The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
The Roman Catholic Church of Southern Missouri

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  • Home
  • Bishop
    • The Most Reverend Edward M. Rice named Bishop
    • STATEMENT of BISHOP EDWARD M. RICE on his appointment
    • CURRICULUM VITAE for The Most Reverend EDWARD M. RICE
    • Our bishops then and now
  • About
    • History and Facts
    • Find a diocesan church by location
    • Find a diocesan church by region
    • Employment around the Diocese
  • Ministries/Offices
    • Camp Re-NEW-All
    • Child & Youth Protection
    • Communications, Media & Publications
    • Cursillo®
    • Development and Properties
    • Endowment Fund for Lay Leadership
    • Evangelization and Catechesis
    • Family Life
    • Finance
    • Oficina del Ministerio con Hispanos
    • Office of the Chancellor
    • Respect Life Office
    • Schools / Education
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    • Tribunal
    • Vocations/Seminarians
    • Worship
    • Youth Ministry
  • Calendar
  • News
    • Local Columns
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    • National & World News
    • National & World Columns
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    • The Mirror, Print Edition
  • Catholic Charities

First Catholic School in Springfield holds reunion

By: Linda Leicht  Springfield MO

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Photo gallery may be found here.

After 123 years, it was time to have an all-school reunion at St. Joseph Catholic Academy, formally St. Joseph Catholic School.

Robert Healey from the class of 1949 took a tour of the school building on Scott Street in Springfield before joining other alums in the all-purpose room. He admitted the building was “big-time different,” but added that there is much that is the same, including the rigorous academics.

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Source: The-Mirror  

Meet Fr. Chori Seraiah & family

By: Linda Leicht  Springfield MO

From Protestant pastor, to Anglican priest, to Catholic priest

FR. ​SERAIAH AND FAMILY​—Pictured were Wyntre Seraiah,​ Catherine Seraiah, ​Fr. Chori Seraiah​, Rook Seraiah;​ ​ (back) ​Ransom Seraiah, Ajha Seraiah, ​and ​Blaise Seraiah.
FR. ​SERAIAH AND FAMILY​—Pictured are Wyntre Seraiah,​ Catherine Seraiah, ​Fr. Chori Seraiah​, Rook Seraiah;​ ​ (back) ​Ransom Seraiah, Ajha Seraiah, ​and ​Blaise Seraiah.

People in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau may be surprised to learn of a priest with a wife and five children. His name is Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah. As with most priests, he has a strong devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady.

Fr. Seraiah is a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter was the Vatican’s pastoral response to repeated and persistent inquiries made by Anglican individuals and groups in the US and Canada who, over time, have come to identify the Catholic Church as their home. Those joining the Ordinariate have discerned they are truly Catholic in what they believe and desire full membership in the Catholic Church.

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Source: The-Mirror  

Block 2 phase of Capital Endowment Campaign begins in August

By: Linda Leicht  Springfield MO
DONOR EVENT—Charles Banta, of Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield, talked with Tani Kremer, and Dr. George and Mrs. Vicki Wong, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, during a donor event for the Capital Endowment Campaign. The event was held the evening of June 22 in the home of Charlie and Mary Beth O’Reilly​, also members of St. Elizabeth Ann Parish​. Block 2 of the Capital Campaign​ will launch in August. (Photo by Leslie Eidson/The Mirror)
DONOR EVENT—Charles Banta, of Holy Trinity Parish, Springfield, talked with Tani Kremer, and Dr. George and Mrs. Vicki Wong, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Springfield, during a donor event for the Capital Endowment Campaign. The event was held the evening of June 22 in the home of Charlie and Mary Beth O’Reilly​, also members of St. Elizabeth Ann Parish​. Block 2 of the Capital Campaign​ will launch in August. (Photo by Leslie Eidson/The Mirror)

With successful efforts wrapping up on the east side of the Diocese, parishioners in the central section can soon expect to be asked to consider their contributions to the Diocese’s first-ever Capital Endowment Campaign.

