News
5 October 2020
Bishop’s messages
Catholic Stewardship Appeal 2021 launches
The Catholic Stewardship Appeal 2021 for our diocese is beginning. Materials for parishes will be available at the Priests’ Institute this week (or mailed to those not attending). The brochure (English and Spanish versions), poster, logo, bulletin inserts, Mass announcements, and prayer intentions may be found at www.diojeffcity.org/csa. The gold “Donate Now” button resides at the top right corner of every page on the website –www.diojeffcity.org. A letter from me to all registered households will mail Oct. 9. Should you have any questions or need additional materials, please contact the Development Office at development@diojeffcity.org or call the chancery.
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship continues to present to the Catholic faithful, and all those of good will, an up-to-date guide to help form consciences as they participate in the civil order and public life. You can obtain a copy here or order copies for your parish here. No bishop, priest, deacon, religious or lay ecclesial minister shall endorse or oppose a candidate in the name of the Church. Instead, we must assist the faithful to approach the election with a fully formed conscience. My full statement on this is online and is in the Oct. 2 issue of The Catholic Missourian. The diocese is providing social media graphics and messages on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts related to the election process which can be shared on parish and school accounts. For more information, please email us at communication@diojeffcity.org.
Bishop McKnight’s letter in pdf
Civilize It: A Call for Civility in the Era of Outrage
Our political discourse has become increasingly rancorous and bitter. Spend any time on social media or watching the news, and it is apparent that we are living in an era of outrage. The U.S. bishops began a campaign last year to restore civility to our public and political discourse called Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate. Join the Missouri Catholic Conference staff and newly-appointed Archbishop of St. Louis Mitchell Rozanski as they discuss civility and how it can lead to more respectful dialogue as we enter the remaining weeks of the 2020 election season in a podcast you can find at https://mocatholic.org/news-and-events/mcc-podcast.
Abiding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, the use of face masks upon entering the church, during the celebration of Mass except when in place in the pew, during the Communion procession, and upon leaving the church is required. If social distancing cannot be maintained in the pew, then the wearing of face masks is obligatory even in the pew. For more resources, visit https://diojeffcity.org/public-health/.
John DeLaporte resigns from diocesan staff
John DeLaporte, who has served as the diocesan director of youth ministry and religious education for four years, announced on Friday he is resigning from his position to accept employment at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia, effective Oct. 16. We wish him well in his ministry and are grateful for his contributions to our local church. A search process to fill the position will be announced in the near future.
Parish events may require policy update
If your parish is planning a Fall Festival that involves a beer garden or similar activity, be sure to reach out to Darla Veltrop with Winter-Dent to see if you need a Special Events policy to protect your parish. Darla.Veltrop@Winter-Dent.com or 573-634-2122, x1154.
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.
Share in bulletins, emails, social media, and websites
US bishops’ virtual Rosary
Join Catholics across the country praying the Rosary Oct. 7, 2 pm!
Forty Days for Life continues in Columbia
An estimated 43 babies have been saved from abortions in the fall campaign as 588 cities are praying across the nation for the end of abortion. At Columbia Planned Parenthood, 711 N Providence Rd, there have been two hopefuls who have been given help to make another choice besides abortion. The team invites you to spend an hour with Jesus these 40 days ending on Sunday, Nov. 1. The hours of prayer are 8 am to 6 pm daily and a team member will be there to greet you. You will not be alone. A closing rally dinner will be held on Nov. 14 at St Andrew in Holts Summit. You can schedule your time by visiting www.40daysforlife.com/columbiamo or call Kathy Forck at 573-821-5130.
Wardsville Walk For Life will be held Oct. 18 at St Stanislaus Church in Wardsville beginning after the 10:30 Mass. The 1.7 mile walk to Lion’s Club will conclude with an outdoors hotdog lunch. Proceeds benefit pro life organizations including Columbia 40 Days For Life, Missouri Right to Life, Vitae, Life Runners, Birthright, Pregnancy Help Center Jefferson City, and ProLife Across America. Information or to make donation: Donna Bernskoetter 573-680-1470.
Rosary Across America events
The annual Public Square Prayers and Rosary Across America will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, noon, at Hannah Cole Park at the corner of Main and Morgan in Boonville (rain location will be Ss. Peter and Paul church). Rallies will take place with an estimated one million people praying for the nation, peace, conversions, family, and God’s guidance. Call 660-621-2787 for information.
A peaceful Eucharistic procession will also be held in Jefferson City on Oct. 10, culminating in benediction and praying the Rosary on the grounds of the State Capitol. Led by Father Dylan Schrader, the Extraordinary Form Delegate for the Diocese of Jefferson City, along with the Latin Mass Schola, all people of good will are invited. More information at facebook.com/Oremus1010 and oremus1010@gmail.com.
Employment opportunities
St. Joseph in Fayette is hiring a part time DRE (Director of Religious Education) and community/campus outreach person. This person will be responsible to run our PSR, confirmation, and adult education programs. You will also need to have the skills to develop our electronic footprint (web page and social media), with a special focus on Central Methodist University students. All applicants must be Catholic and in good standing with the church. This position is 20 hours a week with starting pay $13.50 to $15.00 an hour, depending on qualifications. Contact Fr. Bill Peckman 573-338-0061.
Two administrative assistant positions are available at the Chancery and there are several openings in our Catholic schools. Please promote these openings.
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.
Preventing text and email scams
A scam has hit many parishes across the United States, as well as other faith communities. The Federal Trade Commission provided information on this scam in July 2019. The email or text purports to be from a person the target knows, such as one’s pastor, a parish staff member, the bishop or someone else from the Church. If the target responds to the fake email or text, the sender will follow up with a request for some sort of monetary assistance, often for gift cards, Google Play cards or iTune cards. Please read our post to learn how to prevent yourself or parishioners from falling prey to this scam.
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!