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The Crux of the Matter - March 2026
- Mark Rehagen
- 5 days ago
- 10 min read
Men, not everyone may think this way, but Lent is a great time of the year to be Catholic.
We know the purpose is to prepare ourselves for the greatest gift ever given–the salvation of humanity by the Son of God. It’s an amazing gift given to us–what God would send his own Son to redeem his children who had strayed?
Our theology teaches us that only God could redeem us from the infinite sin of Adam. Given that the sin of Adam was such a tremendous offense against God, man himself would be unable to redeem himself from the sin. It would take an act of God to gain our redemption.
Prior to Jesus’ arrival on earth, it was thought the Messiah would be an earthly king who would yield power and reclaim the borders of Israel, thus proving that we were (and are) God’s chosen people. Wouldn’t that be the way that human beings think?
Of course, we know that God topped that by sending his Son (i.e., God himself–the one with whom he was “well pleased”), and we were redeemed by the blood of the Cross. This is why Lent is such a special time for us Catholics.
We might not be able to fathom the unsurpassing love of God who sent his Son to encounter the most brutal form of death as the Lamb slain for us, but I think it is possible for us to understand now that it had to be so. And yet, we know that Jesus as omniscient God knew the sins of each one of us Men of Signum Crucis when he agonized in the garden, took the scourging at the pillar, bore the pain of a crown of thorns smashed onto his head, carried the very cross he would be crucified on, then willingly laid down on the Cross to have his hands and feet nailed to it, so it could be uprighted and he would experience pulmonary and respiratory failure and suffocate three hours later. That is an over the top, amazing way of redemption–one that truly is, well, God-like.
This is why we have forty days of Lent–to prepare ourselves to be worthy to accept this gift from God. To purge ourselves from stuff that weighs us down. To clean up our act. To show God that perhaps we do try our best to deserve what he did for us–even though we don’t, because God did this out of unconditional love for us. It must be, because he is God, and we are not, and we could never do anything to earn our salvation without the grace of God.
And so we sojourn during this Lent.
I hope you are spending time doing something extraordinary this Lent–something above and beyond what you have ever done before. Show God that you are on the brink of deserving salvation by the Cross. There are many great devotions available to us nowadays–daily Mass, Stations of the Cross, Adoration Hours, Exodus 90, devotions on the Hallow App, etc., etc., etc. Contact me if you would like to discuss a devotion that would fit best for you.
Remember that treading water in the current of the culture only results in us being washed downstream. We cannot afford to “stand still,” or to “choose soft.”
As I said last month: “For the sake of our families and our salvation, we do this.
May your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving be a blessing to you and yours, and may your resurgence on Easter Day be acceptable and pleasing to God.
Go for it, brothers. Choose hard. Attack. It’s … Lent.”
Men, not everyone may think this way, but Lent is a great time of the year to be Catholic.
Sponsorship Opportunities for the Men’s Conference
Men, if you or someone you know would like to be a sponsor for the 2026 Heart of a Hero Men’s Conference, please contact Donnell Rehagen, Larry Jansen, or Philip Schulte. If you don’t have their contact information, contact me at the phone number or email address at the bottom of this newsletter, and I will gladly put you in touch with one of these men.
Sponsorships are a great way to get your name or business recognized in several ways both before and during the conference, and of course help us keep our registration fees modest.
Thank you in advance for any thought you might give to a sponsorship on behalf of yourself or by someone you know.
Retreat Opportunities in March 2026
Men, there are still two special retreat opportunities that I am aware of that I would like each of you to consider.
Several of you have been asking about opportunities to share spiritually enriching events with your wives. 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).
Finally, on March 27-29, the Augustine Institute is hosting a Holy Week Retreat (the weekend of Palm Sunday). This retreat, called “Entering the Paschal Mystery: a Holy Week Retreat,” is lining up to be an awesome experience in an awesome venue in St. Louis–the location which previously was used as the Boeing Executive Center. Join me, my wife (Susan), Norb Plassmeyer, and his wife (Eileen) at this retreat by registering here.
**Register Now for the 2026 Men’s Conference at
3rd Annual “Heart of a Hero” Men’s Conference–April 10-11, 2026
Reasons for Hope (Part III)
Men, I would like to continue to share what I think are some encouraging events in our Diocese and beyond (see my remarks in the October 2025 and February 2026 Crux of the Matter newsletters regarding Reasons for Hope).
My next reason for hope lies in the message we will hear at our next gathering on March 18. We will be treated to a presentation by Levi Frisbie, a Senior at the University of Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, on the state of our youth in the Church. Levi has just begun a commitment with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) that will cause him to defer his engineering career for a few years while he serves full time in ministry in the Catholic Church, very likely in a university or college setting. I hope you will come to the gathering to experience hope for our future. See for yourself how our young people have begun to step to the plate and will take their turn at evangelizing the world–you will be glad you have met Levi.
With all these hopeful events occurring, it’s time we jump on board and be a part of the future and join these young people in exhibiting our faith to the world.
Maybe we need to invite hope into our lives. Why? Because, as St. Paul wrote, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).
