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The next issue of The Mirror will be Dec. 25, 2020.Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email in digital format: Contact Debbie Thompson at (417) 866-0841, or Email: dthompson@dioscg.org.

BLESSING OF COLUMBARIUM—Bishop Edward M. Rice blessed the columbarium and the Donnie Wayne Wagoner Memo-rial Garden at Eden Village, Springfield, on Nov. 19, 2020. Eden Village is a gated community of micro homes for disabled, chronically homeless persons. The youth of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau built a home in Eden Village as a result of the 2018 Lenten Youth Mission of Mercy challenge issued by Bp. Rice. (Photo by Nick Lund-Molfese/The Mirror)

EDEN VILLAGE FOUNDERS—Founders of Eden Village, Spring-field, David Brown and his wife, Linda, are pictured with Bp. Ed-ward M. Rice after the Nov. 19 blessing and dedication of the Don-nie Wayne Wagoner Memorial Garden and columbarium. Eden Village has an agreement with the Greene County Medical Exam-iner’s Office that when a homeless person dies in Greene County and their ashes are not claimed by family members, the cremains will be given to Eden Village to be placed in the Memorial Garden. (Photo by Nick Lund-Molfese/The Mirror)

Springfield

‘This is a holy and sacred place,” said Bp. Edward M. Rice before

blessing the Donnie Wayne Wagoner Memorial Garden at Eden Village on Nov. 19, 2020. Readers may recall that the 2018 Lenten Youth Mission of Mercy was des-ignated to building a “tiny” home for a chronically homeless person in Eden Village. Each micro home is about 400 square feet with one bedroom, one bath-room, and a kitchen.

Seven people, all of whom had been homeless, were interred and placed to rest during the blessing that gathered around 50 people, including Spring-field Mayor Ken McClure and Springfield Police Lt., Robert Byrne.

Before an urn was placed in the columbarium, someone who knew the person spoke about their friend, sharing stories of how they met and the impact the person had on the other’s life.

“Particularly moving was the homeless woman who carried the remains of her unborn child with her after she was severely injured when a truck struck her,” said Nick Lund-Molfese, diocesan Ecumenical Officer and Director of Respect Life, Social Min-istry, Health Affairs, and Family Life.

Bishop blesses Eden Village Memorial Garden

Eden Village resident Mirenda Barrows lost her baby, Helen, who was interred in the Memorial Garden. Baby Helen died when then-pregnant Bar-rows was struck by a truck as she tried to cross Chestnut Expressway in 2017. Barrows, who was homeless at the time, suffered extensive injuries, the most painful of which was the loss of her unborn child. Barrows had been carry-ing Helen’s ashes in her backpack for

more than two years. Barrows now lives in a tiny home close to the Memorial Garden.

“I just felt she needed to be here,” Barrows told the Springfield News-Leader following the blessing and interments.

Eden Village Chief Operating Officer Nate Schlueter said that Eden Village has an agreement with the Greene County Medi-cal Examiner’s Office. From now on, when a homeless person dies in Greene County and no family members claim the ashes, the cremains will be given to Eden Village to be placed in the Memorial Garden.

Eden Village founders Linda and David Brown named the Memorial Garden after Donnie Wagoner, the final person to be

interred Nov. 19. The Browns met Wag-oner at the Gathering Tree, an evening drop-in center for homeless people founded by the Browns. Wagoner became something of a security guard at the Gathering Tree, which closed in 2018.

“He made sure it was safe,” David Brown told the Springfield News-Leader. “He never left the property until Linda and I were in our cars.” ©TM

2 The Mirror December 11, 2020

Hearts like a manger: ready to receive ChristCOME, AND YOU WILL SEEBp. Edward M. Rice

COLUMN

The Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Advent is always focused on the role of the Blessed Mother. This year, as

we are in cycle B, and Gospel comes from Luke 1:26-38, the Annunciation. Luke includes a lot of details – the angel Gabriel, the town of Nazareth in Galilee, and Joseph be-trothed to Mary. Within that gospel we have the first part of the Hail Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” We see the concern of Our Lady as to how she is to be the Mother of God, along with the assurance of the angel, “Do not be afraid. … For you have found favor with God.”

The name, Jesus, pronounced by the angel Gabriel, comes from God Himself. And of course, the entire event highlights the role of the Holy Spirit, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” It

is the Holy Spirit that overcomes any fear on the part of Our Lady. When the angel says, “Do not be afraid, Mary,” her fear and concern is allevi-ated—the Holy Spirit is active!

We can also highlight the beauti-ful consent given by Our Lady, “May it be done to me according to your

word.” It is as if the entire world was waiting for Mary’s consent. Here she becomes the New Eve. As the old Eve brought sin into the world through disobedience, Mary, the New Eve ushers in the new era of obedience to God’s will. And through the birth of her Son, she brings to fulfillment all the hopes of the people of Israel.

In Isaiah 9:1, we are told “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” As Isaiah continues in Isaiah 9:5, “A child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon His shoulder dominion rests.

They name him Wonder—Counselor,

God—Hero, Father—Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the role of the mother as well, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.”

The prophet Micah in 5:1 reminds us of the birth-place of the Messiah, “But you, Bethlehem—Ephratha-ha least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth from the one who is to be ruler in Israel.” In the book of Numbers 24:17, the star they would indicate the birth of the Messiah is fore-told, “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel.”

Throughout the cen-turies of the Old Testament, the people of Israel long for the coming of the Messiah. The prophets were appointed by God as his messengers, proclaiming the coming of the Christ and prepar-ing the world for Him. Two thousand years later, as we prepare for his coming once again in our hearts, we recognize our own longing, our need for a Messiah. In the midst of our own darkness over these months, the light shines, the light of Christ! That is the good news we are preparing our hearts to receive. Maybe that is why we hear in the Scriptures from the Mass at Midnight, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.”

