retreat held in the Mercy Center, St. Louis, Archabbot Gregory Polan, OSB, from Conception Abbey, offered many insights into the Scriptures, which is his area of study and expertise. What did I take away from the experience?
First, it is always a blessing to be with the priests of the diocese. This year, 33 of us gathered. Unfortunately, our retreat was scheduled for the same time as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops June meeting, but I felt it important to be with the priests. Plus, I wanted to hear Archabbot Polan!
Second, each day I offered Mass for a specific intention; the sanctification of the clergy of our diocese, the renewal of marriage and family life, for the growth of the diocese, and on Friday, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, we joined in the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anticipating the 250th anniversary of our country. I was also privileged to offer the consecration again that Friday evening at St. Agnes Cathedral.
at a distance from myself, I make myself homeless.
What insights were gained from the retreat? There were plenty! The question was posed, “Where do we go on retreat?” The abbot’s answer was, “We go deep; we go deep into the heart, where we encounter God in the Paschal Mystery.” From time-to-time, the heart has to be reawakened in order to move away from any self-centeredness and be centered in God’s divine plan. When I’m disconnected from my heart, living
By Bishop Emeritus John J. Leibrecht
Focusing on Genesis 3, the question posed by God to Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” shows that God was present to them, walking with them—but, at the moment of sin, they walked away and hid from God, making themselves homeless. The question for me, then, “Do I hide from God?” The apostles hid in the upper room, locked in fear, and yet Jesus was still able to be present to them offering peace. A particular insight was Abbot’s talk entitled, “The Grace of Failure,” when our honest efforts fail and we might feel frustration or sadness, seeing no good coming from our efforts.”
This is actually an opportunity to die to self and rise to new life: the Paschal Mystery. When I let go of my plans, which are often small and let Jesus
take the lead, he always has something better in store for me. Failure is an invitation to wait for His love, to let God be God, and to recognize that He is found everywhere, most specifically in failure.
JULY DEC RESOURCES
As we enter the month of July, we are all the more closer to our upcoming Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, Aug. 15, 2026, in West Plains MO. Please make use of the July resource page that includes selections from the Catechism, 1406-1419; Pope St. John Paul II’s document on the Eucharist, Chapter 6; a song; attend Mass at your partner parish; the movie suggestions: Romero and the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. (The DEC Resource page may be found in this issue on p. 10).
Author Romano Guardini, in Sacred Signs, reflects upon the chalice: “The chalice represents the created universe. That universe has but one purpose and one final meaning: man, the living creature, with his soul and body and his relentless heart. …Saint Augustine has a great saying: ‘That which makes a man to be what he is is his capacity to receive God and hold him fast.’ And so it is of the very nature of a chalice to receive the wine, and with the words of consecration, to receive His precious blood. …The base of the chalice is firmly placed upon the altar, the stem of the chalice raises it up and the cup receives and retains the Blood of God.” Chalices come in various shapes
ANOTHER WALK THROUGH: ‘Walking Together’
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.
July 21, 1995 A husband discovered a box hidden in the corner of a closet. In it were three eggs and $10,000. He asked his wife to explain. “I’ve had that box for the 40 years we’ve been married,” she said. “Each time I would get really upset with you, I’d put in an egg.” The husband was delighted. “Only three eggs in 40 years,” he said happily. “But what’s the $10,000 about?” he asked. “Well,” she said, “each time I had a dozen eggs in the box, I’d sell them.”
August 4, 1995 “How do I get to Williamsville from here?” a traveler inquired. “No problem,” the passer-by said. “Just go down
this road until you come to a bridge across the river. Turn three miles before you get to it.”
August 18, 1995 Few could make a violin squeak as badly as Jack Benny, a comedian who died some years ago. Benny’s squeaky violin became part of his humor. Invited to the White House, Benny was stopped by a guard who asked what was in the violin case he was carrying. “It’s a machine gun,” Benny said with a straight face. “OK,” the guard replied, “I was worried it might be your violin.”
and styles, all with the same purpose, to receive, contain and to offer the Blood of Christ. Have you ever heard of the “Prayer of the Chalice?” I pray it daily: Father, to Thee I raise my whole being, a vessel emptied of self. Except Lord, this my emptiness, and so fill me with Thy self, Thy light, Thy love, Thy life, that these precious gifts may radiate throughout me and overflow the chalice of my heart into the hearts of all with whom I come in contact this day, revealing unto them the beauty of thy joy and wholeness and the serenity of Thy peace which nothing can destroy. Amen. As I write this column, I have learned of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela and so let us keep them in our prayers.
