The Crux of the Matter - December 2025

Men of Signum Crucis, Happy Advent. 

‘Tis the season to slow down, and, as you can, enjoy the longer evenings without so many chores and obligations that longer evenings sometimes “impose” on us.  Maybe it’s a good time to spend more time with family and friends.

But most importantly, Advent is a great time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus himself.

What does this mean?  In a way, Advent is a 28-day retreat–a gift given by God himself during a quiet time of the year (if we plan it to be and allow it to be) to prepare ourselves for the gift of His Son–Gift Himself giving us the gift of His Son.

So, this year, when people ask you if you are ready for Christmas (as they surely will), let’s be able to say that, yes, we are ready to receive the gift of Jesus into our hearts and homes.

And just what would that mean?  Perhaps that we have used these longer evenings to schedule some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, that we have taken advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation somewhere, that we have committed some time to study or reflect on the awesome gift that God has given us.

Perhaps in the end, we will come just a bit closer to understanding why Gift Himself would even care to give us the gift of His Son.  That would be an amazing preparation for Christmas.  The reason can be difficult to comprehend and fully grasp, but with time and effort, it becomes more understandable and we are able to show our appreciation for His gift….

So, men, let’s prepare for Christmas with vigor.

Happy Advent.

“Way of the Star” at the Cathedral 

Men, a special event this Advent that will help in your preparation for the arrival of Jesus is the “Way of the Star” event at the Cathedral on Monday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m.  This evening at the Cathedral promises to offer a time for each person to meditate on the meaning of this season of Advent in the midst of a music performance by the Vigil Project.  For those of you who can arrive early, Mass of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated that evening at 5:30 p.m.  I hope you can attend.

Welcome to Bishop Ralph Bernard O’Donnell

I hope that you will join me in making Bishop O’Donnell feel very welcome in this Diocese of Jefferson City.  

Let us pledge our support to him and his ministry in every way possible.  As Men of Signum Crucis, it is most important that we honor those who serve us as priests, brothers, and sisters (and bishops), and to pray for and promote vocations within our families.  It is the role of the Bishop to teach, govern, and sanctify.  Let us commit to his teachings, his governance, and his work to make us more holy.

Diocesan Marriage Retreat in March 2026

Men, several of you have been asking about opportunities to share spiritually enriching events with our wives, so I will let you know about opportunities as they arise.  One event that will offer this opportunity is the Diocesan Marriage Retreat, which will take place at Cana Hall at the Cathedral on March 13-14, 2026.  Contact Mary Madelyn Mertes of the Office of Marriage Ministries at the Chancery for more information (mmertes@diojeffcity.org).

Men of Signum Crucis Service Projects

As I mentioned at our November gathering, as the snow begins to fly, there will be a need for men to join Man of Signum Crucis Pete Clogston in providing meals for the homeless at the Jefferson City Room at the Inn or the Salvation Army.  I am aware that several of you have signed up to provide this type of service on behalf of the Men of Signum Crucis.  We can always use more.  If you have not signed up yet to help serve the homeless, or to provide other works of mercy on behalf of the Men of Signum Crucis, please use this link to sign up.

          Other projects with which we Men of Signum Crucis are committed to assist are St. Peter Cemetery clean up (led by Nick Dolson); the Mustard Seed (led by Mark Javersak); and Prison Ministry (led by Mark Rehagen).  Contact these men directly to sign up to help, or use the link above to provide your contact information.

          The Mustard Seed project will likely need help beginning in January 2026, and the Cemetery and Prison Ministry projects will kick off in Spring 2026.

Thanks to Pete Clogston, Nick Dolson, and Mark Javersak for providing leadership as the Men of Signum Crucis completes the Sign of the Cross and we bring Christ to the world.

Mark your Calendars now

3^rd Annual “Heart of a Hero” Men’s Conference–April 10-11, 2026

2026 Heart of a Hero Men’s Conference

          I am excited to report that the schedule for the 2026 Heart of a Hero Men’s Conference (HoaHMC) is finalized.  As in the past, we will offer a keynote presentation on the Friday evening (April 10), followed by our Cigar and Bourbon Reception.  Our speaker on Friday evening will be Pete Burak from Renewal Ministries in Michigan. 