For some, these past months have felt like the land of gloom and darkness. How profound then that during the weeks of Advent we light candles! What does one candle ac-complish? You could say not much but we also remember “it is better to

light one candle than to curse the darkness.” And then we light another, then a third candle until the entire Advent wreath is aglow with four candles.

In the midst of decorations, pre-paring special foods and gift-giving, let us not forget the most important work of the Advent season, the prepa-ration of the heart. Our Lord was born in Bethlehem—May our hearts be a new Bethlehem. There was no room in the inn—let each one of our hearts be a manger, ready to receive Him. Receive him into your heart and whatever your Christmas looks like, either with or distanced from family and friends, with Christ in your heart you will have the best Christmas ever. ©TM

Let us not forget the most important work of the Advent season, the preparation of the heart.

BISHOP MEETS ST. NICHOLAS—St. Nicho-las (Payton Bland) posed for a photo with Bp. Edward M. Rice in Christ the King Mis-sion Church, in Bunker, MO, on All Saints Day, Nov. 1. (The Mirror)

Feast of the

Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas 2020

Bishop Edward Rice will be in Cape Girardeau to celebrate the Christ-mas Masses in St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral. He will preside at Midnight Mass, the 8:30 a.m. Mass (Live-streamed on parish and diocesan Facebook pages) and the 10:30 a.m. Mass (broadcast on KZIM 960 AM) on Christmas Day.

FEAST DAY, DEC. 12—Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared multiple times in Mexico to St. Juan Diego in 1531. Today, she is patroness of Mexico and The Americas. Learn more here about the miraculous images imprinted on the saint’s tilma. (Catholic News Agency)

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 3COLUMNA

Corazones como un pesebre: listos para recibir a CristoVEN Y VERÁS

Obispo Edward M. Rice

No olvidemos la obra más importante del tiempo de Adviento, la preparación del corazón.

El Evangelio para el cuarto domingo de Adviento siempre está enfocado en el papel de la Virgen. Este año, como esta-

mos en el ciclo B, y el Evangelio viene de Lucas 1:26-38, la Anunciación. Lucas incluye muchos detalles: el ángel Gabriel, la ciudad de Nazaret en Galilea y José comprometido con María. Dentro de ese evangelio ten-emos la primera parte del avemaría: «Salve, llena de gracia. El Señor es contigo». Vemos la preocupación de Nuestra Señora en cuanto a cómo será la Madre de Dios, junto con la seguri-dad del ángel: «No temas… Porque has encontrado gracia ante Dios».

El nombre, Jesús, pronunciado por el án-gel Gabriel, viene de Dios mismo. Y, por supuesto, todo el evento destaca el papel del Espíritu Santo: «El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre tí, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra». Es el Espíritu Santo quien vence cualquier temor por parte de Nuestra Señora. Cuando el ángel dice: «No temas, María», su temor y preocupación se alivian: ¡el Espíritu Santo está activo!

También podemos destacar el bello consentimiento dado por Nuestra Señora: «Que se haga en mí según tu palabra». Es como si el mundo entero estuviera esperando el consentimiento de María. Aquí ella se convierte en la nueva Eva. Como la antigua Eva trajo el pecado al mundo a través de la desobediencia, María, la nueva Eva inicia la nueva era de obe-diencia a la voluntad de Dios. Y por

medio del nacimiento de su Hijo, da cumplimiento a todas las esperanzas del pueblo de Israel.

En Isaías 9:1, se nos dice «El pueblo que andaba en tinieblas ha visto una gran luz». Como Isaías continúa en Isaías 9:5: «Porque un niño nos ha nacido, un hijo se nos ha dado; le ponen en el hombro el distintivo del rey y proclaman su nombre: “Consejero admirable, Dios fuerte, Padre que no muere, prín-cipe de la Paz”». Isaías 7:14 profetiza también el papel de la madre: «El Señor, pues, les dará esta señal: La joven está embarazada y da a luz un varón a quien le pone el nombre

de Emmanuel, es decir: Dios-con-nosotros».

El profeta Miqueas en 5:1 nos recuerda el lugar de nacimiento del Mesías: «Pero tú, Belén Efrata, aunque eres la más pequeña entre todos los pueblos de Judá, tú me darás a aquel que debe gobernar a Israel». En el libro de Números 24:17, se predice la estrella que indicaría el nacimiento del Mesías: «un astro se le-vanta desde Jacob, un cetro se yergue en Israel».

A través de los siglos del Antiguo Testamento, el pueblo de Israel anhela la venida del Mesías. Los profetas fueron designados por Dios como sus mensajeros, proclamando la venida de Cristo y preparando el mundo para Él. Dos mil años después, mientras nos preparamos para su venida una vez más en nuestros cora-zones, reconocemos nuestro propio anhelo, nuestra necesidad de un

Mesías. En medio de nuestra propia oscuridad durante estos meses, ¡la luz brilla, la luz de Cristo! Esas son las buenas noticias que estamos prepa-rando nuestros corazones para recibir. Tal vez por eso oímos en las Escrituras de la Misa de medianoche: «El pueblo que andaba en las tinieblas ha visto una gran luz; sobre los que vivían en tierra de sombras, una luz brilló sobre ellos».

Para algunos, estos últimos meses se han sentido como la tierra de tinieblas y oscuridad. ¡Cuán profundo es entonces que durante las semanas de Adviento encende-mos velas! ¿Qué consigue una vela? Podrías decir no mucho, pero tam-bién recordamos «es mejor encender una vela que maldecir la oscuridad».

Y luego encendemos otra, luego una tercera vela hasta que toda la corona de Adviento esté llena con las cuatro velas.