VIGIL MASS for the SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Deacon Tony Peters earns master’s degree from Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology
St. Meinrad, IN
Deacon Tony Peters, MA, RN, of Cape Girardeau, MO, a student in the Graduate Theology Program at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, was recently awarded a Master of Arts (Theology) degree on May 9, 2026.
The Graduate Theology Program offers master’s degrees and graduate certificates in theology to lay persons and permanent deacons. These studies provide a solid foundation in the Catholic tradition for those preparing for Church ministry or seeking personal growth.
Each year, the academic faculty chooses one Theology graduate student to reflect on their educational experience and then look forward to what lies ahead during commencement exercises:
OF THEOLOGY Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology Graduate Program student, Deacon Tony Peters, on the Memorial Lobby steps before commencement on May 9, 2026.
(The Mirror)
Bioethics Center-National Certification Program in Health Care Ethics with Distinction, earning a cumulative grade of >96%.
“ We leave knowing that theology is meant to shape how we think, speak, pray, decide, and love, when the stakes are highest,” said Deacon Peters, the 2026 commencement speaker. “Before theology is lived in ministry, it must become real in patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, and the daily decision to remain faithful.”
“Saint Benedict begins his Rule with one work: ‘Listen,’” said Deacon Peters to his fellow graduates. “Listen to Scripture. Listen to the Church. Listen to those who suffer. Listen for the quiet moment of the Holy Spirit.”
What comes next is a visionary witness, Peters said.
“Formation is meant to conform us to Christ, so that we think, love, and act more like Him,” Deacon Peters said. “The Church still needs people who will receive others with charity, listen with patience, offer counsel with humility, and remain faithful when love becomes costly.”
Also in May, Deacon Peters completed the National Catholic
The mission of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is the initial and ongoing formation of priests, permanent deacons, and laity to minister together effectively in the service and evangelization of the Roman Catholic Church and the world. Located in southern Indiana, Saint Meinrad fulfills this mission in the Benedictine tradition by instilling a lifelong love of learning, a strong grounding in the tradition, a love of liturgy, and a sense of hospitality that welcomes Christ in each person.
MASTERS
ERIC LATIMER, CONFIRMED CATHOLIC WELCOME NEW CATHOLICS!
By Paula Wright Springfield
Eric Latimer became a full member of the Catholic Church at Easter, in Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield
What drew you to the Catholic Church?
My wife and mother are Catholic, and I never really had a religion to guide me as an adult. I wanted something steady to turn to and give me confidence. With encouragement from my wife, my mother, and friends, becoming Catholic felt like the best way for me to build a closer relationship with God. Also, my wife wanted to be her nephew’s Godmother. She met with Fr. Shoby, Pastor at Holy Trinity, to fill out some forms, and he asked her about us and our marriage. She set up another meeting so we could both talk with him. He asked about my faith and encouraged me to seek a closer relationship with God. By the end of that meeting, I was filling out the paperwork for OCIA.
What was your faith background before becoming part of the OCIA class and journey?
I grew up Baptist. Most of my family were Baptists, and we went to church almost every Sunday. My grandmother was a Southern Baptist, and we often went to her church. I also had some experience with the Catholic Church by attending a few larger Masses.
What did you enjoy most about your journey into full membership within the Catholic Church?
From the start, Fr. Shoby was supportive and encouraging. I also met with Emily, who made starting the process easy and exciting. Every night, I learned something new about the Catholic Church. Everyone made me feel welcome, and it was easy to ask questions.
What did you find most challenging?
One challenge for me was when politics, morals, and Catholic beliefs didn’t always line up. Sister Janine (Tran, CMR) talked with us about morals in
one class, and she was great. She gave us helpful ways to handle those differences and stay true to the Church’s teachings. (Sr. Tran serves as diocesan Director of Respect Life and Faith Formation. She is co-chair of the OCIA program in Springfield-Cape Girardeau).
Biggest learning ‘ah ha’ moment in your journey?
A simple but important moment for me was learning that Mass is structured the same way everywhere. The Mass is planned out over three years (in its liturgical cycle), and every church follows the same pattern, except for the priest’s homily. I was used to sermons that didn’t have much structure. Also, I was surprised to learn that almost everyone mentioned in the Bible had different names before becoming Jesus’s disciples, based on their spiritual mission or destiny. I had never learned this before.
