The next issue of The Mirror will be July 20, 2018.Experiencing delayed USPS delivery? Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email in digital format: Contact Angie Toben at (417) 866-0841, or Email: atoben@dioscg.org.

Christian Prayer Our Father, Who Art in Heaven2797Simple and faithful trust, humble and joy-ous assurance are the proper dispositions or one who prays the Our Father.

The Catechism in brief

INSIDE

CCSOMO acquires Consumer Credit Counseling Services, p. 12

Join us for Wedding Anniversary Masses, p. 7

The Mirr rVol. LIV, No. 6 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI July 6, 2018

One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Jesus, Sharing Jesus

By Abp. José Gomez

There is something about Ameri-can popular culture that seems to take comfort in nostalgia, looking back on the past. In a

way, we do that in the Church, too.The Church’s calendar is a series

of “rememberings.” We remember events that happened, like Christmas and Easter. We remember the dates when saints were born or martyred. Ev-ery day, year after year, we are remembering those who have gone before us in the Church.

At the heart of our mem-ory is the Eucharist. Our Lord’s words at the Last Supper cast our whole Christian life in terms of remembrance: “Do this in memory of me.”

We live to carry out his command.

For the Church, memory is a powerful and living thing. It is not a sentimental journey. We are never simply looking back and wishing for the way things used to be. What we are remember-ing is the “event” of Jesus Christ—his coming into the world, his death and

Summer & the seasons of Godresurrection for our salvation.

For Christians, memory is always a way of thanksgiving. We give thanks that in his mercy God has “remem-bered” his holy covenant. Our memory is also sacramental and personal. What we remember—God’s love and his promise of redemption—is made real in the Eucharist.

We live in a global and commer-cialized society, and the rhythms of life seem to get faster with each passing

year. In the process, our lives seem to be more fragmented and more isolated from others. We have our own memories or the memories of our own “group.” But we have far fewer collective memories that bind us together in our common hu-manity—far fewer memories to help us give meaning and make sense of our lives.

As a people, we seem to be longing for continuity and con-nection. Many right now are remembering a past summer

vacation or holiday. Next year it will be something else.

But what the human heart longs for cannot be fulfilled by marketing

campaigns or manufactured memories. God alone satisfies. The memory of God’s mighty deeds—the great story of his love in human history—this is what the world needs now.

The memory of God’s love is not a “passing fancy” or a “fad.” There is no “summer of love” in the Church. God’s love is for all seasons.

Memory is part of the “sacramen-tal imagination” that distinguishes us as Christians. As believers, we know that this world is more than what we can see, touch, or taste. The bread that we eat in the Eucharist is more than bread. The wine is more than wine. The holy men and women who went before us—they are historical examples for us.

Our Blessed Mother Mary told us that God remembers his mercy from age to age. Let us ask her to help us to proclaim the memory of God’s mighty deeds to our world today. To help our neighbors to see that God is every-where and in everything, that all of creation is the living story of his love. ©TM

Abp. Gomez of Los Angeles wrote this for AngelusNews, the blog of his archdiocese.

(Photo/Shutterstock.com)

At the heart of our memory is the Eucharist.

2 The Mirror July 6, 2018COLUMN

Encountering the Lord in JulyCOME, AND YOU WILL SEEBp. Edward M. Rice

MONDAYRev. Mr. Andrew Williams

TUESDAYAlexander SutachanDaniel Belken

WEDNESDAYAllen KirchnerNicholas Newton

THURSDAYJesse Hiett

FRIDAYNick ZummoCharles Peirano

SATURDAYJohn Hawks

SUNDAYJacob Mezzacapa

MONDAYFr. Mark G. BoyerFr. M. Oliver ClavinFr. Peter Morciniec

TUESDAYMsgr. Edward M. EftinkFr. Robert A. Landewe

WEDNESDAYBp. Emeritus John J. LeibrechtFr. Frederick J. Lutz

THURSDAYFr. Ernest J. MarquartFr. Michael V. McDevittFr. Paul J. McLoughlin

FRIDAYMsgr. Raymond V. Orf

SATURDAYMsgr. Richard C. RolwingFr. Normand G. Varone

SUNDAYFr. Mitchell S. WilkFr. J. Patrick Wissman

Some of my fondest memories of the month of July include the an-nual Carmelite Novena,

held at the Carmel of St. Jo-seph Convent in St. Louis in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16. The novena includes the recitation of the rosary followed by an outdoor Mass on the grounds of the mon-astery for nine days. As you can imagine, July can be pretty hot, and an outdoor Mass, as nice as it sounds, can be miserable in the heat and humidity. I recall a couple of years ago that when Mass began, it was 100 degrees! I have a long history with the novena: In high school, I used to drive my mom to the novena; when I was a semi-narian, I then graduated to serving Mass for the novena; as a priest and a bishop, I re-turned often to offer Mass as well. What summer events of faith do you recall?

Some have fond memo-ries of the Carmel of St. Anne Monastery that was in Springfield. When the mon-astery closed in 2012, a num-ber of the sisters transferred to the monastery in St. Louis. In fact, the current Mother Superior, Mother Marya Wil-liams, OCD, was part of the Springfield Monastery. She is a graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau, a classmate of Fr. Rick Jones, and the aunt of our newly ordained transitional deacon, Rev. Mr. Andrew Williams. It’s a small Catholic world!

Powerful advocateDo you wear a symbol

of faith or devotion? Over the years, I have worn a crucifix, a Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, etc., but I have also always worn a scapular. Tradition says the scapular was given to St. Simon Stock by the

Blessed Mother. It is basically two pieces of brown cloth connected by cords. The pieces of cloth are worn with one in the front and one in the back. The scapular is a sign of Our Lady’s protec-tion and of our love for her. I still recall when I was given a scapular in 7th grade; the teacher said that wearing the scapular was like having the arms of the Blessed Mother around you. I remember thinking, “Who wouldn’t want that!” So, over all these years, as a sign Our Lady’s protection and as a sign of my love and devotion to her, I have worn the scapular. I’ve also given it away countless times to someone having surgery or someone facing death. Many religious orders, especially the Carmelites, still wear a full-length scapular from front to back. It’s not made of gold or silver. It is simple cloth. But the symbol-ism is powerful.

