The Crux of the Matter - September 2025

Men of Signum Crucis, happy Memorial of the great Pope St. Gregory the Great.  Not to be repetitive, but he really was a great man. 

How so?  First, as the first Benedictine Pope, he took with him to the papacy the virtue of humility.  As Pope, St. Gregory the Great made a statement that he was the “servant of the servants of God” (servus servorum Dei).  Hmmmm.  Who are the servants of God?  We are.  Pope St. Gregory the Great made the point that the Pope is our servant, which is a very great and humble thing for the successor of St. Peter, the Pontifex Maximus, the Vicar of Christ, to say.  Needless to say, Pope St. Gregory the Great has set the standard for all popes to the current day.

Besides Gregory’s “reclassification” of the pontificate, he is known for liturgical reform and is considered the Patron Saint of Music.  And why not?  When liturgical chant is named after you (viz., Gregorian Chant), shouldn’t you be the Patron Saint of Music?  Pope St. Gregory the Great is considered to be one of the four great doctors of the Latin (Western) Church, and sent missionaries to England, starting the conversion of England to Catholicism.

Pope St. Gregory the Great, intercede for all of us that we too might strive for greatness (heaven), and, through your intercession, may our very humble Pope Leo XIV re-introduce the world to the greatness of God’s glory.

          We stand on the shoulders of so many saints.  Let’s take time to study their lives so that we, like them, will be an inspiration to others, lead others to Christ, and thereby might be deemed worthy of the eternal reward that Jesus earned for each of us.

          After all, we Men of Signum Crucis should do no less.

May God richly bless you!

 Annunciation Catholic School Tragedy

Men, as a recently retired Catholic school teacher, my heart was broken a week ago when I heard the sad news that two Catholic school children were killed in the shooting during Mass at their school in Minnesota, and many more were injured.  This was the first time that a shooting causing a fatality has occurred in a Catholic school in the United States.

Let us pray for an end to this senseless violence, and for a strengthening of families, which is needed to help turn the tide of depravity in our culture.

May we all redouble our efforts to be prayerful and worthy leaders in our families.

Ordination of Bishop-Elect Ralph B. O’Donnell

Men, Habemus Episcopum!!

Bishop-Elect Ralph B. O’Donnell will be ordained the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City on Tuesday, October 28, the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles.

Mark your calendars now for this very historic occasion.

I hope that many of you, especially any of you who are retired, will be able to attend, and help in some way that day.  I have offered the services of the Men of Signum Crucis to Diocesan staff as they begin to plan for the big day.  Here is a survey that you can complete to let me know that you likely would be able (and willing) to help in some way.  If we are asked to assist, I will pass along to those who have let me know via this survey what tasks and hours are needed, and you could select your specific service at that time.

Men of Signum Crucis Ad Hoc Service Committee

Men, our motto states that the Men of Signum Crucis is a “Fraternity through Study, Devotion, and Service.”

Men of Signum Crucis Service Ad Hoc Committee members Pete Clogston, Nick Dolson, and Mark Javersak have met to brainstorm and now prioritize projects for the Men of Signum Crucis.  The Committee initially developed a list of 20 projects, and by the time of our September gathering, we hope to prioritize the top five projects to begin soon.  I will present that list of five projects at the September gathering, and I hope that many men can find in that list of five at least one that appeals to them. 

Thanks to Pete, Nick, and Mark for stepping up to develop our list of service projects.