What was most memorable about your confirmation and baptism, if you were also baptized?
About six months ago, I was filling out the paperwork to join OCIA. I had already been baptized as a child, but standing up-front in the Church to be confirmed with 16 others I started the journey with was special. Being
welcomed into the Church and sharing my faith in one Lord, Jesus Christ, meant a lot. During this time, Fr. Shoby also blessed our marriage in a private ceremony, since we were married outside the Church before. This allows us now a sacramental marriage, which is one of the seven sacraments of the Church.
What advice would you give to help draw souls to Christ?
It’s never too late to seek out Jesus Christ. If you don’t have a strong foundation, look for ways to get closer to God. If you want to truly feel close to God, not just hear someone preach, consider joining the Catholic Church. After every Sunday Mass, I feel refreshed and joyful.
What do you find is the biggest ‘treasure’ of the faith?
One treasure is spending time in prayer and reflecting on Jesus Christ. Another is praying the Rosary. Every time I do, I feel at peace. The beautiful Masses are also special. Attending Palm Sunday and learning about Jesus’s sacrifices was moving. The Scriptures made me feel like I was there, and I read them again and again.
The Catholic Church in the United States has experienced a notable and widespread surge in new members in 2026, with dioceses across the country reporting some of the highest numbers of converts in years. Data collected from dioceses nationwide confirms the trend, showing significant year-over-year growth as thousands entered the Church at the Easter Vigil. Based on the percentage increase of new Catholic converts, the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau ranks 11th in the nation according to recent reporting from the National Catholic Register. The number of converts within the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau continues to increase, growing from a total of 251 new Catholics in 2023 to a total of 519 who joined the Church in 2026. Within the next few issues of The Mirror, we look forward to sharing stories from some of the diocese’s newest Catholics.
NEW CATHOLIC Eric Latimer joined the Catholic Church at Easter in Holy Trinity Church, Springfield. He is pictured preparing to receive holy Communion from his pastor, The Very Rev. Shoby Chettiyath, JCL, V.G. (The Mirror)
(Front) Howard Mohn, Holy Trinity Parish, Marshfield; James Haston, St. Lawrence Parish, Monett; Steven Reddin, Sacred Heart Parish, Webb City; (back) Kevin Haverly, SS Peter & Paul Parish, Pulaskifield; and Mike Wilson, Sacred Heart Parish, Webb City.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Aurora—All are welcome as Holy Trinity Parish will have First Saturday devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, every first Saturday with rosary at 7:30am, followed by Mass at 8am.
Cape Girardeau THEOLOGY OF THE BODY CONFERENCE: All are invited to a two-day conference where participants will rediscover the human person through the teachings of Pope St. John Paul II. The conference will be held at the St. John Henry Newman Center, CCM, on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, on Sept. 12-13. Opportunities for prayer, fellowship, and presentations on topics such as “An Intro to Theology of the Body,” “Made for Love,” and “The Grace of Unitive Love,” will be included. Register early to receive a discounted fee. Earlybird pricing of $30 per person ends Sat., Aug. 15. After that date, the cost will be $50 per person. For more information, go to: www. tobeducators.com.
Conway—Sacred Heart Catholic
Church will have its Annual Ice Cream Social, Sat., July 18, 5-8:30pm. Carnival games, dessert auction, burgers, hot dogs, chips, desserts & Homemade HandCranked Ice Cream!
Florissant, MO—Mid-life Singles (mid 30s to 50s): Are you looking for a renewed sense of purpose & belonging? Register today for a life changing REFLECT weekend retreat at the Pallottine Renewal Center, in Florissant (30 min from downtown St. Louis), July 1719, 2026. Take a chance and get involved-you won’t regret it! Cost is $290, includes meals. For details visit www.ReflectRetreat.com, Email reflect.stlouis@gmail.com, or call (630) 222-8303.
Lebanon—St. Frances de Sales Catholic Church will have its annual Rummage Sale, Fri., Sept. 4, 7am1pm and Sat., Sept. 5, 7am-12pm. Housewares, collectables, toys, books, records, jewelry, Christmas décor, and much more!.
Parishes and organizations are invited to submit notices of future events to be printed on a spaceavailable basis. There is no fee.