Encountering JesusThe month of July is

also the time for the annual

EPISCOPAL BLESSING—Bishop Edward M. Rice recently offered Alfredo Gamboa & Mary Aguilar and Family an episcopal blessing for their hospitality in hosting him for the Maryk-noll Fathers and Brothers Spanish Language Immersion Program this summer in Cocha-bamba, Bolivia. (The Mirror)

our Youth may attend. No youth should ever say they cannot afford to attend a retreat, formation program,

or youth event in the diocese. The people of southern Missouri have been so generous with the Capital Cam-paign and this is one instance where we see the benefit. These conferences include inspira-tional, challenging speakers; time set aside for adora-tion, Confession, Holy Mass, and wholesome inter-action with other Catholic youth from around the country. Please

pray for the youth of our diocese. Pray for our youth ministers, many of which are volunteers. Pray for the success of the conference. The ultimate goal is to bring our youth to a deeper rela-tionship with Christ! Amen to that. ©TM

Steubenville Mid-America Youth Conferences held in Springfield. These confer-ences, hosted by Missouri State University and sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Franciscan Univer-sity of Steubenville, OH, will be held on the weekends of July 13-15 and July 20-22. So far, 5,000 teens have registered for the first weekend and 3,700 teens the next weekend. Inviting our parish youth programs to participate in these conferences has been a major focus for Lynn Melen-dez, Director of the diocesan Office of Youth Formation. The funds raised for the third prong of our Diocesan Capi-tal Endowment Campaign is ear-marked for youth forma-tion, and some scholarships are available for “encounter” events such as this so that

Please pray for the youth of our diocese and for our youth ministers, many of which are volunteers.

July 6, 2018 The Mirror 3COLUMNA

Encuentro con el Señor en julioVEN Y VERÁS

Obispo Edward M. Rice

Algunos de mis recuerdos más preciados del mes de julio incluyen la Novena carmelita anual, celebrada

en el Carmelo de San José en Saint Louis, en preparación para la fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Monte Carmelo, el 16 de julio. La novena incluye la recitación del rosario seguida de una misa al aire libre en el terreno del monasterio durante nueve días. Como se puede imaginar, julio puede ser bastante caluroso, y una misa al aire libre, tan agradable como suena, puede ser una miseria en el calor y la humedad. Recuerdo hace un par de años que cuando comenzaba la misa, ¡era de 100 grados! Tengo una larga historia con la novena: En la escuela secundaria, solía llevar a mi mamá a la novena; cuando era seminarista, fui promovido y pasé a servir en las Misas de la novena; como sacerdote y obispo, volví a menudo para ofrecer misa también. ¿Qué eventos vera-niegos de fe recuerda usted?

Algunos tienen buenos recuer-dos del Carmelo de Santa Ana que estaba en Springfield. Cuando el monasterio cerró en 2012, varias her-manas se trasladaron al monasterio de Saint Louis. De hecho, la Madre Superiora actual, la Madre Marya Wil-liams, OCD, era parte del Monasterio de Springfield. Ella es graduada de la Notre Dame Regional High School en Cape Girardeau, compañera de clase del Padre Rick Jones, tía de nuestro diácono recién ordenado, Andrew Williams. ¡El mundo católico es pequeño!

Poderoso defensor¿Usa usted un sím-

bolo de fe o devoción? A lo largo de los años, he usado un crucifijo, una Medalla Milagrosa, Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, etc., pero también siempre he usado un escapulario. La tradición dice que el escapu-lario fue entregado a San Simón Stock por la Santísi-ma Virgen. Básicamente son dos piezas de tela marrón conectadas por cuerdas. Las piezas de tela se usan una en el pecho y la otra en la espalda. El escapulario es un signo de la protección de Nuestra Señora y de nuestro amor por ella. Todavía recuerdo cuando me dieron un escapulario en 7º grado; la mae-stra dijo que usar el escapulario era como tener los brazos de la Santísima Madre a tu alrededor. Recuerdo haber pensado: «¡Quién no querría eso!». Entonces, durante todos estos años, como señal de la protección de

Nuestra Señora y como un signo de mi amor y devoción hacia ella, he usado el escapu-lario. También lo he regalado en innu-merables ocasiones a alguien que iba a tener una operación quirúr-gica o a alguien que enfrentaba la muerte. Muchas órdenes reli-giosas, especialmente las Carmelitas, todavía usan un escapulario de cuerpo entero de adelante hasta atrás. No está hecho de oro o plata. Es un simple paño. Pero el simbo-lismo es poderoso.

Encuentro con Jesús

El mes de julio es también el momento de las conferencias juveniles anuales Steu-benville Mid-America celebradas en Spring-field. Estas conferen-cias, organizadas por la Universidad Estatal de Missouri y patrocina-das por la Arquidióce-sis de Saint Louis y la Universidad Francis-cana de Steubenville, Ohio, se llevarán a cabo los fines de semana del 13 al 15 de julio y del 20 al 22 de julio. Hasta el momento,

5.000 adolescentes se han registrado para el primer fin de semana y 3.700 ado-lescentes el fin de semana siguiente. Invitar a nuestros programas parroquiales para jóvenes a participar en estas conferencias ha sido un enfoque importante para Lynn Melendez, directora de la Oficina de Formación de los Jóvenes diocesana. Los fondos recaudados para el tercer pilar de nuestra Cam-paña de Dotación de Capital Diocesana están reservados específicamente para la formación de jóvenes, y algunas becas están dis-ponibles para eventos de “encuentro” como este para que nuestros jóvenes pu-edan asistir. Ningún joven

debería decir que no puede permitirse asistir a un retiro, programa de for-mación o evento juvenil en la dióce-sis. La gente del sur de Missouri ha sido muy generosa con la Campaña de Recaudación de Fondos y esta es una instancia en la que vemos el

Por favor oren por los jóvenes de nuestra diócesis y por nuestros ministros de la juventud, muchos de los cuales son voluntarios.

BENDICIÓN EPISCOPAL—El Reverendo Monseñor Edward M. Rice Otorga su Bendición Episcopal sobre Alfredo Gamboa y Mary Aguilar y familia: “Con gratitud por su calurosa bienvenida y hospitalidad durante mi estadía en su hogar mientras asistí al programa de idiomas con los Padres y Hermanos de Maryknoll en Junio y julio de 2018 Cochabamba, Bolivia.” (The Mirror)

beneficio. Estas conferencias incluyen oradores inspiradores y desafiantes; tiempo reservado para la adoración, la Confesión, la Santa Misa y la sana interacción con otros jóvenes católi-cos de todo el país. Por favor oren por los jóvenes de nuestra diócesis.