En medio de las decoraciones, la preparación de alimentos especiales y la entrega de regalos, no olvidemos la obra más importante del tiempo de Adviento, la preparación del corazón. Nuestro Señor nació en Belén; que nuestros corazones sean una nueva Belén. No había lugar en la posada, permitamos que cada uno de nuestros corazones fuera un pesebre, listo para recibirlo. Recíbanlo en su corazón y sea cual sea vuestra apariencia navide-ña, ya sea con la familia y los amigos o distanciados de ellos, con Cristo en su corazón ustedes tendrán la mejor Navidad de la historia. ©TM

36 YEARS A BISHOP—Beloved Bishop Emeri-tus John J. Leibrecht will celebrate his 36th an-niversary of episcopal consecration on Dec. 12, 2020. He is pictured in August at his 90th birth-day party held at The Catholic Center, Spring-field, with Bp. Edward Rice and staff. His ap-pointment to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau was on Oct. 23, 1984. His consecra-tion and installation was celebrated in Immacu-late Conception Church, Springfield, on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Bishop Leibrecht served as the diocese’s fifth bishop until his retirement on Jan. 24, 2008, when he earned his distinction as the dio-cese’s first Bishop Emeritus in its 64-year history. Con-gratulations, Bp. Leibrecht! (Photo by Sarah Pittman/The Mirror)

Happy 36thEpiscopal anniversary

4 The Mirror December 11, 2020

The Mirror: Newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau USPS Publication 117-330 Publisher: The Most Rev. Edward Rice Editor: Leslie A. EidsonProduction: Glenn Eckl Circulation/Advertising: Debbie Thompson, dthompson@dioscg.org

Published every other week at 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143. Address all communications to 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143; Telephone (417) 866-0841; Email dthompson@dioscg.org

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Mirror, 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143. When giving change of address, state both old and new address, also old and new parish.Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MO, and additional mailing offices. Vol. LVI No. 17 December 11, 2020 Single copy price, $0.50 Subscription: $14 per year.

Digital subscriptions available as an option to USPS delivery with paid subscription. For more information, contact dthompson@dioscg.org.Copyright © 2020, The Mirror, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: www.dioscg.org

“Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau” @DioSCG

FORMACIÓN PARA ADULTOS/NOTICIAS DIOCESANAS

By Norma Montenegro Flynn

Cuando pienso en las tradi-ciones navideñas, recuerdo las Posadas, Pastorelas, los pesebres vivientes, la “Misa

del Gallo”, y los tradicionales vil-lancicos que con alegría cuentan historias sobre la Sagrada Familia.

Las tradiciones navideñas en mi vida, particularmente cuando crecía, han ayudado a formar mi fe; y mientras mi esposo y yo nos esforzamos por transmitir estas tradi-ciones a nuestros hijos, esperamos que también les ayuden a fortalecer y construir los cimientos de su fe.

Como inmigrante en los Esta-dos Unidos, he tenido la fortuna de ver cómo las tradiciones navideñas de todo el mundo se unen durante la Navidad, como un hermoso collage de manta de mosaicos de distintos colores cosidos por el hilo común de nuestra fe católica. Son esa fe y tradi-ciones las que queremos compartir con nuestros hijos.

A principios de este año, de-cidimos organizar una fiesta para nuestro hijo que está en la primaria y sus amigos, con motivo de la fiesta de la Epifanía del Señor, también conocida como el “Día de los Reyes Magos”. Los niños disfrutaron haci-endo manualidades sobre la Sagrada Familia y los Reyes Magos; también disfrutaron de aperitivos y la tradi-cional Rosca de Reyes.

Terminamos la reunión cantando villancicos alrededor del Nacimiento y el árbol de Navidad; incluso los adultos se unieron al escuchar a los niños que disfrutaban cantando los villancicos que aprend-ieron en la escuela. Un sentimiento de gozo llenó el aire al ver a nuestros hijos cantar alabanzas a Dios.

No todos mis intentos de fo-mentar oportunidades que nutran su fe y creen recuerdos duraderos son tan victoriosos como éste.

La fe y las tradiciones familiares durante la NavidadHace un

par de años, cuando quería que mis hijos participaran en una “Pastorela” en nuestra par-roquia cercana, después de asistir a la prim-era reunión de formación uno de ellos se negó a desempeñar el papel de pas-torcito porque no quería estar en el centro de atención.

Todos mis intentos por persuadirlo fracasaron. Siempre hay una próxima

vez, pensé.El papa Francisco nos invita

repetidamente a mirar a la Sagrada Familia en busca de inspiración e incluso fortaleza.

En su exhortación apostólica “Amoris Laetitia”, el papa Francisco nos recuerda que nosotros, padres, somos el fundamento de nuestro hogar y nuestros hijos son las “pie-dras vivas”, y tenemos la tarea de transmitir la fe con amor.

Con los desafíos de la vida

cotidiana, una imagen tan perfecta de la Sagrada Familia puede parecer distante de la nuestra, pero el papa nos recuerda que ellos también ex-perimentaron sufrimiento y dificul-tades. Por lo tanto, somos animados a acogernos a la Virgen María y confiarle nuestras obras de amor.

“En el tesoro del corazón de María están también todos los acon-tecimientos de cada una de nuestras familias, que ella conserva cui-dadosamente. Por eso puede ayudar-nos a interpretarlos para reconocer en la historia familiar el mensaje de Dios”, nos recuerda el papa Fran-cisco (No. 30).

Al escribir humildemente estas palabras, reconozco que no tengo títulos en evangelización ni en teología. Sólo soy una madre que trabaja en la viña del Señor, esper-ando que estos recuerdos ayuden a inculcar en mis hijos el amor a Dios y a su iglesia. Y tú también puedes hacerlo.

A medida que se acerca el final del año, pienso en todas las cosas por las que estoy agradecida, y al principio de la lista está la fe. La fe es lo que ha ayudado a nuestra familia a continuar durante este año difícil, y una fe que es fuerte y viva es lo que espero poder compartir con mis hijos. ©CNS

Norma Montenegro Flynn es una periodista católica independiente.

