News
8 March 2021
Links to more information are available by clicking on words highlighted in blue.
Bishop’s messages
Updates on response to pandemic: Holy Week celebrations, vaccines
Last week I issued a decree with guidance for pastors in the celebration of Lent, Holy Week and the Easter Triduum which extends important safety measures to help protect people from infection and slow the spread of the coronavirus. The decree is also available in Spanish.
There has been some confusion regarding the moral implications of Catholics accepting the coronavirus vaccines. Please see my statement on this matter.
The Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has provided resources designed to support parish priests and staff in diocesan offices and health and social service agencies. You will find information about the COVID-19 vaccine for varied audiences, resources to support the preparation of homilies, relevant quotes from Pope Francis, links to useful information, and short messages for websites, parish bulletins or other media. A Family Guide to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is designed to help local communities and to counter misinformation.
Novena in honor of St. Joseph
Pope Francis has declared a year in honor of St. Joseph. As we indicated in January, we are observing a different attribute of St. Joseph each month. With his feast day March 19, we are offering a Novena in Honor of St. Joseph, which will highlight some of our parishes with his patronage, and and is intended to allow families to participate at home.
The novena and other resources (such as creating a St. Joseph altar in your home) are available at diojeffcity.org/year-st-joseph. We have seven parishes creating videos of people praying the novena, which will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and at diojeffcity.org/year-st-joseph. If you use any of these social media channels, be sure you are following DioJeffCity!
Catholic Relief Services collection
The Catholic Relief Services collection is taken up March 13-14 in our diocese. Funds from this Collection provide food to the hungry, support displaced refugees, and bring Christ’s love and mercy to vulnerable people here and abroad. Bishop McKnight’s letter in support of this collection are linked below. All other promotional material, in English and Spanish, is available at the USCCB website.
Parish staff orientation
All parish staff involved in administrative functions are invited to an orientation session hosted by the Chancellor and diocesan offices of Hispanic Ministry and Communications on Tuesday, March 23, 10 am to 1:30 pm (30 minute lunch break) via Zoom. Topics will include sacramental record keeping, letters of good standing, matters concerning Hispanic parishioners, updating parishioners’ contact information, online giving and parish websites. If you have recommendations of topics for future sessions, please let us know by emailing communication@diojeffcity.org. You can join the March 23 session at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87414860406. Please be sure to identify yourself when you log in, so we can admit you to the meeting!
Survey for resources supporting newly-married
As you are aware, one of the components of the new Marriage Preparation Policy for our diocese is FOLLOW-UP. Marriage preparation facilitators and parishes will be contacting newly married couples to offer support.
As we compile the resources for this follow-up, we ask for your input, since you are constantly in contact and working with couples and know about their struggles and needs. Therefore, your input will enlighten and serve as a guide as we work on the selection of resources to enrich marriages in our parishes.
Please help us by taking a few minutes to answer six questions, as soon as possible and no later than March 15. The link is available here.
NPM meeting March 11 – advance registration required
The diocesan chapter of NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians) will hold its annual membership meeting on Thursday, March 11, 6:30 pm. This meeting is for all pastoral musicians of the diocese.
Topics to be discussed:
– Status of the chapter
– Restructuring of National and the implications for our chapter
– Chapter needs: What can we do for you? We exist to support the diocese’s pastoral musicians in your music for your parish.
Registration required. Email npmjeffcitydio@gmail.com to register or with any questions.
Marriage preparation training
Our new marriage preparation policies, which becomes effective July 1, require training of all priests, deacons and lay marriage preparation facilitators. If you are a pastor, in addition to participating in the training yourself, you should also invite qualified lay people to serve as marriage preparation facilitators. You will find information on the qualities needed for these lay facilitators, how many are needed, and more in the Guidelines for Selection and Training of Marriage Preparation Facilitators available at this link.
All priests, deacons and invited laity should register for a training BEFORE MARCH 21 by using an online form. There are separate trainings for priests, deacons and lay people, with in person and online options for all. Please request the link for the form from faithformation@diojeffcity.org.
The only charge to the parishes is $50 per lay individual/couple. All costs for priests and deacons are being covered by the diocese. You can find more details in the guidelines, mentioned above. Thank you for your kind attention to this important training.
The Liturgical Commission is asking each parish to complete a Survey of Musical Information in order to have updated and accurate information on our inventory and needs for musical instruments in the diocese. We appreciate your attention to this matter by March 16.
New Chancery staff
We are delighted to welcome our new staff:
- Karen Burton, who will be a Payroll Specialist working in the Human Resources department, starting March 8.
- Andrea Holtmeyer will be the new administrative assistant for Msgr. Robert Kurwicki, vicar general, and Father Jason Doke, moderator of the curia, starting March 15.
- Stacy Downard will be the new administrative assistant for Development and Stewardship, starting March 15.
Catholic Missourian subscriptions
As a reminder, parishes are no longer charged for subscriptions to the Catholic Missourian. Staff are encouraged to send any updates of new parishioners, address changes, marriages, divorces, deaths, etc., as they receive these by using this online form. This includes new families in your Catholic school! Please consider bookmarking this form on your desktop and including this in your workflow when you receive updates on your parishioners! If you have any questions, please contact Denise Barnes.
Music licensing requirements
Parishes using the OneLicense group agreement are reminded they are required to report all music usage, both on the Internet and in print, each week. Reporting is easy via their online tools and ensures composers and artists are compensated for their music. For more information, view ONE License’s tutorial videos on reporting.
Please also ensure you provide credit with each use of the music, whether in print or online. You can follow this fomat:
Words: John Doe, © 1988 ABC Music Co.; Music: Jane Doe, © 1990 XYZ Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-xxxxxxx. All rights reserved.
Share in bulletins, emails, social media, and websites
Scholarships available
Applications for the 2021-2022 Simon Scholarship are being accepted through March 31, 2021. Applications can be acquired through the pastor or parish life collaborator or may be downloaded at diojeffcity.org/scholarship.
Employment opportunities
Annunciation Catholic Church, California, Missouri is seeking a financial bookkeeper/secretary. Depending upon hours worked, there is a benefit package available. If interested, please send a resume to Annunciation Catholic Church, 301 South Mill Street. California, Missouri 65018 or respond to Algabri567@gmail.com . The perfect candidate would be proficient in Word, Excel and willing to learn the parish financial computer program. Training would be provided. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance.
The Diocese of Jefferson City is seeking a maintenance worker for its Chancery building, located at 2207 West Main St, Jefferson City. The successful candidate will have at least five years of custodial experience, experience with grounds maintenance, electrical and plumbing repair, hardware, painting, and building maintenance. For more information, visit diojeffcity.org/employment.
Two administrative assistant positions are available at the Chancery and there are several openings in our Catholic schools. Please promote these openings.
The Diocese of Jefferson City is seeking a Director of Religious Education and Youth/Young Adult Ministry administer the curriculum approval process within the Diocese of Jefferson City for parish based religious education. He/she will provide direct support for and development of parish-based young adult leaders and youth ministers in the outreach, evangelization, faith formation and pastoral care of their youth. For more information, visit diojeffcity.org/employment.