DURING THIS EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL, FR. DAVID COON OFFERS THE FOLLOWING QUOTE FOR THE REFLECTION ON THE EUCHARIST:
“Recognize in This Bread what hung on the Cross, and in this chalice what flowed from His side.”
—ST. AUGUSTINE
Father Coon is Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dexter. He is also Priest Minister for the Confraternity of Priest Adorers of the Eucharistic Face of Jesus.
MEET OUR SEMINARIANS
Jackson Gaeta
Jackson Gaeta’s journey to the seminary began with a growing sense that God was calling him to deeper commitment.
A native of Cape Girardeau and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Jackson just completed his first year at Conception Seminary College after spending time at Mississippi State University and Southeast Missouri State University. Along the way, he worked in carpentry, construction, and summer camp ministry—experiences that helped shape his love for serving others and working with his hands.
The oldest of five children, Gaeta has two brothers and two sisters. He enjoys camping, backpacking, woodworking, and playing both piano and guitar. He also has a deep appreciation for the outdoors, often finding peace and renewal in places like Colorado. His favorite sports team is the Cardinals; favorite food is fried catfish; his favorite sport is football, and his favorite music is country and bluegrass.
His favorite saints are St. Jude, “He is the patron saint of hopeless causes, so he is a good friend to have in tough times!” Gaeta said. Also, St. Therese of Lisieux, “I read her autobiography last year and it was great! Since then, she has been a close friend in my spiritual life. She has inspired me a lot to grow in childlikeness.”
Gaeta credits Fr. Tristan Stovall, a campus minister at Mississippi State, as one of the greatest influences on his discernment.
“His zeal and openness to the students inspired me a lot to pursue a vocation in the priesthood,” Gaeta said. “He walked me through almost all of my discernment process and is still one of my good friends today.”
When asked about his “God moment,” when he felt called to the priesthood and discernment, Gaeta shared, “In early August of my second year of college, I devoted much of my free time to praying in the Catholic Church near campus. I had been growing in my faith for about
two years at that point, and I was very thankful for how close God had brought me to Him, but I wanted more. During that time of prayer, it hit me, ‘What if I consecrated my life to Him?’ I did not know if I was called to be a priest for sure, but I couldn’t shake my desire to give myself fully to God in consecration to Him. So, after much prayer and discernment, I applied to the seminary.”
This past year in seminary, Gaeta studied theology and Spanish while taking part in ministry opportunities within diocesan Catholic schools in the Cape Girardeau area. This summer he is serving as a Totus Tuus missionary, traveling across southern Missouri and sharing his faith with young people. He is also eager to begin philosophy studies in the coming academic year.
Gaeta is very grateful for the support of the faithful in the diocese.
“I have been blown away by the support and encouragement I have received from people of the diocese in just my first year!” he said. “To know I have so many people behind me helps me immensely to carry on through all of the ups and downs of formation.”
Asked what he would say to someone seeking Christ, he emphasized listening and compassion.
“Everyone desires to be heard and loved,” he said. “Ultimately, they desire Christ. Most of the time, my job is just to sit with someone, hear them, and show them compassion.”
CELEBRATING CATHOLIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the USCCB joins this celebration by lifting up the contributions of Catholics and the impact of our faith on the history of this country.
America’s Catholic Patriots
By Bronwen McShea
When it comes to our Church’s history, we Catholics tend to zero-in quickly on canonized saints and those we hope will be canonized. This is understandable, given the importance our faith places on special exemplars of holiness and the supernatural virtues. Often, though, we highlight well-known saints to the exclusion of the much larger tapestry of Catholic experiences and achievements in which our most celebrated, canonized figures’ lives are interwoven.
This is true, for example, where the Church in the United States is concerned. We American Catholics tend to lack even basic familiarity with the range of men and women among us who—while not in most cases deserving the honors of the altar—helped to make the United States both a powerful nation and one ever-striving to improve itself morally and socially.
In this year of the nation’s 250th birthday, let us get to know more of these Catholic patriots active in every era since the Founding.
For instance, two of note who fought in the American Revolution were Commodore John Barry and Colonel
John Fitzgerald. Both were born in Ireland and were devout in the faith. Barry, alongside John Paul Jones, was one of the fathers of the American Navy. Indeed, after fighting bravely in multiple sea and land engagements in the Revolution, President George Washington put him in charge of the reestablished US Navy, giving him the branch’s very first commission.
