Saint Catherine of Sienna said, “We’ve had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with 100,000 tongues. I see that the world is rotten because of silence.”
As I write this column for The Mirror, it is a week before the elections. I have no idea who will be elected to the White House nor whether Amendment 3 passed or failed. But maybe it’s good that I don’t know. What I do know is that a lot of effort from so many different groups, be they Catholic or not, many voices have cried out on behalf of the sanctity of human life. First and foremost, I thank the Knights of Columbus for their support with yard signs and billboards throughout southern Missouri. I thank the Missouri Catholic Conference, our own diocesan staff, and the many committed individuals from our Catholic parishes from East to West, along with those of other denominations who worked tirelessly to get the word out about this Amendment and who placed yard signs in front of their churches and homes. I thank the many other groups like Missouri Right to Life and so many people who prayed that the State of Missouri would uphold the dignity of human life in all its stages. I am proud of the many Catholics of our diocese who spend countless hours witnessing on behalf of pro-life and who offered prayers, especially the rosary. I recall the words of Pope Pius IX who said, “Give me an army praying the rosary and I will conquer the world.” This has been a David versus Goliath battle for life and again, while I do not know the outcome, I am proud of our effort.
During our October Clergy Institute, a priest asked me what we will do the day after the election if Amendment 3 passes. I looked at him with an odd glance and said, “I expect every priest of our diocese to get out of bed the next morning and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and then continue to spread the Gospel throughout southern Missouri. Whether we win or lose, our duty is the same: call people to holiness, discipleship, and witness. We did this work before Roe v Wade was reversed and regardless of the outcome, we will continue to do this work. We have not been silent, we have spoken up and defended life and we should be proud of our efforts.”
“We’ve had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with 100,000 tongues. I see that the world is rotten because of silence.”
BISHOP’S ANNUAL COLLECTION FOR CCSOMO
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has encouraged us to Walk with Moms in Need, meeting them where they are and responding to their particular needs. In southern Missouri, two of our answers to this effort are LifeHouse Springfield and LifeHouse Cape Girardeau. The mission of LifeHouse is to provide a safe, nurturing home, and supportive services for women who have chosen life for their unborn child. It is not just a shelter, but a comprehensive program with the goal of creating a better life for mother and child. Through LifeHouse in Springfield and Cape Girardeau we are responding to the most vulnerable women of our society, oftentimes women who have been sexually abused and living on the street with nowhere to turn. Whether Amendment 3 passed or not, we faithful of southern Missouri are committed to walking with moms in need. I thank Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, under the leadership of Ken Palermo and his predecessor, Maura Taylor, for bringing LifeHouse Cape Girardeau to completion.
But LifeHouse isn’t all that Catholic Charities provides to the least among us. Through its six programs, Catholic Charities served nearly 3,000 individuals last year. These programs include Construction Services, Developmental Disabilities Services, Disaster Services, Housing Services, Veterans Services, and Maternal and Family Programs. You may find more information on the annual Bishop’s Collection for Catholic Charities on Nov. 23-24 in the centerspread of this edition of the paper. Please give generously so that our works may continue to positively impact the most vulnerable among our neighbors.
Two of the key supporters of LifeHouse Cape Girardeau are Rick and Rhonda Cuba. Rick was a Co-chair of the LifeHouse Capital Campaign while Rhonda is a Co-chair of the LifeHouse Gala. It was due to Rhonda’s devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, that LifeHouse Cape Girardeau is called the Little Flower Campus. Each year, the Missouri Catholic Conference selects awardees from each diocese to receive the Citizen Recognition Award and I am proud to announce that Rick and Rhonda Cuba are the 2024 recipients for the Diocese of Springfield Cape Girardeau. You may read more about this on p. 8 of this issue of The Mirror. The Cubas truly exemplify good citizenship and promote Catholic values in our local community and in their parish. Congratulations to Rick and Rhonda. I thank you for all that you do to promote the sanctity of life.
“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”
Published in the November 08, 2024 issue of The Mirror.
Photo Credit: MCC CITIZEN RECOGNITION AWARD—Rhonda and Richard Cuba accepted the 2024 MCC Citizen Recognition Award from Bishop Edward M. Rice during the LifeHouse Gala in Cape Girardeau on Sat., Nov. 2, 2024. The Cubas are parishioners of Saint Vincent de Paul in Cape Giraredeau, MO, and were nominated by Deacon Mark Kiblinger who serves their parish and is a member of the Public Policy Committee of the Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC). (The Mirror)