Director of Youth MinistrySt. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, a parish of 1,800 fami-

lies in Springfield, seeks an enthusiastic Youth Minister who is pas-sionate about leading our youth into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church. He/she will work in close cooperation with the pastor and other staff members to build a team of adult volunteers to assist with Confirmation preparation and Vacation Bible School, as well as other ministry activities for youth throughout the year. Candidates must be confirmed, practicing Catholics. A bachelor’s degree or certifi-cation in Youth Ministry and some experience in working with youth is preferred but not required. The position is negotiable: full or part-time. Those interested should submit their resume and letter of interest to: Msgr. Thomas E. Reidy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 2200 W. Republic Rd., Spring-field MO 65807.

Oremos por nuestros ministros de la juventud, muchos de los cuales son voluntarios. Ore por el éxito de la conferencia. ¡El objetivo final es llevar a nuestros jóvenes a una relación más profunda con Cristo! Amén a eso. ©TM

4 The Mirror July 6, 2018MASS & EUCHARIST

In praying ‘Our Father,’ do you know to whom you speak?By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City

Pope Francis recently spoke about the im-portance of the recita-tion of the Our Father

at Mass during his ongoing catechesis on the Mass and Eucharist. Specifically, he asked, “if when we pray it, do we understand to whom we are praying and are we aware of the relationship we are called to have with him?

“How many times there are people who say, ‘Our Fa-ther,’ but do not know what they say!” the Pope said.

“Do you feel that when you say ‘Father,’ that he is the Fa-ther, your Father, the Father of hu-manity, the Father of Jesus Christ?” Pope Francis asked. “Do you have a relationship with this Father?”

When we pray this prayer, we are connecting with a loving Fa-ther, he continued, explaining that it is the Holy Spirit which gives us this connection with him, the feeling of being God’s child.

What better prayer can there be for giving us sacra-mental Communion with God, he asked, than the one taught by his son, Jesus?

Pope Francis contin-ued his general audience catechesis on the part of the Mass called the Rite of

Communion, which begins with the recitation of the ‘Our Father,’ followed by the sign of peace, the breaking of the host by the priest, and the invocation of the “Agnus Dei,” or “Lamb of God.”

Grace to forgiveIn particular, the Pope

noted the appropriateness of the Lord’s Prayer as a prepa-ration for receiving Holy Communion, because in the prayer we pledge our forgive-ness of others and ask God to forgive our own sins.

This request opens our hearts to God, but “also disposes us to fraternal love,”

he said, noting that this is not always easy.

“It’s not easy to forgive those who have hurt us. It’s a grace to say: Forgive me as I have forgiven [oth-ers] … it’s a grace. …” the Pope said. “The Lord gives us peace, he also gives us the grace to forgive.”

“The peace of Christ cannot take root in a heart incapable of living

fraternity and of repairing it after having wounded it,” he said.

In the prayer we also ask God to “deliver us from evil,” which is another cause of separation between us and God, and us and our broth-ers and sisters, he continued. Each of these “are very suit-able requests to prepare us

for Holy Communion.”He also pointed to the

line where we ask God to “give us our daily bread,” which is something “we need to live as children of God.”

After the ‘Our Father,’ we exchange the sign of peace with those around us, a concrete sign expressing “ecclesial communion and mutual love,” Francis said, quoting from the Roman Missal.

He also emphasized that this peace is Christ’s gift to us—a different peace from that offered by the world, it helps the Church to grow in unity and peace “according to his will.”

Eucharistic banquetNext in the Mass, the

priest breaks the host, which has already been consecrated and transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and places it in the chalice. This is accompanied by our prayer to the “Lamb of God.”

“In the Eucharistic Bread, broken for the life of the world, the prayerful assembly recognizes the true

Lamb of God, that is Christ the Redeemer, and begs him: ‘Have mercy on us … give us peace,’” the Pope said.

“‘Have mercy on us,’ ‘give us peace,’” he contin-ued, “are invocations that, from the prayer of the Our Father to the breaking of the Bread, help us to dispose our mind to participate in the Eucharistic banquet, a source of communion with God and with our brothers.”

He concluded by asking everyone to pray the Our Fa-ther together, each “in their own language.”

In his speech, the Pope did not mention the line of the Our Father which says in English, “lead us not into temptation.”

In an interview he gave

THE LORD’S PRAYER— Pope Francis arrived June 21 in Geneva, Switzerland, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the World Council of Churches. The Lord’s Prayer is our prayer, said Pope Francis, “invocations that, from the prayer of the Our Father to the breaking of the Bread, help us to dispose our mind to participate in the Eucharistic ban-quet, a source of communion with God and with our broth-ers.” (Credit: Vatican Media/CNA)

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: Angie Toben, atoben@dioscg.org

Published every other week except the last week in December at 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143. Address all communications to 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806-3143; Telephone (417) 866-0841; FAX (417) 866-1140; Email atoben@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. LIV No. 6 July 6, 2018 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 atoben@dioscg.org.Copyright © 2018, The Mirror, CNA, USCCB, The Vatican, as noted. The Mirror OnLine: www.dioscg.org

“Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau” @DioSCG

Next up …Mass makes us a living Eucharist

What better prayer, giving us sacramental Communion with God, than the one taught by his son, Jesus?

in December 2017, Francis said that he believes the Ital-ian translation of this line, which says, “non ci indurre in tentazione,” is incorrect, be-cause God does not actively lead us into temptation.

In the interview he also praised new translation of this line by the French bishops’ conference, which says “et ne nous laisse pas en-trer in tentation”—“let us not enter into temptation.” It replaces the previous transla-tion “ne nous soumets pas à la tentation”—“do not submit us to temptation.” ©CNA

July 6, 2018 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.

Antioch, TN—The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Diocese of Nashville, TN, will host its 35th Mid-South Regional Catholic Charismatic Conference, Fri.-Sat., July 13-14, 2018, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church. Speakers are Fr. Richard McAlear, OMI, and Juan Pablo Orazco, who will bring their unique experience of the power of the Holy Spirit. For additional information, visit www.msrcc.org, or contact Teresa Seibert at tseibert@bellsouth.net, or call (615) 430-9343.