Fitzgerald, for his part, joined a patriot militia in Virginia in 1774 and was a loyal aide-de-camp to General Washington during the war, including during the terrible winter at Valley Forge.
Wounded at the Battle of Monmouth, he later served as Mayor of Alexandria and helped found the city’s first Catholic church, the Basilica of St. Mary.
In 1831, a French aristocrat named Alexis de Tocqueville was struck while touring the young United States how simultaneously patriotic and devout in the faith American Catholics were, since Catholics in his homeland were typically suspicious of republican and
CIVIL WAR HOSPITAL Field Hospital at Fair Oaks, Virginia, 1862, American Civil War, 19th Century American History. Our nation owes a special debt to Catholics—especially religious sisters—for advances in wartime nursing and hospital services. Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy, and many other Catholic women already trained in nursing stepped into the breach. Sisters staffed, managed, and expanded the Union’s and Confederacy’s ability to treat and preserve the lives of countless soldiers. Mother Angela Gillespie of the Sisters of the Holy Cross turned a warehouse in Mound City, IL, into one of the largest and best hospitals in the country. (Public Domain)
democratic principles in the wake of all the Church suffered in the French Revolution. In his book, Democracy in America, he expressed surprise, too, that American Catholics were attracting many Protestant converts to the Church. By the eve of the Civil War, such converts included President James Monroe’s grandnephew, Andrew, who became a Jesuit after participating in Admiral Matthew Perry’s first expedition to Japan, and James Roosevelt Bayley, a nephew of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and a cousin of the future President Theodore Roosevelt. Bayley would later serve both as Bishop of Newark and Archbishop of Baltimore and—with both America’s and the Church’s well-being in mind— promote important social welfare and educational initiatives, including the founding of Seton Hall University.
Another leading convert of the period was the former Unitarian radical Orestes Brownson. A pioneer of American Catholic publishing, he became a leading voice of Catholic fidelity to both the Church and the United States, influencing political leaders of various faiths through writings such as The American Republic (1865), his book on the constitution. He was a strong advocate of American labor, favoring trade unions, and he spoke out against slavery and supported the Union during the Civil War—in which two of his three sons who served as Army officers gave their lives.
Division during Civil War
American Catholics were as divided as the rest of the country during the Civil War, with few of prominence standing up strongly against slavery until the war started. The Irish-born Bishop of
Cincinnati, John Baptist Purcell, was among the first prominent American Catholic churchmen to call for emancipation, declaring in 1862, “A people could not long survive the fatal contrast between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, the one asserting that all men are born free, sovereign, and independent, that the other millions may be slaves.”
Catholics died in great numbers for both the Union and the Confederacy, and devout Catholics were among the officers leading the war on both sides. Among the Catholic generals who served the Union was William Rosecrans. Converting to Catholicism after graduating West Point and convincing his brother Sylvester (a future bishop) to do the same, he trained cadets and young officers in engineering and later, during the Civil War, helped the Union win many early victories— bringing a crucifix and Rosary beads into battle. Although sidelined in 1863 after a major setback at Chickamauga, Georgia, he would go on to serve as our ambassador to Mexico and as a congressman for California’s first district.
Our nation owes a special debt to Catholics—especially religious sisters— for advances in wartime nursing and hospital services. At the start of the Civil War, the military largely relied on untrained volunteers and male orderlies to tend to wounded soldiers—something very unsustainable as casualties mounted. Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy, and many other Catholic women already trained in nursing stepped into the breach. Sisters staffed, managed, and expanded the Union’s and Confederacy’s ability to treat and preserve the lives of countless soldiers. Mother Angela Gillespie of the Sisters of the Holy Cross turned a warehouse in Mound City, Illinois, into one of the largest and best hospitals in the country. Religious sisters such Mother Mariana Flynn of the Daughters of Charity and Mother Mary Anthony Bordeaux of the Congregation of American Sisters would serve similarly in the Spanish-American War. Bordeaux, of the Lakota people in South Dakota,
OLD PAPER PRINT Waving Flag of Union Flag (1861-1863). (Public Domain)
NATIONAL NEWS/DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING
was among the first Native American women recognized by the Army for military nursing service. Sisters of Loretto, Ursulines, and women of other congregations would also staff military hospitals during World War I, including in the difficult conditions of Camp Zachary Taylor in Louisville, where more than 10,000 soldiers were hospitalized due to the global flu pandemic of 1918.
