News
5 July 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
Grandparents Day
The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will be celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July, beginning this year on July 25. Pope Francis emphasized in his message that the Lord is always with us and always calling us to play a role in spreading the Gospel no matter our age. “I was called to become the Bishop of Rome when I had reached, so to speak, retirement age and thought I would not be doing anything new. The Lord is always – always – close to us. He is close to us with new possibilities, new ideas, new consolations, but always close to us. You know that the Lord is eternal; he never, ever goes into retirement.” The Dicastery for the Laity has created pastoral and liturgical resources in eight languages which parishes can use to celebrate the day.
Updates for Diocesan Directory
July 1 saw many changes for us: new pastors, a new coat of arms, new deaneries, and more. You can download a pdf with the changes to be made in our printed diocesan directory. Please note that these have already been made on our website and databases in the Chancery. If you see any errors, please email communication@diojeffcity.org with the correct information, or use one of our forms at https://diojeffcity.org/update-information/.
Important update: Marriage preparation process
Our new marriage preparation process is effective July 1. However, it is not expected that everyone must switch from what they were doing to this process on July 1.
We recommend the following steps: Check out the marriage preparation resources on our website the first week of July. Familiarize yourself with them, as well as with the other materials you received in your training. Then, meet with everyone involved in marriage preparation in your parish (the clergy and facilitators) to determine how you are going to work together. This might take some time but it is important.
Remember many priests and deacons have received new assignments and are moving to other parishes. Therefore, pastors, priests, and parish life collaborators should use prudential judgement and common sense regarding the transition time for the implementation of this new process in your parish. Do not hesitate to continue doing what you have been doing until you feel comfortable with the new process.
As noted in your training, everything you need will be in the ‘Marriage Preparation’ page under ‘Marriage Preparation Facilitator Resources’ on our diocesan website. Due to unexpected delays, which are not in our hands, most of what you need will be there on July 1. Everything else should be there in the middle of July.
Finally, if you are a priest or deacon who has not been trained, or if you are a priest who has lay facilitators to be trained, send their names and email address to Jamie at faithformation@diojeffcity.org. We will be offering more trainings in the near future.
This is a learning experience and time of transition for everyone. Let’s do our best and keep each other in prayer.
Diocesan Mission Collection July 17-18
The weekend of July 17-18 is our annual Diocesan Mission Collection. We currently have 15 priests serving in our diocese from countries in Africa and India. Each year, we take up a collection to support the mission office. The funds from the collection are used, in part, to help the dioceses that make a sacrifice by sharing their priest with our diocese. Other funds are used to support special projects in Latin America and the Philippines. Promotional graphics and Bishop McKnight’s letter (both English and Spanish) are available for download by the link below (click on the button and then click on the folder labeled Mission Collection 2021)
Videos for ongoing formation/education/training
ICYMI: Thursday’s webinar on online giving is now available for viewing on demand!
If you are working in parish administration, a deacon, a pastoral musician, involved in parish communication or just interested in any of these, consider checking out these 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.
- Parish administrators/secretaries: https://diojeffcity.org/policies-procedures-and-best-practices/
- Liturgical music: https://diojeffcity.org/liturgical-music/
- Communications: https://diojeffcity.org/communications/
Share in bulletins, emails, social media, and websites
This month we recognize St. Joseph as patron of travelers. This graphic and others are available by the link below.
Walk with Ease in Columbia Refugees Information Session Mentors needed Walk with Ease Jefferson City
Thinking about establishing or joining a Seven Sisters group? Perhaps these words will clarify the importance of the apostolate to the priests served by it: “I take great comfort in the prayers of these women for me. It is as if they are my spiritual support. So often action is required in the life of a priest where time allows only a hasty prayer. The prayer of my Seven Sisters gives me confidence that they are praying with and for me as difficult situations arise. They are a powerful force before God praying on my behalf!” ~Msgr. David Cox Visit SevenSistersApostolate.org for more information, or email SevenSistersJeffCity with questions.
Employment opportunities
The Diocese of Jefferson City is seeking an experienced Administrative Assistant to support the Director of Parish and Charitable Services. This position not only provides administrative support, but is closely aligned with direct ministry; therefore, the individual will need to have a good knowledge of the Catholic faith in order to be successful. In addition to excellent organizational and Microsoft office skills, the ideal candidate will need to be available for occasional evening and weekend work. We estimate this to be approximately 12 times a year. This is a full-time, year-round position. The Diocese of Jefferson City offers a comprehensive benefit package including paid holidays, paid vacation and sick days, group health, dental, and vision insurance, a flexible spending account and matching 403(b) retirement plan. Qualified candidates should apply on Indeed.com and complete the skills assessment.
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!