TRADICIONES DE FE NAVIDEÑAS—Saúl González y Ke-nia Salas interpretan los papeles de José y María mien-tras recorren la valla fronteriza internacional en Nogales, México, el 20 de diciembre de 2015, mientras participan en una tradicional Las Posadas mexicana. Las tradiciones navideñas pueden ayudar a las familias a transmitir la fe a sus hijos. (foto CNS / Nancy Wiechec)

Papa: Comunidades latinas han enriquecido a la iglesiaPor Junno Arocho Esteves Ciudad del Vaticano

La presencia de latinoamerica-nos en todo el mundo ha en-riquecido a la Iglesia Católica con un renovado celo por el

Evangelio, dijo el papa Francisco.Las comunidades cristianas

en el norte y centro de Europa se han “beneficiado” enormemente de las devociones latinoamericanas como la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de México y la fiesta del Cristo de los Milagros, que comenzó en Colombia, dijo el papa el 20 de noviembre a los estudiantes y Fac-ultad del Pontificio Colegio Latino-americano de Roma.

“El rico mestizaje cultural que hizo posible la evangelización se reproduce hoy de nuevo”, dijo. “Los pueblos latinos se encuentran entre ellos y con otros pueblos gracias a la movilidad social y a las fac-ilidades de la comunicación, y de

este encuentro también ellos salen enriquecidos”.

Dirigiéndose a la facultad y al personal del colegio, el papa les recordó su llamado a sembrar las semillas del Evangelio “de manera generosa, sin prejuicios” como Dios siembra; él “no mira la dureza de la tierra, ni la presencia de las piedras o de los cardos, que no arranca la cizaña, para no llevarse con ella la buena semilla del reino”.

La formación y el ministerio de los estudiantes, agregó, deben incluir tres acciones concretas: abrir la puerta de su corazón y ayudar a otros a abrir su corazón al amor de Dios; colaborar y llamar a otros a cooperar por el bien de todos; y tra-bajar para sanar al mundo del gran mal que lo aflige y que la pandemia ha sacado a la luz.

“Crean un espacio donde Dios y el prójimo pueden encontrarse”, les dijo el papa.

“No dejen nunca de manifestar

esta disponibilidad, esta apertura,” dijo. “No cierren nunca la puerta a quien en el profundo de su corazón anhela poder entrar y sentirse acogido. Piensen que los llama el Señor bajo el atuendo de ese pobre, para sentarse todos juntos en su banquete”.

El papa Francisco dijo que la formación permanente de los estu-diantes en Roma es una señal de que Dios tiene “un plan de amor y de servicio para cada uno de ustedes” y que están llamados a ser pastores que “se consagran al cuidado de las ovejas”.

“Luchen contra la cultura del descarte, y por favor no la provo-quen con un clericalismo que hace tanto daño y que es una enferme-dad, luchen contra la segregación social, luchen contra la desconfianza y el perjuicio en razón de la raza, de la cultura o de la fe, para que el sen-timiento de fraternidad se imponga sobre toda diferencia”, dijo. ©CNS

CATÓLICOS LATINOS IDAHO — El Padre Rob Irwin, pastor de la Igle-sia Católica St. Jerome en Jerome, Idaho, celebra una misa en español el 1 de noviembre de 2015 para su congregación predominantemente la-tina. El Papa Francisco dijo a los es-tudiantes y profesores del Pontificio Colegio Latinoamericano de Roma el 20 de noviembre de 2020 que la pres-encia de latinoamericanos en todo el mundo ha enriquecido a la Iglesia Católica con un renovado celo por el Evangelio. (Foto del SNC / Chaz Muth)

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 5

AnnouncementsParishes and organizations are invited to submit notices of future events to be printed in the

Announcements. They will be printed on a space-available basis. There is no fee.

Belleville, IL—The 51st annual Way of the Lights Christmas Display will be at The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Nov. 20-Dec. 31, 2020, located at 442 South DeMazenod Dr. For ad-ditional information, please contact the Shrine at (618) 397-6700 or visit snows.org/wayoflights.

Diocese-wide—The American Red Cross urges healthy donors of all blood types to give blood or platelets and help ensure a stable blood supply for pa-tients this holiday season. The tradi-tional slump in blood donations between Thanksgiving to the New Year comes as the blood supply already faces challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic. Make your appointment to give blood, platelets, or plasma with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Do-nor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, call-ing 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767), or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Jackson—Homeschoolers, new and old, of all grade levels, are invited to participate in the Holy Family Catholic Homeschool Co-op. We aim to support one another in our homeschooling through social, spiritual, and academic meet-ups and field trips. For more information, call Sarah at (573) 529-0722, or Email semoholyfamily@gmail.com.

Scott City—The Knights of Columbus Council #6420 will have its

Third Sunday Breakfast for carry out or curbside delivery on Dec. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Knights of Co-lumbus Hall, for a good will donation. Each meal will be pre-packaged with three links sausage, two pancakes, two biscuits and scrambled eggs; gravy packed separately along with butter, syrup, and jelly. Call the hall at (573) 264-3008, or eat inside with health-related safety precautions. The Knights are also taking orders for their famous homemade pork sausage: $3.25 lb., either link or bulk. Available for pick up Sun., Dec. 20 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. To order, call Gary (573) 576-6451, by Dec. 17.

Springfield—Perpetual Adoration at Holy Trinity Parish will be suspended for Christmas and New Year’s starting Tue., Dec. 22, 2020 and will resume Tue., Jan. 5, 2021. Adoration hours are week-days from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. in the church. Please observe masking and social distancing requirements. For more infor-mation or to sign up, please call Nicola Mullins at (417) 300-0840. If you are unable to attend, consider making a dona-tion to keep our candles burning bright.

Springfield—Despite cancelled 2020 events, Beginning Experience of Springfield would like to continue to minister to the devorced, widowed, and separated. If you would like someone to talk to in the interim, please call one of our facilitators: Barb, (417) 827-3641; Mary Alice, (417) 838-4651; or Diane, (870) 688-8829.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Due to the current health concerns, we continue to have an Online option so that training may be done safely in the home. We are also re-introducing “in-person” training options.

