News

14 June 2021

June 14, 2021 |

Links to more information are available by clicking on words highlighted in blue or the gold buttons. Click on to open our folder with all graphics for use in parish print or digital resources.

Bishop’s messages

Co-Responsibility of Stewardship

Last week, I had the opportunity to reflect on how a spirituality of stewardship encourages co-responsibility, two themes of our diocesan pastoral plan. The conference organizers encouraged us to share the video – hope you enjoy!

US Conference of Catholic Bishops General Assembly

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will convene their June General Assembly in a virtual format this year in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both the general assembly and the press conference will be livestreamed on the USCCB website and may be accessed by going to: www.usccb.org/meetings. Please pray with me and my brother bishops as we discern together how to be faithful shepherds today. Livestreams will be as follows:

  • Wednesday, June 16:  1:30 – 3:00 PM CT
  • Thursday, June 17:      noon – 3:00 PM CT
  • Friday, June 18:          noon – 1:30 PM CT

Parish staff enrichment

All parish staff involved in administrative functions are invited to an orientation session hosted by the Moderator of the Curia on June 16, 10-11:30 am via Zoom. Learn about how you can ensure your parish is in compliance with church and civic laws, and how systems provided by the Chancery can help you in those tasks. If you have recommendations of topics for future sessions, please let us know by emailing mcuria@diojeffcity.org. You can join the June 16 session at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83875709598. Please be sure to identify yourself when you log in, so we can admit you to the meeting!

Nominees being sought for Diocesan Women’s Council

Throughout Scripture, we see how God placed women together in relationships to encourage one another and find a place of retreat. Just as God sent Mary to Elizabeth and Ruth to Naomi, He continues to place women together for mutual support, accountability, and friendship. We especially know that Christ-centered friendships are vital to our growth and endurance as Christians.

The Office of Women’s Ministry is in the process of forming a Women’s Ministry Council. This is not to be confused with the National Council of Catholic Women, but instead this will be a stand-alone Diocese of Jefferson City Women’s Council. In each of the five deaneries, women will come together two times a year. With a very organized agenda, we will discuss our hopes, vision and goals for the ministry. Our women representatives will help guide, direct and implement women’s ministry activities, programs and events within their respective parishes and deaneries.

As we become organized, we will focus our goals into an action plan which includes networking and sharing resources for women’s ministries. Each parish has an opportunity to be represented on the council by two women parishioners.

In particular, we need Spirit-led women who are strong in their Catholic faith, who have gifts of organization and hospitality and who will encourage other women to use the gifts God has given them to serve others. If you are interested in serving as a representative from your parish, please contact LeAnn Korsmeyer, director of Parish and Charitable Services, at lkorsmeyer@diojeffcity.org or 573-636-9127, ext. 222. A recommendation letter from your pastor is required to serve on the board.

Videos, videos and more videos

If you are a deacon, a pastoral musician, involved in parish communication or just interested in any of these, consider checking out three new video series available on our website (see links below) and on our Vimeo channel (https://vimeo.com/diojeffcity). All of these presentations are by priests and staff from our diocese and can be shared in your parish.

MCC from the Capitol

Please consider promoting MCC from the Capitol, a podcast produced by the Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC). In each episode of this podcast, host Tyler McClay, executive director of the MCC, looks at public policy issues from a Catholic perspective. Leaders and experts in different areas of policy and/or church teaching join the show as guests. A full list of the podcasts is available at https://mocatholic.org/news-and-events/mcc-podcast.

In the latest episode of MCC from the Capitol, MCC Executive Director Tyler McClay talks with Mary Hasson about the Equality Act and gender ideology. During this episode, Tyler and Mary discuss these very sensitive issues from a Catholic perspective, providing an understanding and a way forward for the faithful who may know someone struggling with gender confusion. Mary also weighs in on the Equality Act, and the impact it would have on religious organizations and individuals if it were to pass.

Share in bulletins, emails, social media, and websites

Breaking the Silence of Abuse

As a diocese, we are committed to breaking the silence of abuse. When someone is reporting abuse, we must acknowledge their pain and how difficult it is to talk about it. False allegations are very rare. Our initial response to someone who is disclosing abuse for the first time must be compassionate. For those who need to report abuse, encourage them to contact our Victims Assistance Coordinator, Jacqueline Baldwin, (573-694-3199) and to make use of the appropriate State of Missouri hotline or the Attorney General’s clergy abuse online form. All of this information is also on our website, under the ‘report abuse’ tab. For those who want information, or want you to convey a message to Bishop McKnight, please encourage them to write us at reportabuse@diojeffcity.org. Assure them every submission is read.

