About Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau (Latin: Dioecesis Campifontis–Capitis Girardeauensis) is a Latin-rite Catholic diocese covering the 39 counties of southern Missouri — the Ozarks and Bootheel — across more than 25,700 square miles. Erected by Pope Pius XII on August 24, 1956, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is served by two co-equal cathedrals: St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau. The diocese serves roughly 65,000 Catholics in 66 parishes, 17 missions, and 26 Catholic schools, and is world-famous for hosting Marian Days, the largest annual Vietnamese Catholic pilgrimage in the United States, held each summer in Carthage.
- Bishop
- Edward M. Rice
- Established
- 1956
- Cathedral
- St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, Missouri
- Territory
- All 39 counties of the southern third of Missouri — including the Ozarks, Lake of the Ozarks region, Branson, Joplin, Springfield, Cape Girardeau, and the Bootheel — covering 25,719 square miles.
- Parishes
- 66 parishes, 17 missions, 5 chapels, 1 Ordinariate parish
- Province
- Archdiocese of Saint Louis (Ecclesiastical Province of St. Louis)
History of the Diocese
The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau was erected by Pope Pius XII on August 24, 1956, taking territory from both the Archdiocese of St. Louis and the Diocese of Kansas City to form a new jurisdiction serving the 39 counties of southern Missouri. The diocese was canonically erected on July 2, 1956, with Auxiliary Bishop Charles H. Helmsing of St. Louis as its first ordinary. St. Agnes Church in Springfield was named the cathedral and St. Mary's in Cape Girardeau was named co-cathedral, creating a unique dual-seat structure that reflects the vast size of the territory. Over the past seven decades the diocese has grown from a sparsely Catholic rural mission territory into a diverse community serving roughly 65,000 Catholics in 66 parishes, 17 missions, 26 Catholic schools, and one Ordinariate parish.
- Erected August 24, 1956 (canonical erection July 2, 1956)
- First bishop: Charles H. Helmsing, installed November 28, 1956
- Two cathedrals from inception: St. Agnes (Springfield) and St. Mary of the Annunciation (Cape Girardeau)
- Oldest parish: Immaculate Conception, New Madrid (1789)
- Newest parish: St. Francis of Assisi, Nixa (2004)
Bishops — Then and Now
Since 1956 the diocese has had seven bishops, two of whom — William Baum and Bernard Law — were later raised to the College of Cardinals. The longest-serving ordinary was John J. Leibrecht, who shepherded the diocese for 23 years (1984–2008). The current bishop is Edward M. Rice, named by Pope Francis on April 26, 2016, and installed on June 1, 2016.
- Charles H. Helmsing (1956–1962)
- Ignatius J. Strecker (1962–1969)
- William Cardinal Baum (1970–1973)
- Bernard Cardinal Law (1973–1984)
- John J. Leibrecht (1984–2008)
- James V. Johnston Jr. (2008–2015)
- Edward M. Rice (2016–present)
Cathedral of St. Agnes (Springfield)
St. Agnes Cathedral is a Neoclassical brick church on the south side of Springfield, organized as a parish in 1908 and dedicated November 24, 1910 by Bishop Thomas F. Lillis. It was elevated to cathedral status in 1956 with the erection of the diocese. The building has been renovated several times, including a major 1986 renovation that added a chapel and replaced the original elementary school. Its 1954 Christmas Solemn High Mass was the first religious service televised from a Springfield church.
- Founded as a parish in 1908
- Dedicated November 24, 1910
- Neoclassical brick, Greek cross plan
- Rector: Rev. Lewis Hejna
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation (Cape Girardeau)
The co-cathedral stands on a long Catholic history in Cape Girardeau: the first Mass in the city was celebrated in 1825 by Fr. John Timon, and the first church was dedicated in 1833. The current cathedral was named co-cathedral the same day St. Agnes was named cathedral in 1956. The diocese built a new rectory in 1957, merged St. Vincent de Paul Parish in 1977, restored the steeple and installed a new pipe organ in 1990–1991, and completed a parish office in 2000. A 2022 basement fire caused roughly $20,000 in damage.
- Co-cathedral since 1956
- First Mass in Cape Girardeau: 1825 (Fr. John Timon)
- First church dedicated: 1833
- Steeple and organ restored 1990–1991
Marian Days & the Vietnamese Catholic Community
In 1975, amid the fall of Saigon, then-Bishop Bernard Law sponsored the resettlement of nearly 160 members of the Vietnamese Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix (now Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer / CRM) in Carthage, leasing them the former Our Lady of the Ozarks College campus for $1 per year. In gratitude, the community began Marian Days in 1978. The festival has grown from a one-day gathering of about 1,500 'boat people' into a three-day national pilgrimage drawing an estimated 60,000–70,000 Catholics each August — the largest Vietnamese Catholic gathering in the United States. The CRM campus in Carthage remains the spiritual and cultural home of the festival.