Thu., Nov. 12 5:30-8:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . The Catholic Center, SpringfieldSat., Nov. 14 8:30-11:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . The Catholic Center, SpringfieldFri., Dec. 4 8:30-11:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . The Catholic Center, Springfield

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 an Online training. Instructions for the registration process can also be found on the Child and Youth Protection Page of the diocesan Website.

http://dioscg.org/wp-content/uploads/ How-to-Register-for-a-VIRTUS-AfterOnline-Option-1.pdf

For more information, please contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection, childandyouthprotection@dioscg.org; or Bill Holtmeyer, billholtmeyer@dioscg.org; or Rosie Francka rfrancka@dioscg.org, (417) 866-0841.

All live VIRTUS sessions have been canceled for the remainder of the year.

K232FF 94.3 94.3 FMFM Cape Girardeau

KHJM 89.1 89.1 FMFM Dexter & the Bootheel

KFSS 94.5 94.5 FMFM Joplin

KQOH 91.9 91.9 FMFM Springfield

Tune in to local Catholic Radio around the Diocese

Tune-in: Learn, Live, Grow, Be Inspired

The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau collected $66,145.95 for the 2020 Retirement Fund for Religious in support of senior religious and their communities. Since the collection began in 1988, contributions from the diocese have totaled $2,439,711.62. Contributions offer much-needed support for medications, nursing care, and other day-to-day necessities. A portion of the appeal also underwrites programming and education that promote long-term retirement planning, helping communities reduce costs, enhance eldercare, and identify additional sources of income.

Thank you!

6 The Mirror December 11, 2020ADVENT

By Shemaiah Gonzalez

The journeyThe pain is sharp—excruciat-

ing—as the weight of the child presses upon her bladder.

The donkey shifts under her. Each bump in the road brings new pain.

And yet, she smiles.

They were fortunate to join a cara-van leaving Nazareth.

This journey is not one to take alone; there is safety and com-fort in a pack.

Ninety grueling miles ahead of them. The caravan snakes be-hind them.

It is a motley mix of beasts and be-ings and belongings.

Her husband walks before her, leading the donkey protective-ly, lovingly, gently.

She smiles at her husband, her partner in this mystery.

Most will cover 20 miles a day but, in her condition, they decide to take it slower.

The couple moves to the middle as the swift overtake them.

The weather is cold, biting.Without much to disrupt their

gust, winds whip along the flatlands of the Jordan River.

She senses whispers of something wonderful. This will be a

special place.She stokes her stomach and

smiles.

The landscape changes as does the weather; the sky opens and rain torrents upon them.

Water pools in the valley floor below them.

Trees seem to sprout in front and to the sides as they move into a forest.

They hear shouts from the front of the line. Was it a lion? A bear? A ferocious boar?

She shakes her head at her spouse, knowing they will be protect-ed, she smiles.

Each meal is dried bread dipped in oil or herbs.

And in the freezing night they gather around the fire to hear stories of bandits and robbers.

Then stories shift to ones they have all heard before; a king, a savior, Immanuel.

At last they move over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, into Bethlehem.

Uphill. Downhill. With each pain comes.

The couple slows to the end of the procession.

She clenches her teeth, yet smiles through the pain

Knowing the wait is nearly over.

Resting in the miracleThe doctor placed you upon me,Skin on skin, warm but cold.She said skin would bond us.She said you would know it was

me.

We lay there, shivering in exhilaration

As they spread a blanket over us.All that waiting and here you

were.I could not wait to know you.

You lay upon my chestNew, slick and pinkBut I could not see your face.Your head turned from mine.

Who would I see in that face?My own? My husband’s? My God?My God,You enveloped yourself in this

mystery.

He whom the whole world could not hold,

Enclosed in a womb, a body, a child.

And how could I ever know you?All of you?

I didn’t dare move.This child, too small, too fragile,I could see only a shoulderCurved from out of the hospital

blanket.

And then, I understood.A small glimpse of glory!As Moses saw your backAnd I see you in this child.

And I know you know meAnd himAnd weEnveloped in that love

So close, so tenderFall asleepResting in the miracle,The mystery. ©CNS

Gonzalez is a freelance writer. Her Website is www.shemaiahgonzalez.com.

A collection of Advent poems

Out of sightDarkness has a way of overtaking

our senses,our sight, our stability.It suffocates, stifles.

It is difficult to find our way.

As it was in the beginning, as it is now, as it was then.

And we wonder will we ever see again?

And yet.

Out of sight.Somewhere hiddenSomething is growing.Goodness itself

Light tucked inside a teenage womb.

Tender and treasuredShe taps her tummy as expectant

mothers doLight rolls and kicks and moves

inside her.Light from lightImmensity sheltered in such a

small spaceWaiting to shine

It is the same nowWe wait in anticipation

Pleading, begging, wishing, long-ing, hoping

For the light to overtake the darkness.

As in the beginning,When the earth was formless,

void.When darkness covered the sur-

face of the deep,And light crashed through.

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 7MCC SUPPLEMENT

8 The Mirror December 11, 2020MCC SUPPLEMENT

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 9MCC SUPPLEMENT

10 The Mirror December 11, 2020MCC SUPPLEMENT

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 11SCRIPTURE READINGS

families.As this tumultuous year draws

to a close, we take our place among the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph where we find peace, joy and hope. And as a new year begins, God’s word invites us to let the peace of Christ fill our hearts and to be ever thankful to God as we pray, “speak to me, Lord.”

Reflection question: How has God been present and

active in my life this year? ©CNS

Sullivan is a professor at The Catholic University of America.

The Gospel writer confronts us with a severe paradox. On the one hand, the Lord has indeed come. That’s the whole point of the story. On the other hand, the powers of the world that enforce policies of oppression and injustice remain in place. The one who will bring justice is one of the “afflicted ones.” His parents are among “the poor” who rely on God for rescue.

