Bishop Edward M. Rice recently released the annual clergy assignments that are effective July 01, 2022, unless otherwise noted. "Please keep these priests in your prayers as they adjust to their new assignments," said Bishop Rice. "Please pray, too, for former...
Bishop’s Statements & Letters
2021 Annual Appeal
Diocesan Development Fund (DDF)—the Bishop’s Annual Appeal—directly funds the operational needs of more than 45 ministries that assist all 84 parishes & missions in the diocese.
Catholic Healthcare Must Keep its Catholic Directives
Courtesy of Mercy Hospital Springfield In the last edition of The Mirror, I tried to shed light on the document outlining the guiding principles of a Catholic hospital, the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, commonly referred to as the...
MO Bishops Issue Statement After Execution of Ernest Johnson
Bishop Rice Issues Statement on Extraordinary Form of the Mass
Bishop Rice indicates that at this time, there will be no change to the current practice of the Latin Mass in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. Pope Francis issues Motu Propio, 'Traditionis Custodes' Springfield In response to the many questions regarding the...
Bishop Summarizes Ad Limina Meetings with Roman Curia
In addition to meeting with our Holy Father, my recent ad limina visit to the Holy See included meeting with the heads of various offices of the Roman Curia, who shared their priorities and offered me an opportunity to report on what is happening in the Diocese of...
Statement of the Missouri Catholic Bishops on the Disposition of Human Remains Through Alkaline Hydrolysis
We, the Catholic Bishops of Missouri, issue this statement to express our opposition to the legal recognition and use of alkaline hydrolysis as a means of disposing of human remains since it fails to fully respect the dignity that is owed to the deceased. Every human...
MO Bishops Issue Statement on Gun Violence
We, the Catholic bishops of Missouri, wish to address the senseless gun violence that is occurring in our schools, on our streets, and in our inner cities. The disturbing frequency of these events is making us numb to the profound impact on those directly affected and...
Missouri Catholic Conference Applauds Passage of Historic Pro-Life Bill, SB-5
[hr] CATHOLICS: Support Pro-life Bill SB-5 The Missouri Senate will reconvene Monday, July 24, at 4 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning, July 25, to consider amended SB-5, the strongest pro-life bill to be considered by the Missouri General Assembly in many decades. If...

The Most Reverend Edward M. Rice named Seventh Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
April 26, 2016 Today in Rome, Pope Francis announced at noon (5 a.m. in southern Missouri) that The Most Reverend Edward M. Rice, Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis, has been named the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The diocese has been Vacant...