Cape Girardeau—The St. Padre Pio Emerg-ing Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order will meet Sun., Aug. 12, Saint Francis Medical Center. Prayers begin in the chapel at 1 p.m., with a fraternity meeting following in the St. Agatha Conference Room. Join us to learn more about how you can live the call of “Gospel to Life, Life to Gospel” in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. For more information, contact Shawn Asmus, OFS, (573) 204-7688, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/padrepiocape/.

Conway—Sacred Heart Parish will host an Ice Cream Social, Sat., July 14, 5:30-9 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and beverages will be available for a donation. There will also be games and much more fun. For more information, con-tact Kathy Hurt at (417) 718-0410.

Glennonville—St. Teresa Parish will host its Annual Picnic of southern fried chicken and BBQ pork, Sat., July 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: adults: $10, children (ages six-12): $5. There will be children’s games, prize drawings, and Miss Heartland Pageant. For more information, call, (573) 328-4544.

Greenfield—The Southwest Regional Arthritis Center (SWRAC) based at Mercy, Springfield, MO, will offer free Diabetes Self-Management Program, Thursdays, July 19-Aug. 23., 1-3 p.m., Barton County Health Depart-ment, Greenfield. For more information, call (417) 682-3363.

Kimberling City—Our Lady of the Cove Parish Council of Catholic Women will host its “Christmas in July, and More” Arts and Crafts Show, Fri., July 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sat., July 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Kringle’s Tea Room will be open Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sat., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Plate lunches, sandwiches, desserts, bever-ages, and snacks will be available at nominal prices. For more information, contact Lois Wagenknecht at (417) 739-3386.

New Hamburg—St. Lawrence Parish will hold a picnic Fri., July 13, 5-11:30 p.m., and Sat., July 14, 3-11:30 p.m. Friday’s events include a Corn Hole tournament, 6:30 p.m.; Little Mr. and Mrs. New Hamburg Contest, 7:30 p.m.; live music by “Nuff Said,” 8 p.m. Saturday’s events include horseshoe tournament, 1 p.m.; smorgasbord dinner of fried chicken, dumplings, beef & gravy, green beans, slaw, dessert, and

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ScheduleSafe environment in-service opportunities will be held at the following locations:

Wed., July 11 4:30-7:30 p.m.. . . . . . . . . St. Peter the Apostle, Joplin

Mon., July 16 6-9 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Immaculate Conception, Springfield

Mon., July 30 6-9 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sacred Heart, Willow Springs

Tue., Aug. 7 6-9 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Joseph, Scott City

Thu., Aug. 9 8:30-11:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Springfield

Mon., Aug. 13 2-5 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Lady of the Lake, Branson

Mon., Aug. 27 6-9 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . McAuley Catholic High School, Joplin

Wed., Oct. 3 6-9 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Peter the Apostle, Joplin

Sun., Oct. 28 1-4 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Lady of the Lake, Branson

Pre-registration is necessary; go to www.virtus.org and click on “registration” on the left or

call your parish/school office for assistance; or call Rosie Francka at The Catholic Center,

(417) 866-0841; or Email her at rfrancka@dioscg.org. Participants must be present for

the entire training. Training sessions are for adults only. Schedules may be found on the

diocesan events calendar at www.dioscg.org, or at www.virtus.org.

drink, 4-7 p.m., in the parish center (adults: $10; children [ages six-12]: $5; children [five and under]: free); Turtle races, 6 p.m.; and kid’s tractor pull, 7 p.m. Food for purchase at food stands; games of all kinds. For more information, call the parish office at (573) 545-3317.

Springfield—The Followers of Francis Fraternity will meet, Sat., July 28, beginning with lunch at noon (optional), then at 1 p.m. in the day chapel at Holy Trinity Parish. Contact for new inquirers is Steve Moncher, stevemon-cher@gmail.com, or call (417) 861-2109.

Springfield—Struggling with fertility? Creighton Model Training is offered for women seeking a 100% natural means of monitoring their fertility and family planning needs. Cost: $40 for Introductory Session; subsequent follow-ups are an additional cost. Scholar-ships available. This program is open to per-sons of all faiths, including youth and parents seeking guidance on issues of gynecological health. For more information, contact Caitlin Blaine, caitlinblaine7@gmail.com, or (417) 234-2612.

Springfield—Beginning Experience of Springfield will host a six-week series, “Coping with Life Alone,” beginning Thu., Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. The COPING class is designed to help individuals work through the trauma of losing a spouse through death, divorce, or separation. Cost: $20. For more information, call Diane, (417) 859-0175, or, (870) 688-8829; or Donna, (417) 529-1085.

Springfield—We need 40 slots to be filled for the Pro-Life Booth at the Ozark Em-pire Fair, July 26-Aug. 4. To choose a date and time, call Carl at (417) 496-1235, or Email carlschimek@gmail.com Booth training and distribution of tickets will be Mon., July 23, 7 p.m., at The Library Center on South Campbell.

Springfield—The Southwest Regional Arthritis Center (SWRAC) based at Mercy, Springfield, MO, will offer a free Chronic Disease Self-Management class, Cox Health Surgery Center, Tuesdays, July 24-Aug. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, call (417) 269-3905.

Springfield—Sacred Heart Parish will host its 13th Annual Festival of the Nations, Sat., Aug. 25, 5-9 p.m., in the parish hall. Food tickets will be available for purchase at $1ea., and festival goers will give one, two, or three tickets per food item, depending on the dish. Countries represented include Brazil, Colom-bia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Japan, Mexico, Slovakia, Peru, United States, and Venezuela. Dance perfor-mances, and a children’s area will be outside. For more information, contact Sacred Heart Church at (417) 869- 3646, or sacred-heartch@sbcglobal.net.

Director of Sacred MusicImmaculate Conception, SpringfieldImmaculate Conception Parish in Springfield, Missouri is seeking a full-time Director of Sacred Music. Responsibilities include planning and providing music for Sunday and weekday school liturgies; training and instructing choirs and cantors in sacred music. Must be a strong organist with a

choral background; a degree in music or liturgical music is preferred. Must be a practicing Catholic. A complete

job description with instructions for application can be found on the parish Website www.ic-parish.org.