On this feast of the Lord’s arriv-al, we celebrate the liturgy in which “the glory of the Lord shines.” We encounter Jesus who was worshiped by the Wise Men. The readings suggest where else we might go to encounter the Lord who has come: to the refugee camps of the world. There, and in all such places, Jesus is, with “the afflicted when he” and she “has no one to help.” ©CNS

Perrotta is the editor and an au-thor of the Six Weeks With the Bible series, teaches part-time at Siena Heights University, and leads Holy Land pilgrim-ages. He lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

Sunday Scripture reading, Jan. 3, 2020: The Epiphany of the Lord

The Lord has arrived

Sunday Scripture reading, Dec. 27, 2020: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Honoring familyBy Jem Sullivan

1) Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3

Psalm 128:1-5 or 105:1-6, 8-92) Col 3:12-21 or

Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19Gospel: Lk 2:22-40

In the documentary “The Social Dilemma,” former executives and technology engineers from social media companies like Google,

Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram discuss issues around social media ad-diction, censorship, and the effective spread of misinformation.

Viewers are introduced to ways in which social media engineers manipulate information so advertis-ers hold users in attention traps and increase the amounts of time subscrib-ers engage in social media activities. A chilling part of the film shows how technology systems have taken con-trol of human choices and even our closest family relationships.

In a dramatized scene, a fam-ily of five sits down to eat dinner and we see three teenage children with cellphones in their hands. The mother asks the children to put away their phones so the family can have

a normal conversation around the dinner table. To ensure her children are not distracted during dinner the mother places their phones in a locked plastic box.

A dramatic scenario unfolds as one of the teenagers smashes open the locked box and rushes out of the room with her phone in hand. As chaos ensues each family member leaves their half-eaten dinner till one child sits alone at the family table as the scene fades.

The future of civilization passes through the family, noted St. John Paul II. The family is the basic cell of society and the first school of love, virtues, and human flourishing. It is the virtues of family life that the author of Sirach praises in the first reading. Honoring one’s father and mother is commended as pleasing to God and an act of justice. As the psalmist prays, “Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.”

In the Gospel, Mary and Joseph bring their divine son Jesus to the Temple in accordance with the Jewish custom of presenting firstborn males. And Simeon, a righteous and devout Israelite, recognizes the awesome inbreaking of God’s revelation into history and responds with a canticle

make his rule felt throughout the world. “All kings shall pay him hom-age,” the psalmist proclaims. People will come from afar, Isaiah predicts, “bearing gold and frankincense” in recognition of his kingship.

And now, the Gospel writer announces, the Lord has arrived! As a token confirmation, some men come from a distant land to acknowledge him. Guided in a mysterious way, they bring gold and precious spices that point to Jesus as king—the king foretold in Isaiah’s prophecy.

Jesus is the one in whose days justice will flower, the one to whom all kings shall pay tribute. Yet the local king, Herod, a few miles down the road in Jerusalem, not only refuses to acknowledge him; as soon as he hears about him, he begins to plan his destruction.

Warned of Herod’s intentions, Joseph and Mary will soon flee to a foreign country. The one by whose light “nations shall walk” will take his first steps as a refugee.

By Kevin Perrotta

1) Is 60:1-6Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-132) Eph 3:2-3, 5-6Gospel: Mt 2:1-12

The prophet Isaiah looks for-ward to God’s appearing in the world. As though it has already happened, Isaiah de-

clares to his people, “Your light has

come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” By his light, “nations shall walk.”

What will this light mean for people? “Justice shall flower in his days,” sings a psalmist. The Lord “shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment … he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.”

The justice-bringing God will

of praise. He takes the baby Jesus into his arms and blesses God.

The feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph celebrates the holiness and the unique mission of the family made holy by the son of God who took flesh in the womb of Mary and was raised by his parents, Mary and Joseph, in their home in Nazareth.

We are reminded that Jesus was born and raised in the poverty of a humble family rich in the virtues of faith, hope, and love. Through bap-tism we become part of God’s family as we strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the church, the family of

12 The Mirror December 11, 2020CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouriwww.ccsomo.org

2020Year inReview

REPAIRING LIVES—Veteran Warren Dake needed extensive home re-pairs and a roof. Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri’s Home Repair Program for Low-income Seniors, met his need, along with community partners who provided a roof. (Photo by John Farmer de la Torre/CCSOMO)

LOCKDOWN—LifeHouse staff members (left to right) Lindsey Masterson, Karley Andrus, Nikohl McKee, and Michele Marsh, pause for a portrait on April 9, 2020, three days into Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s shelter-in-place order. (Photo courtesy of Maura Taylor/CCSOMO)

A LIFELINE FOR MANY—St. Anne’s chapel at the Monastery stored disaster essentials in-cluding supplies from Catholic Charities USA. These have been distributed across the diocese. (Photo by John Farmer de la Torre/CCSOMO)

From the Executive Director

Maura Taylor

Become apartner in these important workswww.ccsomo.org

As we move into the holiday season, we reflect on the past months and the chal-lenges, the pain, and the uncertainty so many have experi-enced as a result of the COVID pandem-

ic. Individuals and families are facing loneliness, isolation, eviction, loss of income, risk of infection as well as the suffering that accompanies the loss of family members and friends to this invisible virus. The anguish we hear in the voices of those calling our office is real. Many individuals are seeking assistance for the first time after losing their jobs, their businesses, or having a reduction in work hours and they do not know where to turn. Our phones are ringing off the hook, and our coworkers are listening with compas-sion and seeking to connect them with our services or a community partner depending on their needs.