          On Saturday, April 11, we will have presentations from Pete Burak (again), Msgr. Eugene Morris from St. Louis, and Father Stephen Jones from the Cathedral.

          I am also very excited that three students at the University of Missouri will join us for one of our sessions, and through a Q & A session they will discuss the reasons for their faith.  I very much look forward to introducing them to our attendees.

          Also, as in the past, we will have Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, and Benediction mid day on that Saturday.

          Mark your calendars now to deepen your faith with the best of the best men in Missouri.

Thank You, Father Pat Dowling, Father James Finder, and Father Walter Kispotta

Thank you to Father Dowling, Father James, and Father Kispotta for being with us in November as they celebrated the Sacrament of Penance for many of our men in attendance, while Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament took place in the St. Pius X Chapel.  Our thanks also to Deacon Ray Purvis for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and for Benediction, and to Ryan McKenzie for serving at the Exposition and Benediction. 

November and May gatherings are set aside for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, and Benediction.  I appreciate the assistance of so many priests and deacons of the Diocese who have made this event possible twice each year since the Fall of 2022, and for the ever faithful Ryan McKenzie for his assistance at the Altar.

Pray for Our Priests and Seminarians

Men, let us pray for our priests and seminarians–our hope for the future.  Make sure when you see one, you let him know how much you appreciate his service to you and your family.  Pray especially for Justin Francka, a Man of Signum Crucis and current seminarian who delivered a beautiful presentation to us earlier this year

Without our priests and future priests, we cannot receive the Holy Eucharist, which is our lifeline to heaven.  It’s just that simple. 

Let us all live virtuous lives that will produce vocations in our families and among our circle of friends.

Our Next Gathering–December 17

Our gathering in December will feature an opportunity to pursue God this Advent.  Presented by Gabe Jones, a Field Agent of the Knights of Columbus in St. Louis, the topic will be “Creating Silence.”  Gabe will begin his presentation at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. 

Feel free to come early to pray the Rosary at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel.  Refreshments in the Commons will follow Gabe’s presentation.

Please mark your calendars now to join your fraternity of men at Helias on December 17.

Retreat Opportunities for Men??

I am well aware that several of you Men of Signum Crucis are instrumental in providing retreat opportunities for yourself and other men in our area.  If you ever wish to offer information about your retreat opportunity at one of our gatherings, please let me know and I will make sure that we have a table in the Commons set aside for you to share information with our men.

Thanks to you men who have invited me to take part in your retreats–I appreciate that you would think that I might fit in well with your group.  That said, I know there are many men in our fraternity who would fit in well with a men’s retreat group.  Your persistence will be rewarded.

In Conclusion…

I hope each of you will bring another new man or two with you to our November gathering–young or old, old or new.  They’ll be glad you asked them.  We are called to be disciples, and as disciples we have a calling to spread the Gospel in whatever way we can.  Bringing someone new to our monthly Gatherings is a great way to fulfill our missionary calling.

         And, let us never forget:  St. Joseph “chose hard.”  When given the choice, 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

                                                            mrehagen@heliascatholic.com

                                                            573-680-2520

Future Events:       

●      December 17, 2025 (Gabe Jones, “Creating Silence”)

●      January 21, 2026 (Mark Rehagen, “Challenges for the Catholic Man:  What It Means to Be a Man of Signum Crucis”)

●      February 18, 2026 (The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)

●      March 18, 2026 (Levi Frisbie, “Fellowship of Catholic University Students, and the State of our Youth in the Church)

●      April 15, 2026 (Father Stephen Jones, “The Shroud of Turin”)

●      May 20, 2026 (Adoration, Benediction, and Confession in the Chapel)

Mark your Calendars now

3^rd Annual “Heart of a Hero” Men’s Conference–April 10-11, 2026