St. Francis de Sales30th annual salad luncheon

July 11, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.$7 per person

Serving a variety of DELICIOUS

vegetable, fruit, pasta & dessert salads

Also serving soups, breads, & meatballs

St. Francis de Sales Family Center

345 Grand Ave., Lebanon, MO

Questions: Contact Judy Scheppmann, (417) 664-2037

6 The Mirror July 6, 2018ADULT FAITH/LETTER TO EDITOR

Our Lady of Fatima predicted that there would be a major attack on the family as a part of the last battle of our

times. What will this look like? Only God knows, but it is undeniable that the very definition of the family is today being attacked.

Faithful godly homes are becom-ing fewer and fewer, and it’s becom-ing more and more common for chil-dren to leave the faith in their teen years. “Familiaris Consortio” (Pope St. John Paul II’s Apostolic exhortation on the meaning and role of marriage and the family) tells us that “the fam-ily is the object of numerous forces that seek to destroy it or in some way to deform it.”

Our Lady declared that those who seek to defend and support Catholic families will always be under attack, but the worst attacks come silently. Like thieves in the night who sneak in, steal things, and sneak back out without being noticed, errant be-

liefs and sinful hab-its can rob Catholic homes of genuine holiness. In order to help us work toward faithfulness in our homes, I have been asked to contribute a series of articles to The Ordinariate Observer on the family. I will cover the various aspects of what the Catholic family really is, how it is

supposed to work, and how to defend it against the attacks of the devil.

Here, I would like to discuss the definition of “family.” This may sound too elementary, but I believe by merely defining the family (in quite specific terms), we will all be able to take a grand leap forward in combating the errors that abound. I am not the first person to have noted that one of the greatest problems we face in supporting the family is an incorrect understanding of what the family is. If we do not start on the same page, we will not be able to move forward, and, if our definitions are incorrect, we are guaranteed to fail.

Sacrament of marriageRegarding the Sacrament of Mar-

riage, it behooves us to acknowledge that a genuine family is not merely any group of people. We are not seek-ing to defend and protect the “fam-ily” of employees who get along so well at the restaurant down the street (who do not, necessarily, have any actual blood or legal relatives among them). They may call themselves a

“family,” but that word only suits their situation in a metaphorical manner. Although this “type” of fam-ily can learn from a genuine family, it is not the same “family” that God established at creation with Adam and Eve.

While not denying the many complications that can enter a family in a fallen world (death, divorce, etc.), the basic unit of the family is fairly clear and easy to define. I will use

the simple definition provided in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: the “domestic church.” As the Catechism (quoting “Familiaris Consortio”) says, “The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church” (CCC 2204). This points us to both the nature and pur-pose of the family. Its nature as “do-mestic” means that it is “a community

The domestic Church:What is a Catholic family?

GUEST COLUMNFr. Chori Seraiah

The basic unit of the family is defined as the ‘domestic church.’

My pastor, Fr. Dan Hirtz, has some great homilies. One particularly stuck me about the Mass.

“Mass” is rather a bland word. However, the term “Mass” is actually very meaningful if one understands its roots.

The word “Mass” comes from the Latin word “missa.” The Extraor-dinary Form of the Liturgy/Latin Mass concludes with “ite missa est.” Trans-lated, it infers Go, (you) are sent.” There is some debate among litur-gists as to the exact interpretation. St. Thomas Aquinas said it meant the offering of the Mass had been sent to God.

In his Apostolic Exhorta-tion “Sacramentum Caritatis,” Pope Benedict XVI discussed the develop-ment of missa from meaning “dis-missed” to meaning one’s “mission.” “In antiquity,” the Holy Father writes,

“missa simply meant ‘dismissal.’ However in Christian usage it gradu-ally took on a deeper meaning. The word ‘dismissal’ has come to imply a ‘mission.’ These few words succinctly express the missionary nature of the Church (SC 51).

At every Mass, Christ is present in the flesh. He offers again His sac-rifice of Himself to the Father. Just as the Jews renewed their covenant with God at every Passover in the blood of a lamb, Jesus, the Lamb of God, renews God’s covenant with us in His own Blood, the New and Everlasting Covenant. It is Communion, the unit-ing of humanity with God and uniting

Should the term ‘Mass’ be changed?LETTER TO EDITORFrom Our Readers

of humanity with one another: We are fed and renewed, united, and loved. … And we are sent forth with a mission.

Isn’t that awesome? So awesome, the term Mass doesn’t seem to do it justice.

Maybe we could begin calling the Mass by a name that would quick-en our awe and remind us of what is really going on there. What if we said Jesus was serving a meal and we didn’t want to miss it. This is an evangeliza-tion opportunity.

Ite missa est. Deo gratias (“Thanks be to God”).

Pat WallacePiedmont, MO

Letters to the Editor may be sent to Editor, The Mirror, 601 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, MO 65806-3143, or via Email, leidson@dioscg.org. Letters will be verified so please provide your name, daytime phone number, or Email address. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor and subject to editing. u

of grace and prayer, a school of hu-man virtues and of Christian charity” (CCC 1666). Its purpose as a “church” means that it is “a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit” and this shows that it has an “evangelizing and mis-sionary task” (CCC 2205).

Many in the modern world wish to redefine family to be “a unit of people under the same roof, each pursuing whatever he wishes in life, while the others try to stay out of his way.” This may sound like an exag-geration, but it is not. Just ask the average non-Christian what is his def-inition of family. Dictionaries define it by the most basic terms, such as: “A social group traditionally consist-ing of parents and children who live under the same roof.” In other words, their definition is based exclusively on the individuals and their location; it has nothing to do with nature or purpose. This nature and purpose are crucial for our understanding so that we can move forward in future articles. In essence, we can ask of every family practice: “How does this fit with the nature and purpose of the domestic church?” If it does not, then we must question whether it leads to holiness. ©TM

This article was originally printed in The Ordinariate Observer, the magazine of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. Fr. Seraiah is a priest of the Ordinariate and ministering as pastor in St. George Catholic Church in Republic, MO.

MEANING OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY—Pope St. John Paul II’s “Familiaris Consortio” (“On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World”) indicates marriage as “one of the most precious and most urgent tasks of Christian couples in our time” (FC 20), and as “the foundation of the wider community of the family, since the very institution of marriage and conjugal love are ordained to the procreation and education of children, in whom they find their crowning” (FC 13). (Thinkstock)

July 6, 2018 The Mirror 7ADULT FAITH/DIOCESAN NEWS

Wedding Anniversary Masses affirm the gift of married love!

