About St. Agnes · Springfield, Missouri
St. Agnes Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau, located in Springfield, Missouri at 533 South Jefferson Avenue. Founded in 1908 as a south-side parish and dedicated on November 24, 1910, it was elevated to co-cathedral status in 1956 when Pope Pius XII created the new diocese. The parish is a Neoclassical-style brick church that serves the local Catholic community with daily and Sunday Masses (including a Vietnamese/English bilingual Mass), a parish school, faith formation programs, and a long-running food pantry known as the Well of Life.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Agnes (Agnes of Rome)
- Rector
- Rev. Lewis E. Hejna
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
St. Agnes Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau and welcomes a diverse community of worshippers, offering Mass in English and a bilingual Vietnamese/English Mass every Sunday, weekday Mass, and Monday Eucharistic Adoration from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The parish is a hub of ministry and service, with a well-attended OCIA (RCIA) program, a parish school of religion for K–8, a children's liturgy of the Word, a youth ministry, music and bell choirs, and an extensive care-and-outreach network that includes the Well of Life food pantry and ministry to the sick and homebound. Active liturgical, volunteer, and parish-life committees invite parishioners of all ages to participate, making the cathedral a vibrant and welcoming spiritual home.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 4:45–5:20 PM (Chapel Reconciliation Room)
- Friday 4:45–5:20 PM (Chapel Reconciliation Room)
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM (Chapel Reconciliation Room)
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel; Rosary at 5:00 PM, followed by 5:30 PM Mass)
History of St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes traces its roots to 1866, when Father Graham celebrated Springfield's first Catholic Mass in the home of William Dailey at the invitation of Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick of St. Louis. The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad's arrival in the 1870s brought Catholic German and Irish workers, but its tracks also split the city, prompting south-side parents to open a school (staffed by the Sisters of Loretto) in 1906. In 1908, Bishop John Joseph Hogan of Kansas City approved the creation of a new parish at the petition of 100 Springfield Catholics; the first pastor, Rev. Dennis J. O'Driscoll, arrived September 18, 1908, and the new brick church was dedicated by Bishop Thomas F. Lillis on November 24, 1910, at a cost of $27,850. On August 24, 1956, Pope Pius XII created the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau, and St. Agnes was elevated to co-cathedral with the Church of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau; Bishop Charles H. Helmsing was installed at St. Agnes on November 28, 1956. The parish's history is broken into five chronological sections in the cathedral's display, with a sixth panel added in 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of the elevation to cathedral.
- Founded 1908; dedicated November 24, 1910
- Co-cathedral since August 24, 1956 (Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau)
- 1921 stained-glass windows by Stanley Uthwatt and Bernard Schahuber
- 1935 basement fire; concrete floor installed
- 1954 first televised religious service from a Springfield church
- 1958 present elementary school built; 1986 chapel added and old school torn down
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) is open to children in grades K–8 and meets on Sunday mornings from 10:00–11:00 AM in the parish school. The program uses curriculum approved by the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau and prepares children to receive Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Confirmation classes for 8th graders and above are held in the school library, and a Special Needs Class, taught by a certified instructor, is offered at the same time. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered to preschool through 2nd grade during the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass.
- Parish School of Religion (K–8): Sundays 10:00–11:00 AM
- Confirmation preparation for 8th grade and above
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (preschool–2nd grade)
- Special Needs Class for children and adults
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's process for adults and children who have never been baptized, or who were baptized in another Christian faith, and who wish to join the Catholic Church. The four-stage process — Inquiry, Catechumenate, Election, and Mystagogia — begins in September and concludes at the Easter Vigil, with ongoing reflection afterward. Those interested are encouraged to contact Fr. Lewis Hejna before September to fill out an application and have an initial conversation about their journey.
- Four-stage process: Inquiry → Catechumenate → Period of the Elect → Mystagogia
- Annual program runs September through mid-May
- Rite of Election at the cathedral with the bishop; reception of sacraments at the Easter Vigil
St. Agnes Elementary School
St. Agnes Elementary School has educated students at the parish site since 1910, when the Sisters of Loretto moved their original 1906 school into the new parish property. The present elementary school building was constructed in 1958; the old elementary building was torn down in 1986, when the cathedral's major renovation added the St. Agnes Chapel. The school is part of the broader Springfield Catholic Schools system.
- Principal: Paige Duda
- Phone: (417) 866-5038
- Website: www.springfieldcatholicschools.org
- Building opened 1958; old school replaced 1986
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Liturgical ministers enrich the cathedral's liturgies and include altar servers (4th grade and older), lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (including those who bring Communion to the homebound, nursing homes, and hospitals), and the Altar Society/Sacristans who care for vessels, vestments, linens, and seasonal decorations. The Music Ministry is led by Cathedral Music Director Kevin Otradovec and includes the Cathedral Choir, the Bell Choir, and the Youth Choir (directed by Ryan Villapiano).
