News
July 1, 2019
Bishop’s message
As we prepare for the celebration of Independence Day on July 4, please join me in this prayer intention:
For the people of the United States of America; that we may hold fast to the Christian principles which guided the shaping of our country as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Por el pueblo de Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Para que podamos aferrarnos a los principios cristianos que guiaron y le dieron forma a nuestro país como una nación ante Dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos”.
You can find graphics for this prayer intention on our website.
Please note the Chancery will be closed Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, in honor of Independence Day.
The deadline is quickly approaching to finalize the schedule for the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation in 2019-2020. Attached is a form every parish needs to submit to schedule confirmation in the year ahead. This confirmation cycle marks the first year in our transition process to lower the age. Thus, there are several changes to the response form and age policy. In addition, I have approved three options by which parishes can choose to administer the sacrament during the three-year transition phase. Please read the cover letter carefully and complete the form at your earliest convenience. It is due in our Office of Youth Ministry no later than July 22. Finally, the attachment includes a “frequently asked questions” section intended to provide clarification on common questions that may arise. Please contact John DeLaporte with questions at 573-635-9127, ext. 233, or jdelaporte@diojeffcity.org.
As a reminder:
- Bishop’s prayer intention for July
- Breaking the Silence of Abuse – resources for bulletins and web. Also, please publicize upcoming Protecting God’s Children (Virtus) workshops.
Notices
Please consider printing this bulletin announcement or including the attached flyer:
Do you have a loved one or family member who is incarcerated? Are you looking for a safe, welcoming community? Kolbe Family Ministry is a support group designed to accompany family members on their journey. All are welcome, regardless of faith affiliation, as are children, although advance notice of children is encouraged. Meetings are confidential and there is no cost to you. Contact us at 573.635.7719, ext. 7, or kolbefamilyministry@gmail.com. KFM is a ministry of Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri.
Attention, new pastors, administrators and parish life collaborators: The IRS requires the completion of the attached Form 8822-B when there is a change in responsible party for business entities. If you are a new pastor, administrator or parish life collaborator of more than one parish, complete the form for each of your parishes.
To assist in your completion of this form, some areas of the latest form are check marked and other areas are highlighted to expedite completion. The address listed for the highlighted area will be the current parish address.
Your immediate attention to this form is requested as the form needs to be completed within 60 days of change in responsible party. The deadline is fast approaching. Send the completed form directly to the IRS at the address indicated.
If you have already completed this form, please disregard this notice. If you have any questions, you may contact Deacon Joe Braddock at cfo@diojeffcity.org or Kathy Smith at financeks@diojeffcity.org.
Effective today, July 1, the SupportLinc employee assistance program (EAP) will be available to all diocesan employees and their benefit-eligible family members (spouse and dependent children under age 26). For more information regarding this benefit, please view the SupportLinc Introduction Letter, which provides multiple ways to access the program including, but not limited to SupportLinc.com and 24/7 support at 1-888-881-5462, and the SupportLinc Orientation Video. These items, as well as a health blog, Wellbeing Place, can be found on the diocesan website under the Human Resources office. Monthly informational flyers will be updated on the Human Resources website page and on Paycor, under each employee’s account, in the Documents section. This benefit is free of charge and completely confidential.
Any priest interested in learning how to offer the extraordinary form of the Mass is invited to attend one of the training sessions offered by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter: http://www.fssptraining.org/ Due to generous donors, funding is available. Please contact Father Dylan Schrader at extraordinaryform@diojeffcity.org for details.
Congratulations to the staff of The Catholic Missourian for their second place aware from the Catholic Press Association of the US and Canada. Their good work was recognized in the category “Best Special Supplement – On a Bishop’s Transition!” The award was announced Friday evening at the annual Catholic Media Conference in St. Petersburg, FL.
Helias Catholic needs a wooden confessional for the St Pius X Chapel. The area which had been identified as a reconciliation room has been necessarily converted into storage. A portable and traditional confessional is being purchased to place in the back of the chapel. If a parish has such a confessional available, please contact Father Stephen Jones at frjones@heliascatholic.com.
As a reminder:
- Parishes are asked to publish in their bulletins the need for relief parents at St. Nicholas Academy. You can find the listing here.
- New job openings at the Chancery – please post!
- How to identify email and text scams.
Upcoming events
Please consider promoting these events in your bulletins, other print publications, on your website and in other digital sites. Please use the description in our online event page (links provided for each event) for your print products. You may find more events on our diocesan website.
Protecting God’s Children workshops
The Catholic Church in the United States is committed to providing safe environments in all of our ministries and activities, especially those involving children and youth. One aspect of our commitment is that anyone who works with minors in our parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations in the Diocese of Jefferson City receive training. For a full list of trainings currently available, please visit our Virtus site and select “Jefferson City, MO (Diocese),” or go to our Events page and filter by “Protecting God’s Children.”
Parishes are asked to use the following bulletin announcement or the attached flyer:
NFP AWARENESS WEEK KICK-OFF with a LIVE-THE-LOVE CELEBRATION at the Chancery on Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Curious about what the church teaches on contraception and natural family planning (also called NFP)? How are they different? And just how does Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae speak to us – clergy and laity alike – after 50 years of prophetic insight bearing down in Truth unfolding? With the Church facing serious crises around the world, a renewal of purity in all vocations is revitalizing today’s Catholics. Many feel alone and scared in today’s culture, making that leap of faith out of the wilderness of contraception …. And into the arms of Grace with NFP. Get answers to your questions and find fellowship with the NFP Family. Lunch provided, with great speakers, NFP faith witness and lots of time for networking and fellowship … all are Welcome! And this event is FREE to all. You can find registration at MidMoNFP.org or by contacting midmonfp@gmail.com. Register today!
CHRISTpower needs you! Please feel free to use this video to promote this wonderful camp for young people!
CHRISTpower is an authentically Catholic service retreat for high school students to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church where a safe environment is created for each retreatant to ask the question, “Who is God the Father creating me to become?” Retreatants are divided into teams. In the course of a week, each team goes to five different service sites. In the evening, everyone is brought back together where spectacular life nights filled with uplifting Christian music and activities allow the retreatants to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ, each other and themselves. Camp is at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City on July 14-20. For more information visit https://www.oymdiojeffcity.com/christpower.
Are you or a loved one suffering from abortion? Find hope and allow God to heal your heart by attending a Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat. The second of three 2019 retreats to be held in the Kansas City area will be on July 26-28. For more information or to register, please contact Teresa O’Donnell at (816) 679-4973, rvkcmo@gmail.com (please note: you might have to check your Spam folder for the guaranteed email reply) or www.rachelsvineyardkc.org.