Mark your Calendars now

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

Tim Francis to Come to Mid-Missouri in September

Tim Francis, a well known speaker on the topics of Eucharistic Miracles and Marian Apparitions, will be back in mid-Missouri from September 20 through September 30.  Tim will be visiting several parishes in mid-Missouri, so you will have your pick of a convenient place and time.  The schedule for his presentations is as follows:

September 20 at 6:30 p.m.--Proto-Cathedral of St. Peter, Jefferson City

September 21 at 1:00 p.m.--St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Thomas

September 22 at 6:30 p.m.--Immaculate Conception, Jefferson City

September 23 at 6:30 p.m.--St. Martin, St. Martin

September 24 at 6:30 p.m.--Annunciation, California

September 25 at 6:30 p.m.--St. Andrew, Holts Summit

September 28 at 6:30 p.m.--Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City

September 29 at 6:30 p.m.--St. George, Linn

September 30 at 6:30 p.m.--St. Brendan, Mexico

Thanks to Man of Signum Crucis Norb Plassmeyer for his persistence in making the arrangements to have Tim Francis in our area.  I hope all Men of Signum Crucis can attend one of these events.

Help Needed at Ladies’ Night Out and Retreat

Men, as we have done in the past, we will provide registration table and kitchen help for the women of the diocese as they gather in Cana Hall for Ladies’ Night Out (October 17) and the Ladies’ Retreat (October 18).  The Ladies have been a huge help to us at our annual Heart of a Hero Men’s Conference in April the last two years.

I don’t have the exact times each day that we are needed, so the attached survey provides estimated time frames only–I or Barb Prasad will confirm more precise times later.  However, what I do know is that a total of 15 men are needed for that Friday evening (approximately two hour shifts), and 13 are needed for that Saturday (approximately two hour shifts).

Click on this link to access the survey through which you can let me know which shift(s) you think you will be able to fill on either October 17 or 18 (or both).

Thank you to the men who have helped in the past at these events, and who will help this year.

Thank You, Father Stephen Jones, Stephen Meystrik, Christy Trimble, and Chelsea Herman

Thank you to Father Stephen Jones, Stephen Meystrik, Christy Trimble, and Chelsea Herman for giving us the tour of the Cathedral on August 20.  The docent crew did an excellent job in their stations, giving us the opportunity to choose the area(s) we were most curious to learn more about.  The evening was very well attended, and I think that due to the large crowd we were exposed to just the tip of the iceberg.  To learn more about the Cathedral, click on the link that is embedded in the cover letter (email) to this newsletter to access the comprehensive tour guide.

Pray for Our Priests and Seminarians

Men, summer is just about over, and our seminarians have returned to their seminaries for study.  This also means that many of our priests have returned from a refreshing vacation (let’s hope it was refreshing!).

Now is a great time to thank your pastor for everything he does to make sure that your parish family is being well fed.  It is amazing to think of the work they must do, above and beyond the ultimate priority of bringing us the Sacraments–operating a school, facilitating many committees, overseeing large budgets, planning for capital improvements, etc.  I hope you will let them know how much you appreciate everything they do for your parish.

Let us also pray for our seminarians–our hope for the future.  Make sure when you see one, you let him know how much you appreciate that he is discerning a vocation that would feed the souls of our children (and us, too, perhaps….).  Pray especially for Justin Francka, a Man of Signum Crucis and now 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.

Kicking Off our Fourth Year at our Next Gathering on September 17!!

It is hard to believe that we have hosted 36 evenings of Study and/or Devotion over the past three years, and we will kick off our fourth year at our next gathering on September 17!  As always, our September gathering, as we kick off the beginning of each new year, is the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at St. Pius X Chapel at Helias Catholic High School.  Our Chaplain, Father Paul Clark, will be the Celebrant of the Mass.  I hope you can be there.

Mark your calendars now to join your fraternity of men for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on September 17.  Rosary begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel for those who can arrive early.

Let’s kick off our fourth year in style with the biggest crowd ever.

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 by God.

In Conclusion…

         I hope each of you will bring another new man or two with you to our September 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:       

●      September 17, 2025 (The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to mark the beginning of our fourth year!)

●      October 15, 2025 (Father Dan Merz, “Liturgy of the Hours”)

●      November 19, 2025 (Adoration, Benediction, and Confession in the Chapel)

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

●      January 21, 2026 (TBD)

●      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)

Mark your Calendars now

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