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans
- Cathedral Choir, Bell Choir, Youth Choir
- Music Director: Kevin Otradovec
- Bell Choir / Youth Choir Director: Ryan Villapiano
Care, Outreach, and the Well of Life
St. Agnes maintains an extensive network of pastoral care and outreach programs coordinated by Sr. Catherine Kulangara, Coordinator of Care Ministry. Trained extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist regularly bring the sacrament to nursing homes, the homebound, and the hospitalized. The parish hosts a bereavement dinner for the families of deceased parishioners and operates the Card Outreach ministry for nursing-home and homebound members. The Well of Life Resource Center, the parish food pantry, and the Voice for Life pro-life ministry are both projects of Christian Outreach, Inc. (CCCO), an ecumenical partner organization of the parish.
- Well of Life food pantry — 418 S. Campbell Ave., hours 10 AM–2 PM Mon/Wed/Fri, phone (417) 869-2865
- Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
- Funeral Dinners and Bereavement Cards
- Card Outreach and Prayer Line
- Voice for Life (pro-life)
Prayer Opportunities & Devotions
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, the parish offers several ongoing devotional opportunities. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed every Monday in the west-end chapel, and the parish Prayer Line connects members by phone or email to pray for specific intentions. During Lent, the parish and school walk the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. In October, the parish hosts a Seniors Day of Recollection featuring Mass, the Anointing of the Sick, a guest speaker, and lunch.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Mondays 9:00 AM–5:30 PM
- Stations of the Cross — Lenten Fridays, 2:30–3:00 PM and 7:00–7:30 PM
- Prayer Line — phone and email intentions
- Seniors Day of Recollection — October
Sacraments at the Cathedral
St. Agnes prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments in accord with diocesan policy. Parents requesting Baptism contact the parish office; first-time parents attend a preparation class. Couples planning Marriage must contact the parish at least twelve months in advance, complete Pre-Cana, and provide recent Baptismal Certificates and a letter of permission if not registered in the parish. First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick are also celebrated at the parish, with the Anointing of the Sick offered especially at the October Seniors Day of Recollection.
- Baptism: contact parish office; class for first-time parents
- Marriage: 12 months in advance; Pre-Cana required
- First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, Confirmation: through PSR
- Anointing of the Sick: at the Seniors Day of Recollection and on request
Get Involved — Volunteer & Parish Life
Parish life at St. Agnes is sustained by a large and varied corps of volunteers. Practical volunteer teams count collections, fold bulletins, maintain the buildings and grounds, decorate for the liturgical seasons, and clean the church. Hospitality ministries — especially the Greeters — welcome visitors at every weekend Mass, following Bishop Edward Rice's reminder that 'vibrant parishes are welcoming parishes.' The 'I Love My Parish' Strategic Planning Committee, open to all registered parishioners, meets on the first or second Sunday after 8:30 AM Mass in the school to discern ways to keep the parish thriving.
- Greeters, Money Counters, Mailing Crew, Office Volunteers
- Cleaning, Decorating, Facility Care, Parish Go-fers
- 'I Love My Parish' Strategic Planning Committee
Visit — Directions and Contact
St. Agnes Cathedral is located at 533 South Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65806. Jefferson Avenue is a one-way southbound street. The Parish Office is open by phone at (417) 831-3565 (fax 417-865-0367); emails may be sent to [email protected] for general office matters or [email protected] for the finance office. The school office can be reached at (417) 866-5038 and the Well of Life food pantry at (417) 869-2865. The full schedule of Masses, Reconciliation, Adoration, and special liturgies is published on the parish website.
- Address: 533 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield, MO 65806
- Parish Office: (417) 831-3565
- School: (417) 866-5038
- Well of Life pantry: (417) 869-2865
- Website: www.sta-cathedral.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dennis J. O'Driscoll1908
First pastor; arrived September 18, 1908
- Rev. John M. Sheridan1908–1921
- Rev. Patrick J. Downey1921–1922
- Rev. L. Curtis Tiernan1922–1928
- Rev. Robert F. Hayes1928
- Rev. Frank D. McCardle1928–1931
- Rev. Charles A. Dibbins1931–1935
- Rev. James J. Hally1935–1937
- Rev. Paul D. Dunn1937–1944
- Msgr. Valentine A. Schroeger1944–1966
First monsignor; served through the 1956 elevation to cathedral
- Msgr. John H. Westhues1966–1978
- Msgr. Sylvester H. Bauer1978–1981
- Msgr. Thomas E. Reidy1981–1992
- Rev. Thomas P. Kiefer1992–2003
- Rev. Mike McDevitt2003–2014
- Rev. Lewis Hejna2014–present
Current Rector