Our nation owes a special debt to Catholics— especially religious sisters—for advances in wartime nursing and hospital services.
Standing up for the vulnerable During World War II, numerous Catholic American laywomen and consecrated women served the country as nurses in Europe and the Pacific. Catholic women’s organizations such as the National Council of Catholic Women
and the Catholic Daughters of America supported the war effort in many other ways alongside men’s organizations such as the Knights of Columbus. Looking far beyond our wartime history, devout Catholics have in every era been among those serving America’s interests—in too many capacities to count. A Catholic great-grandniece of President Washington, Eugenia Washington, contributed to the nation’s memorialization of its early history by helping to found the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of America. Catholic philanthropists such as Sarah Peter of Cincinnati and J.J. Haverty of Atlanta helped raise the cultural tone of the young nation by building up art
collections that became important museums. Layman Matthew Ahmann and Franciscan sister Mary Antona Ebo—the latter the first Black woman to run a Catholic hospital—were among numerous Catholics active in the mid20th-century Civil Rights Movement.
Then there are the innumerable men and women—many of them very prayerful and committed to the Church’s teachings—who have served in all levels of our government; who have fought for just wages and safe labor conditions for American workers; who have stood up for the most vulnerable among us such as the unborn; and who have built up the most extensive networks of schools, institutions of higher learning, charitable organizations, hospitals, and international philanthropic organizations the world has ever seen.
American Catholics, like all human beings, have much
This article is part of a series exploring Catholic contributions over 250 years of American history. Find out more at www.usccb. org: We Hold These Truths.
NOTRE
DAME QUEEN
OF VICTORY EVENT HONORS EXCELLENCE
Notre Dame Regional High School invites you to join us for the Queen of Victory Evening of Excellence on Fri., Aug. 7, in King Hall on the NDRHS campus. This special evening celebrates individuals whose achievements, leadership, service, and dedication have left a lasting impact on the Notre Dame community.
We are honored to welcome Mike Kohlfeld, a Notre Dame alumnus from the Class of 1969, parent of alumni, local businessman and philanthropist, as the evening’s keynote speaker.
The evening will begin with a social hour, followed by dinner catered by 36 Restaurant & Bar. The cost to attend is $50 per person. Purchase tickets at www.notredamehighschool.org/queenofvictory
2026
HONOREES
• Distinguished Alumni Award: Tim Wencewicz (‘02)
• Performing & Visual Arts Hall of Fame: Kevin Brost (‘13)
• Athletic Hall of Fame: 2006 & 2007 State Champion Boys Soccer Teams
• Bob Miller Award: Josh & Jennifer Turner
• Annunciation Award: Michael & Tricia Jansen
• Acts of the Apostles Society Donors
NOTRE DAME ALUMNIFEST AUG. 8
Celebrate Bulldog pride and reconnect with the Notre Dame family at AlumniFest on Aug. 8, an evening of faith, community, and fun for all ages! The celebration begins with a 4 p.m. Mass in the gym celebrated by Fr. Jesse Heitt, followed by an exciting evening of activities on campus. Families can enjoy kids activities, a Touch-a-Truck experience, delicious food and beverages provided by the Knights of Columbus and local food trucks, and live entertainment throughout the evening until 8 p.m.
Register by Aug. 1.
DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING
CatholicManNight strengthens faith, fellowship among men across southeast Missouri
By Paula Wright Cape Girardeau
Since Anthony Riley, a member of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral at the time, first introduced CatholicManNight in Southeast Missouri, in 2015, the event has expanded into 14 parishes, each hosting its own gatherings designed to help men deepen their relationship with Jesus and build meaningful friendships rooted in faith.
The most recent CatholicManNight on May 6, hosted by Sacred Heart Parish, in Dexter, drew approximately 40 participants. Just two months earlier, nearly 80 men attended CatholicManNight in St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Cape Girardeau, reflecting the steady growth and enthusiasm surrounding the ministry.
CatholicManNight first began in 2010 under the guidance of Bishop Lee Piché, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The purpose of CatholicManNight is “to help men better know Jesus, imitate Him in their daily lives, to build Christcentered friendships with other men and to strengthen parishes.”
CatholicManNight offers parishes an evangelization resource to “draw Catholic men together to meet Jesus in Adoration, reconcile with Jesus in Confession, learn about Jesus through catechesis, and build friendships/ camaraderie by sharing a meal.”