Begun in January, the generosity far exceeded the goal for Block 1 of the campaign, according to Gene Aug, Director of Development and Properties. With nearly $8 million already pledged, the 18 eastern parishes reached 131 percent of the goal for that region. Out of 6,999 families, 2,800 families pledged an average of $2,595, demonstrating their willingness to sacrifice today tor the future of their Diocese and the Church. Read more

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Source: The-Mirror  

Church celebrates life of Bishop Emeritus

By: Linda Leicht  Springfield MO

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LEIBRECHT FAMILY—Members of Bp.-emeritus John J. Leibrecht’s family were present April 11 in St. Agnes Cathedral to celebrate his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Pictured were The Most Reverend John J. Leibrecht; Fr. Bob Leibrecht, brother; Marilyn Brockman, sister; Sandy Leibrecht, sister-in-law; and Jim Leibrecht, brother. (Photo by Dean Curtis/The Mirror)
LEIBRECHT FAMILY—Members of Bp.-emeritus John J. Leibrecht’s family were present April 11 in St. Agnes Cathedral to celebrate his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Pictured were The Most Reverend John J. Leibrecht; Fr. Bob Leibrecht, brother; Marilyn Brockman, sister; Sandy Leibrecht, sister-in-law; and Jim Leibrecht, brother. (Photo by Dean Curtis/The Mirror)

John Leibrecht marks 60 years as a priest

On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, Bp.-emeritus John J. Leibrecht celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

On April 11, the now-retired bishop was honored during a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield, and again on the following Thu., April 14, at St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. Both events marked the gift of his service to God and the Church.

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Source: The-Mirror  

Ministry retread: Cursillo gains momentum in southeast Missouri

By: Linda Leicht  Chaffee MO
CURSILLO 162—Bishop-designate Edward Rice posed for a photo with the group marking Cursillo 162 in St. Louis April 29. Bishop Rice was named the next Bishop of Springfield-Cape Giradeau on April 26. Deacon Tom Schumer, Fr. Allan Saunders, and others from the Cape Girardeau area joined those in St. Louis for this weekend of renewal and encounter. (The Mirror)
CURSILLO 162—Bishop-designate Edward Rice posed for a photo with the group marking Cursillo 162 in St. Louis April 29. Bishop Rice was named the next Bishop of Springfield-Cape Giradeau on April 26. Deacon Tom Schumer, Fr. Allan Saunders, and others from the Cape Girardeau area joined those in St. Louis for this weekend of renewal and encounter. (The Mirror)

Enthusiasm about Cursillo is growing in the Diocese. A group of about a dozen Cursillistas—people who have completed a Cursillo Weekend—gathered recently in St. Ambrose Parish in Chaffee to pray for women who were participating in a women’s Cursillo Weekend in St. Louis.

Sharon Essner, who is helping to coordinate the effort to restart a Cursillo Movement in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, led the group in the song “Here I Am Lord,” followed by prayers for the weekend participants, the team working with them, and the men who would be going soon to a weekend of their own.

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Source: The-Mirror  

Acts of Mercy take on flesh, fortifying town and its people

By: Linda Leicht  Caruthersville MO

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When it comes to living the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the folks at Sacred Heart Parish in Caruthersville are thinking outside the box.

The tiny parish, with only 90 families, is taking some big steps in their community by embracing Pope Francis’ call for a Jubilee of Mercy. Seven groups, from the Parish Council to Bible study groups, are each taking a Corporal Act of Mercy and peeling back the layers of its meaning to find an authentic way to express their love for Jesus by intentional acts of love and mercy toward their neighbors, often Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Fr. Jaroslaw Skrzypek and Sr. Darlene Presley, GHMS, have been working closely with the members of Sacred Heart to make this Jubilee of Mercy a reality in Caruthersville. The first group to get a plan together was the Monday Bible Study.

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Source: The-Mirror  

Charity & service: Deacons enrich parishes

By: Linda Leicht  Jackson MO
LITURGY OF THE WORD—Deacon Walter Biri preached during a recent liturgy in Immaculate Conception Parish, Jackson, MO. Permanent deacons bring a myriad of gifts to parish life and mission. (Photo by Kelly Mansfield)
LITURGY OF THE WORD—Deacon Walter Biri preached during a recent liturgy in Immaculate Conception Parish, Jackson, MO. Permanent deacons bring a myriad of gifts to parish life and mission. (Photo by Kelly Mansfield)

When Walt Biri took early retirement from Proctor and Gamble 14 years ago, he planned to go back to school and pursue something in heating and air conditioning.

So much for plans.

Today, at age 63, Biri spends most of his days teaching RCIA and baptism classes, assisting with funerals, preaching, doing clerical work, and assisting Fr. John Harth, pastor at Immaculate Conception parish in Jackson. Biri, a permanent deacon, also serves as Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese, helping other men discern their ministry.

“It has been a wonderful journey,” Deacon Biri said of the surprising turn in his life. “It’s a journey from the beginning, and it doesn’t stop. It’s through your ministry that you grow.”

