News

15 June 2020


Bishop’s messages

Today, I am issuing a decree with updated instructions for parishes effective Tuesday, June 16, after Gov. Mike Parson lifted statewide regulations on June 15, leaving the determination of public health requirements to local governments. Important safety measures will continue to help protect congregants from infection and slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

The decree is on our website, in English and Spanish. Also, we’ve updated the resources on our public health page. As always, please let us know of other ways we can be of assistance.

Until Sept. 11, the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday or a holy day for all the faithful of the diocese and all who are present within the diocese’s territorial boundaries has been lifted.

However, the faithful are required to observe and participate in the Sunday or holy day liturgy either by participating in a Mass being livestreamed, or by praying and meditating on the readings of the Mass with the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. Parishes are highly encouraged to continue livestreaming Masses at least through Labor Day weekend.

People who are infected with COVID-19 are not permitted to enter church properties, in accordance with national, state and local health directives. All are asked to check their temperature at home before going to church.

Abiding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, people who are aged 65 or older or are at risk because of an underlying health issue are strongly encouraged not to attend public Masses where they may be exposed to the coronavirus due to crowds or lack of adherence to safety measures. Those who do come to churches for Mass and other activities are highly encouraged to practice social distancing, use face masks and otherwise observe measures for the common good.

Those who persist in their desire to receive Holy Communion on the tongue may do so but only after those who receive Holy Communion in the hand, or in a Communion line designated solely for Holy Communion on the tongue.



If you intend to come to the Chancery office in person, you must have an appointment in advance with the person you intend to meet. Please note the Chancery will be screening all guests with a health questionnaire and temperature check. This is for the safety of all.


NPM Virtual Convention

The 43rd annual convention of the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) will be held July 7-10 virtually. A full schedule, registration details and more are available at https://npm.org/43rd-annual-convention/. Click on this link for a preview of the format!


To share in emails, social media, and websites


Gathering Girlfriends for Grace

Please visit https://diojeffcity.org/womens-ministry-book-club-2/ for more information.

Women’s Ministry is offering a series of online book club discussions this summer. Please consider promoting these wonderful opportunities to be inspired and to grow friendships!

How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul, led by Erin Boeckmann, will be offered on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, June 23 – July 22. More information and registration are available at https://diojeffcity.org/blog/2020/05/15/how-to-find-your-soulmate-without-losing-your-soul/

All In: Why Belonging to the Catholic Church Matters will be led by Denise Barnes on (Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, June 24 – July 22. More information and registration are available at https://diojeffcity.org/blog/2020/05/18/all-in-why-belonging-to-the-catholic-church-matters/.

The Catholic Woman’s Guide to Making and Keeping Fabulous, Faith-filled Friends will be led by Whitney Lammers on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, July 8 – Aug. 8. More information and registration are available at https://diojeffcity.org/blog/2020/05/18/the-friendship-project-the-catholic-womans-guide-to-making-and-keeping-fabulous-faith-filled-friends/.


Connect your college-bound seniors with a Newman Center next year!

Newman Connection is an online resource to help high school seniors connect to the Newman Center serving their college campus. Newman Centers rely heavily on their affiliation with Newman Connection for support in evangelizing to the incoming class of students. Click here for digital materials for parishes and schools to use to help connect your seniors to a Newman Center next year.  Or, share this sign-up page with your high school seniors and they can sign themselves up to connect with a Newman Center at their college or university.


Stay-at-Home FertilityCare Instruction

FertilityCare Instruction continues to be offered by Zoom.  The Introductory Session is always complimentary and follow-up fees have been waived until June 1.  This class is of interest for marriage preparation, infertility, medical applications, regular or irregular cycles, breastfeeding and fertility appreciation from adolescence to menopause.  Contact FerilityCare of Columbia, Phyllis A. White, CFCE 816-550-8789 or FertilityCare.CoMo@gmail.com



Employment opportunities

There are several openings in our Catholic schools. Please promote these openings.

Annunciation Parish in California is seeking a director of religious education and youth ministry. For more information, visit https://diojeffcity.org/california-dre-youth-job-opening

Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri has an immediate opening for a Bilingual (English/Spanish) Disaster Case Manager.  Disaster Case Management is a time-limited process by which a skilled Disaster Case Manager partners with a disaster-affected individual or family (Client) in order to plan for and achieve realistic goals for recovery following a natural disaster (including COVID-19/Coronavirus). This comprehensive and holistic Disaster Case Management approach to recovery extends beyond providing relief, providing a service, or meeting urgent needs.For a full job description visit the Catholic Charities website at: https://cccnmo.diojeffcity.org/about-us/careers/.  To apply please submit cover letter and resume to Alissa Marlow, Director of Community Services.


Parishes are asked to use this form to send any updates of their parishioners: address changes, marriages, divorces, death, etc.


  • As of April 27, the Chancery is no longer using PO Box 104900.  Please address all correspondence to the street address 2207 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65109.  The Post Office will forward mail from the PO box to the street address for up to one year, but the forwarding process will slow your delivery. Please begin using the street address immediately.
  • Parishes are asked to publish in their bulletins the need for relief parents at St. Nicholas Academy. You can find the listing here.
  • Please consider posting this helpful information for your parishioners on how to identify email and text scams.
  • In the interest of time and accuracy, The Catholic Missourian has moved to a simple online process for submitting events for the Things to Do page. To have an event considered for publication in Things to Do and in the diocesan online events calendar, go to diojeffcity.org/event-listing and follow the directions. The process is straightforward and user-friendly. Events submitted for display advertising will be automatically included in Things to Do, as will items that have been previously submitted.

Resources during COVID-19

Please use the following html coding to link this graphic on your parish website:
<a href=” https://diojeffcity.org/public-health/”><img src=“URL OF THE IMAGE ON OUR SITE”></a>

All of our resources can be found at www.diojeffcity.org/public-health. Most are in Spanish and English. Remember, the most reliable source of information is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The diocesan website is now able to accept donations for all parishes in our diocese. If your parish does not have the capacity to receive online donations, please let your parishioners know about this option. They can donate using this URL: https://diojeffcity.org/support-parish/.

We can help parishes establish online giving forms which can be used on the parish website. Please email communication@diojeffcity.org to begin the conversation.


Please feel free to disseminate the information in the “Monday Morning Memo” to a broader audience, such as parishioners and school families! Is there someone else who should receive this Weekly Memo? Please encourage them to sign up here