We are blessed to have our own he-roes, our Catholic Charities of South-ern Missouri team who continue to work in our offices and in the field, serving the most vulnerable of our communities. The work we do can’t be done from home: How do you house a homeless veteran with no trans-portation in our rural areas without being present? How do you provide 24/7 safe sheltering and services to our homeless moms and babies unless you have staff on-site? Our services require us to be present, to listen, and then work one-on-one with our clients to help find or remain in stable housing, access needed services and employment, and set goals to become

self-sufficient. This work does not stop even in a pandemic. The following is a short list of the individuals and families our work has impacted in the diocese since March 1st:

Supportive Services for Veteran Families Housed 65 homeless veterans in hotels. Placed 98 homeless veterans in perma-nent housing. Provided assistance and services to keep 96 at-risk veteran house-holds permanently housed.

LifeHouse Crisis Maternity Home Remained open 24/7 with no reduction in services. Twenty-four homeless preg-nant women provided safe shelter and services. Eleven healthy infants born to residents and 11 additional infants and young children received residential ser-vice. The AfterCare Program continues to provide support for those who transi-tioned into permanent housing.

Developmental Disabilities Services in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties Continue to provide Targeted Case Management services remotely (per state guidelines) to 303 consumers in Scott County and 495 in Cape Girardeau County.

Homeless and Homeless Prevention Services Provided over 125 low-income households impacted by COVID with rent and utility assistance. Assisted over 1,100 low-income households in obtaining or retaining per-manent housing through case management and financial assistance.

HUD certified Housing and Financial Counseling Provided housing and financial counseling to 40 households. Assisting 60 house-holds who would be facing foreclosure if not for the CARES moratorium or forbear-ances for FHA mortgage loans.

Home Repair Completed or in the process of providing home repair services to 29 low-income homeowners in southern Missouri, many living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions

Consumer Credit Counseling Assisted 82 households with debt man-agement plans. Provided bankruptcy pre-filing counseling and education workshop to 131 households. Provided financial counseling to 265 households and CARES rental assistance to 108 households.

Please pray for our ministries, our coworkers, our clients and our commu-nities as Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri continues reaching out, pro-viding hope, and changing lives during these uncertain times.

Thank you for sharing your time, tal-ent and treasure with our ministries. We pray for you and your families that all remain safe and healthy during this holiday season. ©TM

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 13CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouriwww.ccsomo.org

2020Year inReview

P aula Hedrick is a Case Manager in the Sup-portive Services for Veteran Families

(SSVF) program at Catholic Charities of Southern Mis-souri (CCSOMO). Upon walking into her office, it is evident she has an affinity for veterans. On the wall hang-ing behind her desk is an American flag knit from yarn. A yoga mat leans against the wall. She says it is for her daily regimen of 22 push-ups, one for each veteran who will commit suicide each day.

When asked about the one thing most people do not know about veterans, she quickly answers, “A lot of people don’t understand why so many veterans are homeless. I see a lot of vets who suffer from PTSD and other service-related issues. I am empathetic to why they self-medicate. We haven’t ex-perienced combat. We haven’t experienced what they have. We haven’t seen war. If I saw war, I know it would have an impact on me.”

“One problem evolves into multiple ones,” she explains, “alcohol and drug abuse lead to vets losing their jobs and then their spouses. They spiral out of control until they lose their housing. Once on the streets, it’s really hard for them to ask for help.” Paula says a veteran’s pride is an obstacle that holds them back from seeking the help they need to regain their lost self-sufficiency and strength.

That help is what Paula provides through the SSVF program. The program meets immediate needs such as housing. It also provides holistic wrap-around case management. “We know housing is a key component,” Paula says, “but that isn’t all a veteran needs. We case

managers dive in and break down the veteran’s problems. We ask: what led to this, what other needs are there? Do they need counseling or other recovery services; maybe they need to get a better job or back to school? As case managers, we identify these gaps and what can we fix now.” The goal of SSVF is to help the client regain self-sufficiency and even a sense of pride, which Paula shares.

“I was in banking for probably 15 years when I decided that as a single mom I wanted to finish my col-lege degree. I really wanted to set a precedent for my kids about the importance of education” she says. While in school, she could make a career out of serving oth-ers. “I had always looked for opportunities to serve and help. This led me to the social work field.” She accomplished her mission of earning a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree and began her new career at CCSOMO working with veterans.

Friday the Thirteenth of March this year began ordi-narily enough. Lunchtime that day was typical too. The afternoon, however, was noteworthy as the first global pandemic in a century prompted a Declara-

tion of National Emergency. The news struck southern Missouri like a thunderbolt.

As the nation reeled from unknowns, the leadership of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri immediately decided to continue operations, albeit on a modified basis to serve clients while protecting them. Some employees began to work at home while some did not.

Lockdown!In Catholic Charities of South-ern Missouri’s LifeHouse pro-gram, the risk to pregnant mothers and children increased as employees went home. To re-duce this risk, LifeHouse manag-er Nikohl McKee chose to serve the residents and be away from her loved ones during the first months of anxiety. The efforts of LifeHouse staff have paid off. To date, no LifeHouse resident has been infected by COVID. In the meantime, 11 healthy babies have been born to LifeHouse residents during this pandemic.

Changes to Service Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri has been blessed to continue operations without any interruption of services or programs. In April and May, the agency worked quickly to house homeless veterans and veterans facing eviction due to COVID. Funds from the Congressional CARES Act and donors were used.

By June, it was evident a new “normal” had arrived, one that demanded social distancing, wearing face masks, and renewed attention toward solutions that ensure the stable revenue streams to fund programs and services. One solution garnering broad attention is the social enterprise business model. This new nonprofit business model uses the power of commerce to earn revenue that funds pro-grams and services.

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri’s social enterprise is Purpose Home Repair & Plumbing, a general contractor serving the Joplin area. It provides services for a fee and on-the-job training to apprentices with high barriers to employment. Launched in July, with plans to expand to other areas, this project was named a National Finalist in CCUSA’s Innovation Challenge. ©TM

Service in the time of COVID Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

Paula says it’s the little things she does, the trivial things we all take for grant-ed, that make such a huge difference. She recalls one homeless veteran’s lament: “if only I had a bicycle,” he said, “I could use it to get back and forth and I would be okay.” Paula worked with another CCSOMO client to acquire a bicycle. “I was out of the office when he picked up the bike,” Paula says, “but I was told he was beaming. He even made a special trip across the city to say thank you.”