Each gathering follows a format outlined in the Catholic Man Night playbook. The evening typically includes Eucharistic Adoration, opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation, faith-based presentations, small-group discussions,
fellowship, and a shared meal.
Now in its 10th year
“The parish provides the meal; one or two speakers will give a talk before adoration, then there is confession before we gather for our meal,” explained Rodney Eftink, an organizer for Southeast Missouri CatholicManNight, which celebrated its 10th year . “Afterward, there is another talk to conclude the evening and revisit what has been presented and discussed.”
SEMO CatholicManNight—Catholic Man Night gatherings are typically held every-other-month at parishes throughout southeast Missouri. Men interested in attending are encouraged to follow the SEMO Catholic Man Night Facebook page, or watch for notices in their local parish bulletins and The Mirror, or Email them at SEMOCatholicManNight@gmail.com (Getty)
“During the evening, we talk about challenges to being a Catholic man,” said Eftink. “It also offers an opportunity to go to confession on a regular basis. We often gather in small groups and dive into our faith a little more. There is a core group that has been active with Catholic Man Night and attends almost every meeting now, but new people show up at every meeting too.”
Priests contribute to the success of each event. In addition to hosting gatherings, local pastors frequently serve as presenters and are available for confession.
“ We always include the parish priest, and typically other priests in the area will also attend. Most priests are excited to host a Catholic Man Night event within their parish.”
The hosting parish provides the meal and speaker for the evening. Often it is the parish priest who provides the presentation and topic.
“They challenge us to be good and holy men. It’s very important in today’s times to be good Catholic men,” shared Eftink.
In addition to spiritual renewal, participants also value the opportunity to connect with one another in a meaningful way.
“The fellowship offers an opportunity to meet other men and have a good meal,” Eftink noted. “That is often tough in today’s world. There are not a lot of opportunities for men to gather and share a meal. Society has changed.”
For some participants, the gatherings provide companionship and encouragement that might otherwise be lacking.
“Men who do not have family, or family left, have an opportunity to meet people and focus on the right things,”
Eftink said. “They are all good people—a good group of men to spend time with.” Looking back on the growth of the ministry, Eftink believes one of its greatest strengths is the encouragement men receive from one another.
“One of the gifts of Catholic Man Night gatherings is the inspiration the men receive,” he said. “When you are struggling and see someone who seems to have life together, it inspires you. You can take that inspiration and run with it.”
SISTER PARISH PAIRINGS—Father Vincent Joseph, VC, welcomed members of St. Joseph Parish, Billings, as they visited their DEC Sister Parish Pairing(s) on Sunday, June 28, for Mass, lunch, and conversation. Pictured are Kelly Harter, Robin Blackstock, Fr. Joseph, Kim Brayman, and Missy Monroe. Father Joseph is pastor of St. John Parish, Leopold, and St. Anthony Mission Church, Glennon, DEC Sister Parishes with St. Joseph Parish, Billings, as part of the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and the 70th anniversary of the diocese. On the Sister Parish visit, the Billings parishioners gifted the Leopold church with a new altar cloth, “in hopes you will remember your friends on the west-side of the diocese each time you use it,” said Fr. Bejoy Thomas, CMI, who serves St. Joseph Billings as Parochial Administrator. The idea behind the Sister Parish project is one of fellowship, awareness, service, and prayer, so that the faithful may better know one another and engage as One Church, East to West. (The Mirror)
MASS OF THANKSGIVING Father Charles Dunn, The Very Rev. Tom Kiefer (partially obscured), Bishop Rice, Fr. Rabinson Kulandai Samy, HGN, and Fr. Paul Pudhota celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Canera Church, Neosho, on June 5, to celebrate Fr. Dunn’s 10th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. (The Mirror)
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.
EPISCOPAL CAKE A cake at the reception June 5, bearing the impaled coat of arms for Bishop Edward M. Rice, commemorated the 10th anniversary of Bishop Rice’s installation as the Seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on June 1, 2016. (The Mirror)
DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING
Sister Jean Schmid, SSND, age 91, died June 2, 2026, at Anna House, The Sarah Community, in Bridgeton, MO.
