Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is a Roman Catholic diocese
in Missouri
. It was founded on August 24, 1956. The current bishop is the Most Reverend James Vann Johnston, Jr.
, appointed January 24, 2008, and installed March 31, 2008.
The diocese was formed from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Diocese of Saint Joseph
. It consists of 39 primarily rural counties in the southern third of Missouri that include the urban areas of Springfield
(the diocese headquarters), Branson
, and Cape Girardeau
.
The diocese has two cathedrals: St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield and The Cathedral of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau. They are often referred to as co-cathedrals, but they are not. Two cathedrals were established because the eventual plan is to make each cathedral the seat of a separate diocese. However, this does not look to be coming to fruition in the near future.
population.
This region is mainly located in the Ozarks
and Bootheel
of Missouri, where Catholics make up about 5% of the total population. The religion of the Ozarks, in particular, is notably individualistic and conservative; a major Christian
denomination in the region is Pentecostalism
.
Each year, tens of thousands of Vietnamese American
Catholics converge on Carthage
, at the western end of the diocese, to participate in the Marian Days
celebration.
s of the diocese are:
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. It was founded on August 24, 1956. The current bishop is the Most Reverend James Vann Johnston, Jr.
James Vann Johnston, Jr.
James Vann Johnston, Jr. is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-Early life:...
, appointed January 24, 2008, and installed March 31, 2008.
The diocese was formed from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Diocese of Saint Joseph
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern part of the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on March 3, 1868, with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. Its first bishop was...
. It consists of 39 primarily rural counties in the southern third of Missouri that include the urban areas of Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
(the diocese headquarters), Branson
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
, and Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
.
The diocese has two cathedrals: St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield and The Cathedral of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau. They are often referred to as co-cathedrals, but they are not. Two cathedrals were established because the eventual plan is to make each cathedral the seat of a separate diocese. However, this does not look to be coming to fruition in the near future.
Demographics
The diocese includes 66 parishes, 19 missions, 2 chapels, and, as of a 2003 estimate, 63,179 Catholics. The diocese has an increasing HispanicHispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
population.
This region is mainly located in the Ozarks
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
and Bootheel
Bootheel
The Missouri Bootheel is the southeasternmost part of the state of Missouri, extending south of 36°30’ north latitude, so called because its shape in relation to the rest of the state resembles the heel of a boot. Strictly speaking, it is composed of the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, and Pemiscot...
of Missouri, where Catholics make up about 5% of the total population. The religion of the Ozarks, in particular, is notably individualistic and conservative; a major Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denomination in the region is Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
.
Each year, tens of thousands of Vietnamese American
Vietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
Catholics converge on Carthage
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
, at the western end of the diocese, to participate in the Marian Days
Marian Days
The Marian Days is the main festival and pilgrimage for Vietnamese American Roman Catholics. The annual event in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary has taken place the first weekend in August since 1978 on the campus of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix in Carthage, Missouri...
celebration.
Bishops
The past bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of the diocese are:
- Charles Herman HelmsingCharles Herman HelmsingThe Most Reverend Charles Herman Helmsing was an American Roman Catholic bishop.- History :...
(1956–1962) - Ignatius Jerome Strecker (1962–1969)
- William Wakefield Baum (1970–1973)
- Bernard Francis Law (1973–1984)
- John Joseph LeibrechtJohn Joseph LeibrechtJohn Joseph Leibrecht is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau from 1984 to 2008.-Early life and ministry:...
(1984–2008) - James Vann Johnston, Jr.James Vann Johnston, Jr.James Vann Johnston, Jr. is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-Early life:...
(2008–present)
High schools
- McAuley Catholic High SchoolMcAuley Catholic High School (Joplin, Missouri)McAuley Catholic High School is a private, parochial school in Joplin, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. It is a regional high school serving Joplin and the surrounding communities. McAuley is a 4 year high school with an enrollment of...
, Joplin - Notre Dame High SchoolNotre Dame High School (Cape Girardeau, Missouri)Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-Background:...
, Cape Girardeau - Springfield Catholic High SchoolSpringfield Catholic High School (Missouri)Springfield Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Springfield, Missouri, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.-Background:...
, Springfield