“The reality is, a lot of the homeless we work with come off the street with a backpack and everything they own in it. We can get them into housing but can’t give them much more than that to establish a life. We do our best to multiply what we are given and try to be wise but some-times the needs are greater and more than we can pos-sibly meet with the resources we have.” These shortfalls are filled by the generosity of donors. For that, Paula says, “thank God!” ©TM

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES—Paula Hedrick wanted to serve in the Air Force. Now she serves the veterans she honors and has been instrumen-tal in helping homeless veterans off the streets during the COVID pandemic. (Photo by John Farmer de la Torre/CCSOMO)

Catholic Charities of

Southern Missouri is

blessed to be recognized

as a reliable partner in serving the vulnerable.

As their need grows due to the pandemic,

the need for resources will grow.

Generosity opens the

door.

14 The Mirror December 11, 2020

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Sylvania, OH

Franciscan Sr. Margaret Hall, OSF, (formerly Sister M. Brendan), 87, died at Rosary Care Center on Nov. 25, 2020, in Sylvania, OH.

Sister Hall is the former direc-tor of the Texas County Food Pantry in Houston, MO, and founder of the Loretto House for women. May she rest in peace.

The daughter of John and Angela Hall, Sr. Hall en-tered the convent from Our Lady Queen of Heaven Par-ish in Detroit, MI, in 1947. She made her first profession of vows in 1952 and her final vows in 1955. Becoming a consecrated religious sister seemed a natural choice for Sr. Hall who came from a family where her sister, Marilyn, also joined the Order, and she had a brother, an uncle, and a cousin who were priests, and a second cousin who is an archbishop.

Sister Hall brought many natural gifts to the Sylvania Franciscans. In an article written about her a few years ago, the writer noted that she drew from both the left brain and the right brain as she shared organizational and math skills and her artistic abilities during her 68 years of ministry with the People of God. She had a BA and MATM from the University of Detroit,

Loretto house founder dies at age 87which she put to good use teaching high school math for 24 years. She taught for a total of 32 years in schools in Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota.

For the next several years, Sister Hall used a variety of her gifts as the

director of the first Computer Lab at Lourdes College; she organized and ran the food service department at Rosary Hall, the retirement home for the Sisters; she also served as director of campus services for the Sisters. She fulfilled her dream to work more directly with the poor when she became director of the

Texas County Food Pantry in Houston, MO. As well as feeding the hungry, she did some evangelization and ecumeni-cal work in the community and became known as the “Catholic Methodist” who came to quilting class at the Meth-odist Church. She was also instrumen-tal in establishing the Loretto House in Houston, a special place where women had an opportunity for personal growth and development spiritually, socially, and culturally.

Among her many talents, Sr. Hall was fond of mentioning that she coached high school girls’ track and basketball without ever having played these sports herself. When she returned from her work among the poor in Missouri, she worked in the gift shop in Sylvania and later moved on to working in Alverno Studio where she assisted Sr. Jane Mary with some of her large murals and began creating some ceramic pieces of her own design. Her

Sr. Hall

Sr. Mueller

signature piece, the FROG, (Forever Rely on God), can be seen even in some of the murals as well as on indi-vidual pieces sold in All Good Things gift shop.

Sister Hall will be missed by her religious community, the residents and staff at Rosary Care Center, and her dear family members, and friends. All who knew her will remember her as a woman of great talents and even more

as a woman of compassion who felt in the end that her heart was full of grati-tude and love for all the blessings God had lavished upon her.

Due to the coronavirus precau-tions, services were private for only her religious sisters. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Fran-cis, Sylvania, OH. Arrangements were facilitated by Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Toledo, OH. ©TM

Ruma, IL

Sister Mary Ann Mueller, ASC, died Dec. 7 at the Ruma Center, in Ruma, IL. She was 93 years old and had been a pro-

fessed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 76 years.

She was one of nine children and grew up in Bar-telso, IL.

Sister Mueller earned a bachelor’s degree in elemen-tary education from Sacred Heart College, now Newman University, and an Illinois teaching certificate.

She taught elementary school for 20 years; was a housemother for orphans at the Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, IL, for 11 years and an administrator for five. In later years, she worked with senior citizens.

Sr. Mueller taught at Immaculate Conception in Centerville, at St. Mary in Taylorville, St. Matthew in Alton, and Albers Elementary in Albers, all in IL. She provided dietary service at St. Clare in O’Fallon, IL, Guardian Angel Parish in Oran, MO, and St. Clement (now Red

Educator and orphan housemother diesBud Regional) Hospital in Red Bud, IL.

She directed the Adorers’ De Mat-tias Hall, a House of Studies on the Saint Louis University campus for Adorers and other sisters attending university.

She also served briefly as assistant manager at Manresa House in Florissant, Mo, and Rosary House Resident Center in north St. Louis, MO.

For 16 years she served as receptionist and secretary at Mother of Perpetual Help residence in St. Louis. She later worked for several years for Cardinal Ritter Senior

Services at Mary, Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis before retiring to the Ruma Center.

Sister Mueller loved to play cards, especially pinochle; listen to music; and go to lunch or dinner with family and friends. Her former students loved her and often invited her to class reunions.

A brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and members of the ASC community survive her.

A vigil for the deceased, with at-tendance limited to the Sisters at the Ruma Center, will be held on Dec. 18, followed by burial in the Ruma Center cemetery.

A memorial Mass will be celebrat-ed with sisters, family, and friends at a later date.

Donations in memory of Sr. Mary Ann Mueller may be sent to the Adorers at 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, or made Online at www.adorers.org. ©TM

December 11, 2020 The Mirror 15ADVERTISING

16 The Mirror December 11, 2020CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2020