Whether it was a year ago or 70-plus years ago, Bishop Rice wants to be in the picture … literally … and celebrate your marriage! Please invite your family &

friends to the annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Celebrations, which includes Mass with Bishop Edward M. Rice, a reception, and commemorative photos.

*Sun., Aug. 12, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., in St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield

*Sun., Sept. 30, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., in St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau

We ask that couples celebrating their First, 10th, 25th, 50th, or 50+ Anniversary, pre-register in order to receive an Episcopal Blessing from Bishop Rice.

RSVP by July 20, 2018You may register at https://goo.gl/vKUVvm; or Email the information to

kbrayman@dioscg.org; or on the diocesan Website at dioscg.org.

Please be a part of this special event!

Vatican City

A grounded and dedi-cated shepherd, Pope Francis often speaks to the faithful in roman-

tic language. A few years ago, he presented a series of cat-echesis on the Sacraments. In speaking of Marriage, he had this to say:

“A sacrament that leads us to the heart of God’s plan, which is a plan of alliance with his People, with all of us, a plan of communion.” To ex-plain this, he quoted a phrase from the Book of Genesis: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them … that is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

“The image of God is a married couple, man and woman, not only man, not only woman, but rather both. This is the image of God: love, God’s alliance with us is repre-sented in the alliance between man and woman,” he said.

“We were created to love, as a reflection of God and his love. And in matrimonial union the man and woman realize this vocation, as a sign of reciproc-ity and the full and definitive communion of life.” When a man and a woman receive the sacrament of marriage, “God is, so to say, ‘mirrored’ in them, he imprints in them the fea-tures and indelible nature of His love. Marriage is the icon of God’s love for us. Indeed, God, too, is communion: the three Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have always lived and live for ever in perfect unity. And this is the mystery of marriage: God makes mar-ried couples into one existence. The Bible uses a strong term: it says one ‘flesh’ only, so inti-mate is the union between man and woman in marriage. And this is the mystery of marriage: God’s love that is reflected in the couple who decide to live together.”

Vocation of marriagePope Francis mentioned

that, in his Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul emphasizes that Christian married couples reflect the great mystery of the relationship that Christ establishes with the Church, which means that “marriage responds to a specific vocation and must be considered as a

consecration. The man and woman consecrate themselves in their love. Married couples, thanks to the sacrament, are invested with a genuine mis-sion, that of making visible, starting with simple and or-dinary things, the love Christ has for His Church.”

“The plan inherent in marriage is truly wonderful! It is expressed in the simplicity, and also the fragility, of the human condition. We are well aware of the many difficul-ties and trials there may be in the life of a married couple. ... The important thing is to keep alive the link with God, which is at the basis of the matrimo-nial bond. When a husband prays for his wife, and a wife for her husband, the bond remains strong; each one prays for the other. It is true that married life has many difficul-ties: work, there isn’t enough money, there are problems with the children ... and often the husband and wife become irritable and argue amongst themselves. There are always arguments in marriages, and at times even plates are thrown. But we must not be sad about this: this is the human con-dition, and the secret is that love is stronger than the moments in which we ar-gue. I there-fore always advise mar-ried couples never to let the day draw to an end with-out making peace. A little gesture is enough: a caress, see you tomor-row, and to-morrow we start afresh. This is life, and we must face it with courage. Married life is beautiful, and must be protected.” ©VIS

The Sacrament of Marriage: Icon of God’s love for humanity

Conjugal life in Christ

‘How can I ever express the happiness of the marriage that is joined together by the Church strengthened by an offering, sealed by a blessing, announced by angels and ratified by the Father? ...How wonderful the bond between two believers with a single hope, a single desire, a single observance, a single service! They are both brethren and both fellow-servants; there is no separation between them in spirit or flesh; in fact they are truly two in one flesh and where the flesh is one, one is the spirit.’ —Tertullian, early Christian author; JPII, “Familiaris Consortio.”

The Wedding at Cana

8 The Mirror July 6, 2018DIOCESAN NEWS

BentonSt. Denis Catholic School in Benton, MO, has two positions open for the 2018-19 school year: A Part-Time Cook and an After-School Care Worker. Please send resume and application to St. Denis School, Attn: Karen Powers, PO Box 189, Benton, MO 63736, or Email it to karen@stdenisbenton.eduk12.net, or bring it by school. If you have questions, please Email or call (573) 545-3017. Application may be found at www.stdenisbenton.eduk12.net under Forms and Documents.

CarthageSt. Ann Catholic School in Carthage, MO, is currently seeking a Music Teacher to teach three consecutive hours during the school week. The date and times are currently negotiable. Please contact the principal, Mikelle Cortez, at (471) 358-2674, or send a letter of interest to stannscarthageprincipal@gmail.com.

Monett St Lawrence Catholic School in Monett, MO has an immediate opening for an Elementary Principal. Preferred requirements: Active Catholic, MO Certification in teaching, Master’s degree in School Administration (or working towards certification), administrative experience and 3-5 years of school experience. Contact Fr David Baunach, St Lawrence Catholic Church, Monett MO (417) 857-7136. Download application at https://stlawmonett.eduk12.net/other?Item=Employment%20Applications and return via Email. Interviews will begin immediately.

Pierce CitySt. Mary School in Pierce City, MO is in search of a Principal for the 2018-2019 school year. Applicants must hold or be working toward a Missouri Principal’s certificate. Please contact the parish at (417) 476-2827, or Email st_marys@live.com.

SpringfieldSt. Joseph Catholic Academy in Springfield, MO is looking for a committed Full-Time Eighth grade teacher to compliment our qualified workforce of educators. Our small class sizes afford the luxury of working in a family-type atmosphere that allows for deeper and more gratifying relationships with students, parents, and fellow teachers. Applicants should be positive, hardworking, an enthusiastic teaching professional, exhibit Christ-like behaviors, and work collaboratively with colleagues. Active Catholic preferred. Please submit: cover letter and resume to Principal Bonnie Johnson at: bjohnson@stjosephcatholicacademy.org. For more information, Email Bonnie or call (417) 866-0667.

