1. The Diocese of Springfield-Cape
Girardeau
By Father Jeff Fasching

2. Introduction
• Ordained a Catholic Priest in his early
30s, Father Jeff Fasching brings to his calling a
broad range of experience in the world. He
serves as chaplain and minister of sacraments
for five local hospitals. Currently responsible for
the spiritual leadership of the Latin Mass
community in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau
diocese, Father Jeff Fasching is the only priest in
the diocese who celebrates the Mass in both
Latin and English on a regular basis.

3. About the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Louisiana
• What is now the state of Missouri was part of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Louisiana until the 1826
establishment of the See of St. Louis. The state grew
more populous following the discovery of rich lead
deposits, and the organization of the Catholic
Church grew and changed with its people. The
Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau was created
in 1956 as part of these changes. Its patron saints
are St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, whose feast day is
November 18, and St. Pius X, the church’s 259th
Pope, whose feast day is August 21.

4. About Cape Girardeau
• In a departure from the practice of a diocese
having a single cathedral as the bishop’s seat, it
has two cathedrals, St. Agnes in Springfield and
St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau.
This is said to be a reflection of the church’s
ultimate objective of centering a separate
diocese on Cape Girardeau.

5. Conclusion
• The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
includes the 39 counties in Missouri’s southern
region, about a third of the state. About 66,000
Catholics live within the diocese, in 66 parishes.
The oldest parish, established in 1789, is the
Immaculate Conception Parish in New
Madrid, and the newest, founded in 2004, is the
St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Nixa. The Diocese
is active in numerous areas, helping its
parishioners lead quality lives while providing
them with spiritual counsel and guidance.