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Source: The-Mirror  

Block One of Capital Endowment Campaign remarkable success

By: Linda Leicht  Leopold MO
CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS—Parish volunteers for the Block One Capital Endowment Campaign held a meeting Feb. 26 in the library of Guardian Angel School, Oran, MO. Pictured were Lucy Brindley, Tammi Asmus, Alice Uhrhan, Michael Bollinger, Ronnie Dirnberger, Tammy Gaines, Andrew Gaines, Paul Crader, and Rose Pobst. This was a combined meeting of volunteers from St. Joseph Parish in Advance, MO; St. Ambrose Parish in Chaffee, MO; and Guardian Angel Parish in Oran, MO. Not pictured were Charles Hinkebein, Joseph Sander, and Fr. Randy Tochtrop, pastor. (Photo by Linda Becker)
CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS—Parish volunteers for the Block One Capital Endowment Campaign held a meeting Feb. 26 in the library of Guardian Angel School, Oran, MO. Pictured were Lucy Brindley, Tammi Asmus, Alice Uhrhan, Michael Bollinger, Ronnie Dirnberger, Tammy Gaines, Andrew Gaines, Paul Crader, and Rose Pobst. This was a combined meeting of volunteers from St. Joseph Parish in Advance, MO; St. Ambrose Parish in Chaffee, MO; and Guardian Angel Parish in Oran, MO. Not pictured were Charles Hinkebein, Joseph Sander, and Fr. Randy Tochtrop, pastor. (Photo by Linda Becker)

St. John Parish has been the spiritual home of Catholics in Leopold since 1856. A rural community, with only one paved road coming into town, 375 families belong to the church.

Fr. David Coon serves as the pastor of the Leopold parish, as well as the 64 families at the 111-year-old St. Anthony Mission Church in Glennon, about 10 miles away.

The challenges of these small, rural parishes are many, but getting commitments to the Capital Endowment Campaign has not been one of them. In fact, both faith communities reached and exceeded their commitments well before the campaign concluded. Read more

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Source: The-Mirror  

Draw closer to God through Cursillo

By: Linda Leicht  Springfield MO
Margarita Gagliardi
Margarita Gagliardi

Before Margarita Gagliardi experienced a Cursillo Weekend she was a “Sunday Mass Catholic.” Now, she enjoys a “close relationship with God.”

Gagliardi experienced that weekend nearly 40 years ago, but she continues to grow in her faith thanks to the tools she took away from her Cursillo weekend. She meets each week in her small Cursillo group and at larger monthly Ultreyas.

“Cursillo offers a well-structured way to live the Christian life,” said Fr. Bill Hodgson, the diocesan Cursillo spiritual moderator. “There’s a lot of fads of spiritualities, but Cursillo is really rooted in the Church and the sacraments and a daily discipline of Christian discipleship. Cursillo means ‘short course.’ It is a short course in Christianity.”

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The Kitchen wants to end homelessness in communities

By: Linda Leicht  Springfield MO
US NAVY VETERAN FINDS PERMANENT HOUSING—US Navy veteran Fred Seitz, 41, benefitted from the VA’s Home At Last program through The Kitchen, Inc., and moved into permanent housing this year. Seitz also now serves on The Kitchen’s Board of Directors. (Photo by Linda Leicht)
US NAVY VETERAN FINDS PERMANENT HOUSING—US Navy veteran Fred Seitz, 41, benefitted from the VA’s Home At Last program through The Kitchen, Inc., and moved into permanent housing this year. Seitz also now serves on The Kitchen’s Board of Directors. (Photo by Linda Leicht)

When Fred Seitz tells people about his experiences with The Kitchen, Inc., the most common response is, “Aren’t they closed now?”

Seitz, 41, a US Navy veteran who has been able to find housing through The Kitchen and now serves on its Board of Directors, is quick to assure everyone that The Kitchen, Inc., is not only open for business, it is doing great things.

Rorie Orgeron, CEO of The Kitchen, Inc., said the misperception is common since The Kitchen closed its emergency shelter at the Missouri Hotel on Commercial Street in Springfield earlier this year. He wants to change the public perception so everyone knows what The Kitchen is doing for individuals and families to address homelessness.

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  • The Mirror

    Founded in 1965, The Mirror is the official bi-weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. To subscribe or request a digital issue, please contact atoben@dioscg.org.

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To contact the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau:
The Catholic Center, 601 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65806
(417) 866-0841