St. Joseph Parish, Springfield, is seeking a Part-Time Administrative Assis-tant. 15+ hours, flexible schedule. Good computer/Internet skills are needed. Must be a practicing Catholic. College hours or degree and some experience preferred. We’re looking for a friendly, outgoing person who is good at communicating! Staff teamwork and connecting people and activities is essential. Coordinating the weekly bulletin notices is one important task. This is a job with lots of variety in a happy parish environment. To apply, please send your resume to stjosephspmo@yahoo.com.

Springfield Catholic High School in Springfield, MO, is seeking applicants for a high school Math Teacher for the 2018-19 school year. Applicants must have a current secondary teaching certificate with certification to teach ninth-12th math. Appli-cants are preferred to be an Active Catholic. For more information, please contact Jeanne Skahan at jskahan@scspk12.org, or call (417) 887-8817, ext 013. An Online application may be found at www.scspk12.org: click on the “About” tab at the top and scroll down to “Employment Opportunities.”

Springfield Catholic High School is seeking applicants for an Evening Custodian. Responsible for sanitation, maintenance and security of the High School building; twelve (12) month employee; work hours are 3-11 p.m. For additional information, please contact Sam Wutke at swutke@scspk12.org, or (417) 865-5567, ext 012. An Online application may be found at www.scspk12.org: click on the “About” tab at the top and scroll down to “Employment Opportunities.”

St Elizabeth Ann Seton School is looking for a Homeroom Sixth Grade Teacher who will teach either Communication Arts or Math for our Jr. High fifth-eighth grades. Prefer practicing, active Catholic who is in good standing with the Church and who is available for the 2018-2019 school year in Springfield, MO. If you are interested, please call or Email Dr. Cheryl L Hall at chall@scspk12.org or call (417) 887-6056. An Online application may be found at www.scspk12.org: click on the “About” tab at the top and scroll down to “Employment Opportunities.”

Employment positions around the diocese

Is your marriage the best it can be?Athletes and musicians practice hours to become the best. Professionals work hard to become successful. How many hours have you devoted to making your marriage the best it can be?

Attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and give your relationship the attention it deserves. The next weekend in Kansas City is July 13-15, 2018.

For more information or to apply, please visit our Website: www.wwme4youandme.org or call Tony & Barb Zimmerman, (816) 741-4066, or Email tonybarbz@prodigy.net

Wo r l d w i d eM a r r i a g e

E n c o u n t e r

Attention: Adult Catholic MenYou are invited to the Southeast Missouri

Mon., July 23, 6:30-9 p.m.St. Francis Xavier, Sikeston, MO

and

Mon., Nov. 20, 6:30-9 p.m.Guardian Angel, Oran, MO

An evening of Adoration, Confession, & a Manly Meal with discussion to follow.To help plan for food, please RSVP to SEMOCatholicManNight@gmail.com or

to ‘SEMO Catholic Man Night’ on Facebook, or (573) 837-2556

St. Sylvester Mission

Welcome Vacationers

WELCOME CAMPERS and all who will enjoy the area’s outdoor activities this summer: ride lush trails on horseback; float crystal clear rivers; bring your guitar (or your other musical instrument), and praise God for paradise in the Ozarks. We welcome all visitors to St. Sylvester Mission Church, Eminence, MO: Mass each Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (through Sept. 1) and 8 a.m. on Sundays (all year).

July 6, 2018 The Mirror 9DIOCESAN NEWS

Featuring: DR. ALLEN HUNTWhen: Sept. 15, 2018 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church 1913 Ritter Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

and

When: Sept. 16, 2018 2-6 p.m.

Where: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church

203 Vaughn Dr., Branson, MO 65616

the past 50 years.”• Not seeing immigration

and bilingualism as an opportunity for economic impact.

Our experiences shape the lens through which we see life. Chal-lenging those assumptions tests our comfort zones and can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

To create strong communities, we must develop intercultural com-petent leaders, willing to engage and work with differences: Leaders who are self-aware and authentic.

The reality is, we all have biases, and the good news is that cultural competence, self-awareness, and authenticity are skills we can develop. ©TM

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues. Bar-cenas can be reached at carlosb@cfra.org.

Intercultural competent leaders needed for strong communities

GUEST COLUMNCarlos Barcenas

A couple decades ago, a move-ment for tolerance wove itself across the nation. A few years ago, everything

needed to be “politically correct.” In 2016, implicit bias moved to the top of political conversations.

From political affiliations to spiritual beliefs, and from genera-tional gaps to ethnic diversity, the one thing we have in common is that our conscious and non-con-scious bias play a role in the choices we make every day.

From big cities to small towns, from corporations to small busi-nesses, biases limit the potential of growth, innovation, and success:

• Not hiring a candidate with skills needed for the job be-cause of gender, skin tone, age, or other differences.

• Boards, city officials, and other positions of power lacking representation of those whom they serve.

• Missing the breakthrough idea by not trying things differently, because, “that’s how we have done it for

For more information, please call (417) 866-0841 or contact via EmailLynn Melendez lmelendez@dioscg.org Milagros Calvetti mcalvetti@dioscg.org

or log on to www.dioscg.org

Do you know someone having finan-cial troubles? Too much debt? Can’t pay their bills? Please refer them to Consumer Credit Counseling of the Ozarks, now a subsidiary of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. Services are strictly confidential.

We will help you organize your debt, create a plan, and pay it down. Services are available throughout the diocese by in-per-son or phone counseling. For more infor-mation, call (417) 889-7474 (Springfield); (417) 624-3790 (Joplin); or toll-free (800) 882-0808, or consult our Website:

www.cccsoftheozarks.org

Need help with

debt management or financial counseling?