The first of two children of Nell (Tebeau) and Joseph Schmid was born in St. Louis on May 21, 1935. She was baptized on May 28, 1935, in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and named Jean Marie. Her brother, Donald, was born in November 1936. Throughout their childhood, the pair was very close and Schmid joined Donald in many athletic activities. Their father died in September 1940 and her maternal grandmother came to live and care for the children while their mother worked.
professed first vows on August 2, 1954, and final vows on August 2, 1960. She later returned to her baptismal name.
the Mexican immigrants and Hispanic people in Verona, as well as the pastoral associate-parish coordinator for both Sacred Heart Parish, in Verona, and Holy Trinity Parish, in Aurora.
Schmid attended kindergarten at Nativity Parish, grades one through five at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, staffed by the Sisters of Loretto, and grades six through eight at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which was staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She attended Notre Dame High School as an aspirant. During her senior year of high school, her mother married Ray Butler. She now had a stepfather and the family grew to include four stepbrothers and four stepsisters. Later, her mother gave birth to a little girl.
Schmid began thinking of becoming a religious sister in grade school. She entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa, St. Louis, on August 28, 1952. She was received into the novitiate on August 1, 1953, and given the name, M. Helen Rose. She
After profession, Sr. Schmid taught in St. Bernadette at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis and St. Anthony Grade and High School in Effingham, Illinois. She was always interested in the foreign missions, a desire fostered by her mother and grandmother, and in 1965, she was missioned to Japan. She first spent two years as a student in the House of Studies in Tokyo, learning the Japanese language. During the next seven years, she taught at Notre Dame Girls’ Secondary School in Kyoto. After a year of study at St. Louis University, she returned to Japan and taught at Notre Dame Women’s College (now University) in Kyoto.
In 1990, Sr. Schmid returned to the United States and studied at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She completed a master’s degree in theology in 1992. She then returned once more to Japan to teach at Notre Dame Women’s College. In 1998, she became a secretary in the SSND Regional Office in Kyoto. After two years in that role, she said her farewells to Japan and made her way back to the United States, having spent a combined 32 years in Japan.
Back in Missouri, Sr. Schmid transitioned to parish ministry and for the next several years was an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher to
In 2004, Sr. Schmid moved to Sancta Maria, in Ripa, and embraced a new ministry as mission coordinator, in which she provided mission education, served as a secretary for various organizations, and taught English to the Vietnamese sisters who lived in residence at Theresa Center.
In 2022, she was missioned to Veronica House, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, Missouri. As her health declined, Sr. Schmid was transferred to Anna House, The Sarah Community, in 2025. In May 2026, she was placed on hospice.
She passed away peacefully with sisters praying with her in the late morning of June 2, 2026. Visitation, prayer service, and sharing of memories were held at The Sarah Community on June 8, 2026. Funeral services were held at Sancta Maria in Ripa the following morning.
Visitation, reading of biography, sharing of memories, and the Mass of Resurrection were held in Theresa Center chapel with Rev. Denny Schaab as presider. Family members, classmates, friends, caregivers, Vietnamese sisters, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and SSND Associates attended the funeral services. Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery.
Preceded in death by her parents, Nell and Joseph Schmid, Sr. Schmid is survived by her brother, Donald of St.
Louis, and her sister, Theresa Folsom of Columbia, Missouri; extended family members, School Sisters of Notre Dame in community, SSND Associates, and many friends in both Japan and the United States.
From her childhood, Sr. Schmid had a soft place in her heart for dogs and delighted in playing with and caring for them. She is reported to have taught a friend’s dog how to respond to Japanese commands! During her illness, she delighted in spending time and playing games with the dogs of friends who visited her.
Sister Schmid was a creative and imaginative person, had an excellent sense of humor, was warm and caring, and always complementing others. During her years in Japan, she had the opportunity to travel and engage in volunteer work. She spent one summer serving in a children’s hospital in South Korea and visited a number of cities in Asia and Europe.
In 1978, she established a sponsorship program in Japan for the education of poor village children and women in India. This program has successfully educated thousands of youth in a variety of projects and continues today. Through her passion for the poor and acting on this conviction, she touched the lives of hundreds of people. She was truly a bridge-builder across cultures and enriched living alongside persons of other cultures. May she now rejoice in her new life with God, whom she served so faithfully for 72 years.
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SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION—After a confirmation retreat at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, MO, Confirmation was held in St. Teresa Parish with Bishop Edward M. Rice and The Very Rev. Victor Anokwute, who is also Pastor of St. Ann Parish, in Malden. (Photo by Kimberly Lynn/The Mirror)