Update on Men of Signum Crucis Service Projects
Contact information for men who have volunteered to serve in the Cemetery and the Serve the Homeless Projects have been provided to the respective project chairs, Nick Dolson and Pete Clogston. If you do not receive a phone call or email from Nick or Pete soon, please reach out to me in case I have provided faulty contact information to them.
I am still working with locals to establish Prison Ministry for the Men of Signum Crucis. Since there is a great need for secure interaction with those incarcerated, please be patient as I maneuver through some details to get this project established. If you have volunteered for this service, I will contact you in the future.
Thanks once again to Nick and Pete for chairing the Cemetery and Serve the Homeless Projects.
Pray for Our Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians
Men, let us pray for our priests, deacons, 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 in 2025.
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.
What Are Your Plans to Deepen Your Faith in 2026?
(This is a repeat section from the January and February newsletters)
Men, I hope that each of you is making plans for your spiritual growth in 2026. Remember that if we are only treading water, the current will take us downstream in a hurry.
I have several suggestions for you to consider, and I hope that you will take on at least one new activity in 2026 that you know in your heart would help you most. Here is my list:
● Tops on the list for Men of Signum Crucis is a 2-3 day retreat at a retreat center of your choosing. Most monasteries in the region will host retreats (both men’s only or couples). For example, Conception Abbey hosts several men’s retreats each year. Click on this link for information on Conception Abbey retreats. The Jesuit White House in St. Louis offers dozens of retreat opportunities each year, and several of our Men of Signum Crucis are facilitators of groups attending these retreats. Click this link for information on the White House retreats. I have heard good reports for the Marianist Retreat Center in Eureka. Click on this link for information on their retreat center. Regardless of the retreat center you choose, I hope you will consider taking the plunge and getting really serious about deepening your faith in a two- or three-day retreat away from your normal routine, and let God speak to you there.
● If you really can’t get away for 2-3 days due to family obligations, Exodus 90 is a great spiritual exercise designed only for men. It’s a great challenge and not for the faint of heart. For the 90 days before Easter (beginning January 5 this year), you’ll have daily readings; one-hour meditation; no sweets; no liquor; no social media; no internet (except what is necessary for work or school); no television; cold showers only; no eating between meals; fasting and abstinence from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays; and strenuous exercise on at least three days each week. The intent is for all men participating to be a part of a small group fraternity which meets weekly to “check in.” Call me or text me if you are interested in joining the Men of Signum Crucis Exodus 90 group in 2026, but feel free to click on this link for more information on Exodus 90.
● You like the idea of a men’s retreat, but at this point in your life you need to be a little more active? How about the Joseph Challenge Pilgrimage? It doesn’t get any better than this, to hang out with a bunch of other guys honoring the patron saint of the Men of Signum Crucis, by walking 24 miles over two days between four St. Joseph sites in St. Louis, ending at the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis, the location of the miracle that took place to canonize St. Peter Claver. Plans are just beginning to materialize for the 2026 event which will take place on May 2 and 3. Click on this link for more information regarding the Joseph Challenge Pilgrimage. I hope that we will have a large number of men from our fraternity to be the first group from Jefferson City to participate. This pilgrimage is planned and hosted by our December speaker, Gabe Jones, from St. Louis.
● Attend a Men’s Cursillo, or serve on the team if needed. See Men of Signum Crucis Ken Sandbothe or Larry Jansen, or click on this link for more information regarding the local Cursillo movement.
● Sign up for Eucharistic Adoration in your parish. If your parish does not have it, find one close by that does, and sign up there. Better yet, advocate to your pastor for Adoration at your parish.
● Be on the watch for other events that will deepen your faith, and never, ever shrink from taking the challenge to sharpen your faith. I hope you will let other members of the Men of Signum Crucis know of other events that have been helpful to you in your spiritual journey.
Thank You to Father Paul Clark (and Others)
We thank our Chaplain Father Paul Clark for celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for us at our Ash Wednesday Mass on February 18. Father Clark, those crosses on our foreheads were perfect, and we appreciate your steadfast support of the Men of Signum Crucis, especially on a day when so many obligations stretch priests so thin.
Also thanks to Deacon Ray Purvis for serving as the Deacon for the Mass, to Larry Jansen for serving as our Reader, and to Ryan McKenzie, our ever faithful Altar Server.
Our Next Gathering–March 18, 2026
As I wrote above, our gathering in March will be a presentation by Levi Frisbie, a university student from Wardsville, who will speak to us on the state of the youth in the Church. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from one of the amazing young men from our local area
Feel free to come early to pray the Rosary at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Refreshments in the Commons will follow the presentation.
Please mark your calendars now to join your fraternity of men at Helias on March 18.
In Conclusion…
I hope each of you will bring another new man or two with you to our March 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
573-680-2520
Future Events:
● 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)
● June 17, 2026 (Father Gabriel Landis, O.S.B., “Benedictine Spirituality”)
**Click on this link to register for the
3rd Annual “Heart of a Hero” Men’s Conference–April 10-11, 2026**