10 The Mirror July 6, 2018DIOCESAN NEWS/ADVERTISING

Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral HomeLocally-owned & operated u Dedicated u Caring u Professional

Offices of the Catholic Cemeteries

Paul & Lynn WunderlichDavid Fenton • Louis Lohmeyer • Charlene Harris-Bengsch

Gene Lohmeyer • Mary Ann Johnston • Joel Champ

500 E. Walnut - Springfield, MO (417) 862-4433www.hhlohmeyer.com

Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Inc.Brentwood Chapel • University Chapel Crematory • Columbarium

Licensed funeral directors of distinction:Bill M. Abbott W. Bruce Howell Marquis Howell, Jr.Robert Lohmeyer Harley R. WilliamsDon R. Lohmeyer Clint W. MeaseMarquis Howell, Sr. Angela N. CollinsHeather K. Howell Winford R. Laster

Locally owned and operated for over 50 years

1947 E. Seminole, Springfield MO 65804(417) 886-9994 • fax (417) 886-9996, gormanscharpf@mchsi.com

working with Religious Edu-cation, visiting nursing home residents, and she oversaw the Catholic Thrift Shop while in Georgia for many years. She wanted to be

remembered “as not only a good friend and concerned person who cared about everyone and wanted what was best for them, but also as a dedicated missionary, one who did her best with gifts she had and as a person who appre-ciated others and their special

Sr. Barrette

Missionary to Caruthersville passesOwensboro, KY

Sr. Mary Ellen Barrette, GHMS, age 87, of Owens-boro, KY, passed away Mon., June 4, 2018, at Morgan-

town Care & Rehabilitation Cen-ter. She was born in Essex Junc-tion, VT, to the late G.W. Barrette and Marguerite Kennedy Barrette.

She has been a missionary for 63 years as a Glenmary Sis-ter, having begun in 1955. She served the home missions in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, and Missouri. She was missioned in Missouri for one year, and served Sacred Heart, Caruthersville. She enjoyed

gifts.”In addition to her parents,

she was preceded in death by three sisters, Elizabeth Barrette, Susan Barrette, and Shirley Bow-ers. She is survived by a brother, George Barrette, and sister, Peggy Alexander; and her Glenmary Sisters community.

The Mass of Christian Burial was held June 12 in Owensboro, Kentucky, where Sr. Barrette is buried as well.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Glenmary Sisters, PO Box 22264, Owensboro, KY 42304. Online condolences may be placed at www.glennfuneralhome.com. ©TM

July 6, 2018 The Mirror 11ADVERTISING

12 The Mirror July 6, 2018DIOCESAN NEWS

Acquires Consumer Credit Counseling Services

Springfield

As the premier charitable arm of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Catholic Charities of Southern Mis-

souri (CCSOMO) assists individuals and families that face difficult and often dire situations, many times homeless or on the verge of home-lessness. Its recent acquisition of Consumer Credit Counseling Services further expands its suite of services, which often includes temporary financial assistance and case manage-ment services for the long haul.

“It’s very important for us to form an on-going relationship with our clients,” said Maura Taylor, CCSOMO Executive Director. “Our case managers walk alongside them, not only to help them overcome the immediate crisis in their lives, but to help them achieve stability. When we see them for the final time, we want to ensure that they’ve been given the hope and help they need to be self-sufficient. More and more we’re learning that our clients cannot be successful without learning how to manage their money.”

Last year, CCSOMO decided to expand its capability to provide financial counseling by acquiring Consumer Credit Counseling Services of the Ozarks (CCCS) as a subsid-iary. CCCS is a member agency of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), and is accredited through the Council on Accredita-tion. Since its establishment in 1969, CCCS has offered financial manage-ment sessions to those who need help

with developing a budget, clearing up credit issues, or learning to save.

Financial counselingAnyone financially struggling or

who would like to make some chang-es in how they manage money may

seek counsel-ing, and every-thing is strictly confidential.

“I see col-lege students to retirees, and anywhere in-between,” said Landy Dixon, one of four certified CCCS Counselors. “We go over their budget, look at excesses, things that might be cut back, anything to help them break even each month. “

“It’s very important that they have a good concept of ‘money in, money out.’” Dixon said. “I teach that a lot!”

Many clients choose

to utilize the Debt Management Program (DMP), in which the client pays unsecured creditors through CCCS. CCCS contacts the creditors, and proposes a reduced payment and interest rate.

“It is up to the creditor but

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri expands financial counseling services

FINANCIAL EDUCATION & STABILITY—CCCS certified Counselor Landy Dixon helps struggling families and indi-viduals achieve long-term stability through advocacy, edu-cation, and case management. Consumer Credit Counsel-ing Services was recently acquired by Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. (The Mirror)

many are willing,” said Dixon.

The client makes monthly payments to CCCS; CCCS then process-es and submits the payments to the creditors. The plans

are for five years or less.

Something for everyoneOther programming includes

Financial Management, Credit and Budget Counseling, Student Loan Counseling, Personal Finance and Credit Education for community groups and businesses, to name a few.

“I believe the services we of-fer are vital. When people come in, they’re worried, scared, embarrassed,” Dixon said. “They don’t quite know where to turn, or how to start turning things around. There is no judgment here. When they come in, they’ve already taken themselves to task. Saying ‘What in the world were you thinking?’ doesn’t accomplish any-thing. We want to put them at ease. We want to see how we can help.”

“People are greatly relieved once they make that last payment,” Dixon said. “That’s a great celebration for us here. When someone comes in to make their final payment, we cel-ebrate with them.”

The programs of CCCS help struggling individuals and families learn to manage their money and achieve long-term stability. An added benefit—they relieve stress.

“Often after their counseling and we’ve set up a plan, as they leave the office, many say ‘I think maybe I’m going to sleep tonight,’” Dixon said. “That means a lot to me.” ©TM

Services• Financial Management,

Credit and Budgeting Counseling for individuals and families (People having financial difficulties who are not able to meet monthly liv-ing expenses as well as repay debt.)

• Debt Management Program (DMP)—Counsel-ing combined with unsecured creditor payments through CCCS

• Student Loan Counseling Program (a new pro-gram established in response to astronomical growth in student loans and inability to repay)

• Bankruptcy Counseling• Personal Finance and Credit Education for com-

munity groups and businesses

Fees• Most counseling ses-

sions are free. There are fees associated with bankruptcy counseling, student loan coun-seling, and business presentations.

• DMP—If the client sets up a plan to repay cred-itors through CCCS, there is only a minimal payment processing fee based on the number of creditors involved. For example, if there are 4-8 creditors, the monthly fee is $20.

Areas of serviceThroughout the diocese—If someone can’t come in, they can submit information Online or do telephone counseling.In-Person Counseling

Sessions available in Springfield (1515 S. Glenstone Ave.) and Joplin (403 E. Fourth St.)

Phone Counseling—Springfield Office (417) 889-7474,Joplin Office (417) 624-3790Toll-free 800-882-0808

Website—Submit information Online and you will be contacted— Visit shredyourdebt.org or cccsoftheozarks.org.