- Founded 1978, one year after the CRM's arrival
- Annual three-day event held late July / early August
- Held on the CRM campus in Carthage, Missouri
- Estimated 60,000–70,000 annual pilgrims
Office of Catholic Schools
Catholic education is described by the diocese as 'a major ministry in the life of the Church.' The Office of Schools, led by Superintendent Deacon Rob Huff, supports 23 elementary schools and 3 high schools that embrace the five essential marks of a Catholic school: supernatural vision, Christian anthropology, communion and community, a Catholic worldview throughout the curriculum, and Gospel witness. The diocese participates in the MOScholars program through the Bright Futures Fund, allowing taxpayers to direct up to half of their state income taxes to Catholic school scholarships.
- Superintendent: Deacon Rob Huff
- 23 elementary schools
- 3 high schools: Springfield Catholic High, Notre Dame Regional (Cape Girardeau), McAuley Catholic (Joplin)
- Participates in MOScholars / Bright Futures Fund
Office of Faith Formation
The Office of Faith Formation (Evangelization and Catechesis), under Director Sr. Janine Tran, CMR, supports catechetical leaders (CREs and DREs) across the diocese, providing curriculum recommendations, best-practice resources, and catechist formation. All parish religious education students and Catholic school students in grades K–12 receive two safe-environment lessons annually through Virtus. The office also administers free access to Franciscan at Home online faith-formation courses for every parish and school, funded by the Missouri State Knights of Columbus.
- Director: Sr. Janine Tran, CMR
- Supports parish and school catechetical ministry
- Free Franciscan at Home access for every parish and school
- Safe-environment lessons for K–12 annually
Diocesan Development Fund (DDF)
The Bishop's Annual Appeal, known as the Diocesan Development Fund (DDF), is the annual campaign that takes place the first weekend of May and supports the breadth of diocesan ministries. Funds raised underwrite offices including Vocations, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Faith Formation, Catholic Schools, the Diocesan Tribunal, Child and Youth Protection, Respect Life, Social Ministry, the Communications office, and the diocesan newspaper The Mirror.
- Campaign weekend: first weekend of May
- Contact: Kandice Riley, [email protected]
- Supports 30+ diocesan ministries
Parishes, Missions, and Deaneries
The diocese is divided into seven deaneries covering all 39 counties of southern Missouri. Within those deaneries, 66 parishes, 17 missions, and 5 chapels serve the faithful, alongside one Personal Ordinariate parish. Newer parishes — such as St. Francis of Assisi in Nixa (2004) — reflect population growth in the Springfield metro, while historic parishes like Immaculate Conception in New Madrid (1789) preserve the diocese's deep roots in the Bootheel.
- 7 deaneries
- 66 parishes, 17 missions, 5 chapels, 1 Ordinariate parish
- Historic parishes include Immaculate Conception, New Madrid (1789)
The Catholic Center (Chancery)
The Catholic Center, home of the diocesan chancery and the bishop's staff, is located at 601 S. Jefferson Avenue in Springfield, Missouri. The building formerly housed Springfield Catholic High School and was renovated in 1989 to provide space for the bishop and his staff in the areas of Administration, Education, Ministry, and Worship. The Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia is Very Reverend Shoby M. Chettiyath, JCL, and the Chancellor is Sarah Pittman.
- Address: 601 S. Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65806
- Phone: (417) 866-0841
- Renovated 1989 from former Springfield Catholic High School
- Vicar General: Very Rev. Shoby M. Chettiyath, JCL
Demographics & Cultural Diversity
Although the diocese covers more than 25,000 square miles — over a third of Missouri — Catholics are only about 5% of the regional population, which totals roughly 1.35 million (2010 census). The diocese has a growing Hispanic population served by an Office of Hispanic Ministry, a large Vietnamese Catholic community centered on Carthage, and a Personal Ordinariate presence for former Anglicans. Bishop Rice's 2016 installation Mass deliberately featured scripture proclaimed in Vietnamese, Spanish, and English to reflect this trilingual Catholic reality.
- Regional population: ~1.35 million (2010)
- Catholic share: ~5%
- Growing Hispanic Catholic population
- Vietnamese Catholic anchor in Carthage
