Nearly 400 people traveled to Springfield's Calvary Cemetery on Memorial Day to attend an outdoor Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki in honor of the men and women in the military who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country.

Joining the bishop as concelebrants were Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general, and Fathers Jeff Grant, John Nolan and Thomas Donovan. Deacons Ben Hoefler and Roch Magerl assisted, with Father Daren Zehnle, master of ceremonies.

In his homily Bishop Paprocki read from the Memorial Day 2012 proclamation declared by President Barack Obama: "Today we join together in prayer for the fallen. We remember all who have borne the battle, whose devotion to duty has sustained our country and kept safe our heritage as free people in a free society."

"We find ourselves today at a strange crossroads," Bishop Paprocki said. "Encouraged by the president of the United States to pray for permanent peace in accord with our religious faith, while at the same time the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks to take away your free exercise of religion, that very freedom for which so many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines have given their lives to protect."

Cantors at Mass were James Greenwald and Lou Ann Reichle Mack. Music accompanists were: Jody Kienzler, organist; Fred Greenwald, trumpet; Paulette George and Emily Scheufele, flutes; and the Jubilate children's choir from Blessed Sacrament. Greg Fleck was lector.

Bagpippers Steve Scaife and Ray Kutz led the Mass procession and recessional followed by an honor guard of Knights of Columbus.

The complete text of Bishop Paprocki's homily is online here: www.dio.org/bishop/speeches-and-homilies.html.