Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church | Joplin MO

The Most Reverend Edward Matthew Rice was born on July 28, 1960, in St. Louis, Missouri. The son of John L. and Helen (Madden) Rice, both deceased, Bishop Rice comes from a family of 10 children (7 boys, 3 girls).

Bishop Rice attended Catholic grade school and high school in St. Louis. He graduated from Cardinal Glennon College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis in 1987 with a Master of Divinity. Bishop Rice was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on May 3, 1986. He was ordained to the Priesthood on Jan. 3, 1987, in the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis. On July 2, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him with the title “Monsignor.”

Bishop Rice taught religion at St. Mary High School in St. Louis and served in several parishes within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He was the Director of Cardinal Glennon College Seminary in St. Louis from 1996-2000.

The episcopal consecration of Bishop Rice as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis was on Jan. 13, 2011. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served on the Archbishop’s Committee for Eucharistic Renewal, as the Spiritual Moderator for the Legion of 1,000 Adorers, the USCCB Committee for Catholic Education, and he is on the Board of Directors for Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.

Pope Francis appointed the Most Rev. Edward M. Rice as Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on April 26, 2016. His installation was on June 1, 2016, in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Springfield, MO.

Bishop Rice prays the rosary daily and is devoted to Eucharistic Adoration.

Episcopal Motto

For his motto, His Excellency Bishop Rice has selected the Latin phrase “VENITE ET VIDEBITIS.” The phrase is taken from the Gospel of John, Chapter 1:39, the call of the first disciples, Andrew and John. When they ask Our Lord where he is staying Jesus responds, “Come, and you will see.” The verse was chosen to recognize His Excellency’s seminary and vocation work and to highlight the call of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI for a time of “new evangelization” in the Church.

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