March 2024 Newsletter

Men, Happy Lent!

I know, Lent is not intended to be a “happy” time, but it is a time when we can push ourselves through fasting and prayer to return to the image and likeness we were made to be.

For the athlete who trains to improve everyday, it is a happy moment when his goals are met, and he is able to jump just a little bit higher, run just a little bit faster, throw just a little bit farther.

So why shouldn’t we be happy when we grow in our spiritual life?

Happy Lent!--and keep up your “Lenten calisthenics.”

A Men’s Conference Right Here in Jefferson City…

That’s right.  Men, as we announced at our February gathering, the Men of Signum Crucis is hosting the first ever Men’s Conference in our area on April 19 and 20.  Billed as the “Heart of a Hero” Men’s Conference, it will take place at the Cathedral of St. Joseph here in Jefferson City on the evening of Friday, April 19, and during the day on Saturday, April 20.  The Conference will feature five speakers, daily Mass (on Saturday), Confessions, Adoration, and Benediction.  The five speakers are Mr. Lamar Hunt, Jr. on Friday evening (wear your Kansas City Chiefs gear!!!); Father Bill Peckman (Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Macon); Mr. Adam Wright (Catholic Radio host on 88.1 FM); Dr. Andrew Swafford (Professor of Theology at Benedictine College); and Mr. Brian Miller (Director of Evangelization and Discipleship for the Archdiocese of St. Louis).  The invitation to attend is being extended to all men of the Diocese, so I hope you will be able to join us for this historic event.  We will be using the Cana Room (the very nicely decorated Undercroft of the past), so space is limited–I hope you will register soon to secure your seat.  I couldn’t be prouder of this great lineup and the opportunity we have to grow in our faith with so many like minded men from around the Diocese–and to showcase the spirit of the Men of Signum Crucis while we are at it!  Attached to the email you have just received is the flyer and registration form for the Conference, and here is a link to the registration page on our website.  If you prefer not to register online, feel free to either print the registration form attached to the email, or if you need a paper copy, feel free to call or text me at 573-680-2520.

We will continue to post additional details on our webpage, so please check back often at our website to receive updated information.

So, gather your family, friends, Cursillo group, Bible Study group, Knights of Columbus council, and come en masse to the Cana Room on April 19 and 20 for an event that is sure to change your life.  If you are not able to attend both days, no worries–the registration form allows you to register for either day.

You must have a ticket to attend, so get that registration done as soon as possible.

I hope you can tell that I am very excited to announce this first ever “Heart of a Hero” Men’s Conference.

Our Next Gathering–March 20

Other news:  as we announced in February, we will have the Consecration to St. Joseph ceremony in the Chapel at our March 20 gathering.  The Consecration ceremony will take place at the end of the Devotional (approximately 7:10p).

As in the recent past, attendees of the March gathering will have the option to choose between a Devotional and a Study Session.  The Devotional will be a reflection on the “Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross,” led by local Man of Signum Crucis David Herman.  This Devotional will take place in the Chapel. 

The Study offered on March 20 will be a continuation of the overview of Church History being led by Coach Chris Hentges.  The Study session will take place in the Commons (the Library is once again being used by another group).

The Devotional and Study options will begin at 6:30p, but for those who can make it early, the Rosary will be prayed in the Chapel, beginning at 6:00p.

So, for those attending the Study session who are making their Consecration to St. Joseph at 7:10p, you will need to leave the Study between 7:00 and 7:05p to receive brief instructions in the Chapel and get into the Consecration line at 7:10p.  Our Chaplain, Father Paul Clark, will witness the Act of Consecration for the dozens of Men of Signum Crucis who are participating in this round of Consecration to St. Joseph.

After our Study and Devotion and Consecration to St. Joseph are completed, we will proceed to the Commons for fraternity and refreshments.

March for Life

Men, I was talking to Kathy Forck on Wednesday, and she said the 40 Days for Life program is still in need of people to walk and pray in front of Planned Parenthood in Columbia for these 40 days of Lent.  It is an amazing witness to so many people who drive by on the very busy Providence Road in Columbia.  If you can, please sign up for an hour (or two) here or contact Kathy Forck at 573-821-5130.

Lent Check Up

Men, as I mentioned above, I hope you are getting your Lenten work in to fine tune yourself to become the man God intended you to be.  This Sunday is Laetare Sunday, when we pause briefly and observe that we are closer to Easter.  But let’s use the observation of the halfway point of Lent as an opportunity to re-double our efforts, to put a little more weight on the accelerator to finish Lent in fine form.  While we re-double our efforts, let’s remember this fraternity of men in our prayers.

Eucharistic Revival

 Men, I hope you are staying ever faithful to the Eucharist–we are nothing without it.  Consider attending a daily Mass (or two) each week, and do your family a favor and invite them to attend also. 

And, don’t forget that the first Eucharist Revival in the United States in 83 years takes place in Indianapolis this summer on July 17 through July 21.  Our complete understanding and support of the doctrine of the Real Presence is needed now more than ever in our country.  I am wondering if we will ever see such a prestigious lineup of Catholic scholars in one place again in our lifetime–check out the website here for the complete list of activities and presenters.

Thank You!

Thank you to Father Anthony Viviano for celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for us at our February gathering.  As I said that evening, Father V. really bailed me out, because I was promising the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that evening (as our plans are for every February and September gathering), but Father Clark had a death in the family and was needed to celebrate the Funeral Mass out of state.  If you have Father Viviano’s contact information, or ever bump into him, I hope you will express gratitude for the sacrifices he makes to help with our Men of Signum Crucis.  He is highly complimentary of this fraternity–which means he is complimentary of you, since you are the Men of Signum Crucis. 

Speaking of which, we lay men in this fraternity should always express our support to all priests because of who they are and what they do for us and our families.  Who are they?  Each one is an “alter Christus,” Latin for “another Christ.”  Each priest acts “in persona Christ,” Latin for “in the person of Christ.”  So, imagine when you are in the Confessional that you are confessing your sins directly to Christ–because you are!

And finally, it goes without saying (but shouldn’t) that we need to thank Father Paul Clark, our Chaplain, always and keep him in our prayers for all the great work he does to keep us Men of Signum Crucis in excellent form. 

In Conclusion…

 I hope you are able to gather with your fraternity of Signum Crucis on March 20 at Helias Catholic.  Ask (another) son, father, brother, uncle, or friend to come with you.  Each man present is needed–someone is better because you are there.  Afterwards, we will enjoy fraternity and refreshments in the Commons.

Men, thank you for your fidelity to the Men of Signum Crucis.  Your dedication to this growing fraternity is inspiring.  I pray that you are growing in your faith each month, and that you will always invite other men to join us.

And, let us never forget:  St. Joseph “chose hard.”  Let’s choose to do the same.

St. Joseph, Foster Father of the Son of God, and patron saint of the Men of Signum Crucis, pray for us.

In hoc signo, vinces,

Mark Rehagen

P. S. In hoc signo, vinces: https://veterumsapientia.org/in-hoc-signo-vinces/

Future Gatherings:  

●      March 20, 2024 (Study on Church History and Devotion on the Seven Last Words of Jesus)

●      April 17, 2024 (Study on Church History and Devotion TBD)

●      April 19-20, 2024, Heart of a Hero Men’s Conference at the Cathedral

●      May 15, 2024 (Adoration, Confession, and Benediction)

●      June 19, 2024 (Study on Church History and Devotion TBD)