NOTE FOR parish communications personnel: More graphics which promote how people can access our safe environment resources are available via the following links: 12 bulletin graphics: 1 Column Ads | 2 Column Ads and 12 social media graphics

Bishop’s prayer intention for June

Ensemble Musician Training, Formation, and Retreat Opportunity 

A new program for ensemble musicians is being offered this year in the Cincinnati, Ohio area and is open to pastoral musicians from all locations. BFEFP is an experience geared toward ensemble musicians serving the church.  Musicians who sing, play guitar, piano, or obligato instruments in an ensemble are encouraged to participate. See  https://bfefp.com for more information and registration information. 

Our Year of St. Joseph continues with a series of graphics suitable for social media or print, which use quotes from Pope Francis’ “Patris Corde,” the document announcing the Year of St. Joseph. You can find all 14 graphics in the linked folder below. Or watch for them on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to share!

Catholic Disaster Preparedness Program

Disaster season is upon us! There is no better time to first plan and prepare your family to respond to a disaster. This three part series will look at how to help your family plan for a disaster, how to prepare your parish to respond to a disaster and how to share your gifts with your community. Please join us for this FREE training! Sessions are being held in person and via Zoom, beginning June 24, 28 and 29. For more details, see the graphics available by the link below, or contact Pamela Mallinckrodt at pmallinckrodt@cccnmo.org or 573-635-7719.

VOLUNTERS NEEDED: Mentors for refugee youth and young adults will meet weekly with their mentee (aged 15-24) during the ten weeks of summer between July-September, exact start date to be determined. Mentors will provide friendship and support to the mentee, doing activities of their choosing together, for example: visiting local parks, walking on trails, bike riding, visiting the library, and providing tutoring. Interested? Contact Amber Kemp at akemp@cccnmo.org or (573) 540-1122.

Employment opportunities

St. Thomas More Newman Center, Columbia, is hiring a Development Director. Established in 1963, Newman is a vibrant Catholic parish located adjacent to the University of Missouri (MU) campus. Newman serves 850 resident parishioner households with a full range of faith formation programs including a highly active campus ministry program that serves approximately 1,000 students at MU, Stephens College and Columbia College, all located in Columbia, Missouri.  The parish is looking for someone who is cheerful, enthusiastic, energetic, self-motivated, confident in their ability to ask for financial support and close philanthropic gifts, with a passion for building and maintaining strong relationships with both student and resident parishioners that will bear fruit in the form of philanthropic gifts to Newman. For more information visit www.comonewman.org.

The Chancery has an opening for a part-time Wellness Case Coordinator. The Wellness Case Coordinator serves as an advocate for priests and deacons within the Diocese of Jefferson City. This individual is responsible for educating priests and permanent deacons so that they can take care of their own health, and if needed, can act as an advocate and liaison between the priest/deacon and their medical provider(s). This is a part-time, virtual position with some travel within the diocese. The ideal candidate will be a RN, LPN or Nurse Case Manager with a Missouri state nursing license, or a social worker with healthcare experience. Candidates are encouraged to send a letter of interest and resume to HRDir@diojeffcity.org.

Helias Catholic High School is seeking an art instructor for the 2021-2022 school year. This individual will join a dynamic and Christ-centered team in forming “a community of saints and scholars for Christ.” The art instructor will plan and implement lessons for students in ninth through 12th grades. A successful candidate is a practicing Catholic in good standing who can minister to students regardless of subject area or a teacher who, consistent with the Mission of Helias Catholic High School, promotes and teaches the Catholic faith as reasonably determined by the principal. Applicants should hold the appropriate Missouri teaching certification or its equivalent. All interested persons should complete the application on the Jefferson City Diocesan website at: https://diojeffcity.org/blog/2019/06/17/employment-in-our-catholic-schools/ and contact the incoming Principal, Spencer Allen at sallen@heliascatholic.com.

St. Peter Catholic Church in Jefferson City is seeking an Organist/Director of Music and Liturgy. The primary functions of the Organist and Director of Music are to assure, direct and facilitate the continuous quality of the music ministry and to assist the Pastor in directing the liturgical functions at St. Peter Parish. For a detailed description please go to www.saintpeterjc.org/employment

Our Catholic schools are hiring! Go to diojeffcity.org/employment-in-our-catholic-schools/ to learn more!