Blog
13 March, 2023
“Join me in prayer for Pope Francis”
Bishop McKnight releases statement on Pope’s 10th anniversary
The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City has released the following statement as we mark the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s election to the papacy. He was elected by a papal conclave on March 13, 2013.
I invite the faithful of the Diocese of Jefferson City to join me in prayer for Pope Francis as we mark 10 years of his papacy. Pope Francis has embraced his call to be our teacher and pastor, emphasizing God’s mercy and calling us to look to our faith as a means to heal our painful divisions. By inviting us all into a synodal conversation, he has asked Catholics everywhere to open their hearts as we strive to understand and live out God’s plan for his church.
We are truly better together — always.
With prayer, let us move forward with our Holy Father. Learning from his leadership, may our parishes and our diocese grow toward a stronger communion, cultivating our faith and reflecting the beauty of God’s mercy.
Novena in honor of St. Joseph
Join us in prayer in preparation for the solemnity on March 20
Join Bishop McKnight in praying the novena in honor of St. Joseph in preparation for the solemnity on March 20. The prayer for this novena is also available here.
Ant: Saint Joseph, our protector, pray for us.
V. Behold, the faithful and wise servant.
R. Whom the Lord has placed over His household.
V. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, at the beginnings of our salvation, when Blessed Mary conceived your Son and brought Him forth into the world, You placed them under Saint Joseph’s watchful care. May his prayers help Your Church to be an equally faithful guardian of Your mysteries, and a sign of Christ to all humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
Easter Special Collection
Envelopes will be inserted in the March 31 issue of the Catholic Missourian
This Easter, the Diocese of Jefferson City is holding a special collection in support of retired priests and religious.
This important collection helps us give back to those who have dedicated their lives to sharing the good news of the Risen Christ. Donations given during this collection will support the Retirement Fund for Religious as well as retired priests in our diocese.
The diocese is providing special envelopes for this collection. They will be delivered to our faithful as an insert in the March 31 issue of the Catholic Missourian — however, parishioners aren’t required to use this envelope, they can use any Easter collection envelope.
Parishioners will be instructed to make checks out to their parish for this collection. Parishes can then deposit the proceeds locally — please do not send the envelopes directly to the Chancery. After Easter, parishes should then send one check to the diocese comprising the entire collection from that parish.
As we move forward with our diocesan-wide stewardship renewal, the Easter Special Collection will be one of just three annual special collections held in our parishes. The others are the Christmas special collection for our seminarians and infirm priests, and a collection in July in support of our missions.
Chancellor announces appointments
The following is the text of a recent announcement from Chancellor Ben Roodhouse of appointments made by Bishop McKnight:
I am pleased to announce that the Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City,
has recently made the following appointments to provide the most effective pastoral care of the
Diocese of Jefferson City:PRIESTS
MONSIGNOR ROBERT A. KURWICKI, appointed to the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities
of Central and Northern Missouri, effective 1 March 2023.LAITY
MRS. COLLEEN ABBOTT, appointed as the Southwest Deanery Representative on the Diocesan
Pastoral Council, effective 28 February 2023.
MR. PAT McKINZIE, appointed to the Board of Directors for the National Shrine of Mary Mother
of the Church, effective 28 February 2023.
MR. BENJAMIN H. ROODHOUSE, JD, JCL, appointed to the Board of Directors of Catholic
Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, effective 1 March 2023.
MR. MIKE KELLY, appointed as Vice Chairperson of the Diocesan Finance Council, effective 6
March 2023.
MR. GARY WILBERS, appointed as Chairperson of the Diocesan Finance Council, effective 6
March 2023.Mr. Benjamin Roodhouse, JD, JCL
Chancellor
Piano skills workshop for pastoral musicians
The Jefferson City chapter of the NPM is offering pastoral musicians a chance to enhance their piano skills during a workshop with Rick Reed. Reed has presented at national conventions and performed in several countries.
The workshop takes place 9 a.m. – noon on Saturday, April 15, at Sacred Heart School in Sedalia. Registration is $40 for NPM members and $50 for non-members, lunch is included. Class size is limited to 16, so register soon by emailing: jeffersoncitymo@npm.org.
St. Patrick’s Day — Decree of Dispensation Offered
Celebrating Catholics are encouraged to observe a suggested alternate penance
The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight has issued a decree dispensing the faithful from the obligation of abstinence from meat on the Memorial of St. Patrick, March 17. Please click here to read the full decree.
As stated in the decree, those who choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and take advantage of this dispensation are encouraged observe at least one of three alternative penances on that day: participate at Mass; participate in the devotion of the Stations of the Cross; or pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
Looking for a great fish fry?
The Diocese of Jefferson City events calendar is a great way to find Lenten fish fries — as well as many other types of activities all year round. Click here to see all upcoming fish fries and other events.
If you have something going on in your parish, make sure to submit it to our calendar!
Camp Registration is in Full Swing
This summer we have a full month of camp with new options for Camp Lolek.
- Camp Lolek Session 1 (Junior High Boys) May 29-June 2, 2023
- Camp Lolek Session 2 (Junior High Girls) June 5-9, 2023
- Camp Lolek Session 3 (Junior High Boys) June 11-13, 2023
- Camp Lolek Session 4 (Junior High Girls) June 15-17, 2023
- Camp Maccabee (High School Young Men) June 19-24, 2023
- Camp Siena (High School Young Women) June 25-30, 2023
Please help spread the word that Summer Camps registration is open. Flyers should be out soon!
For More information on Diocesan Summer Camps and to register click here: https://diojeffcity.org/youth-camps/
For Camps to be a success we need help from others:
For High Schoolers interested in Volunteering:
https://diojeffcity.org/camp-lolek-high-school-volunteers/
For Parishioners and Parents interested in Volunteering:
https://diojeffcity.org/adult-summer-camp-volunteers/
Due this week — Chrism Mass Holy Oils Requests
Attention all priests & PLCs: It is time to request your Holy Oils again for the upcoming Chrism Mass taking place at St. Andrews in Holts Summit on Tuesday, April 4th, at 10 a.m.
Please read the memo beside this post and follow the link within the memo — or click this direct link to the Chrism Mass Holy Oils Request Form 2023 — to request the sizes & quantities of Holy Oils you would like.
Electronic forms are due by March 15th. If you must mail it, please see the information in the memo and postmark it by March 10th.
Contact Jamie Schulte at faithformation@diojeffcity.org or 573-635-9127 ext. 226 for any comments, questions and/or concerns.
Lenten Pilgrimage of Healing
The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church is hosting a Lenten Pilgrimage of Healing on Thursday, March 30 beginning at 5 p.m. Pilgrims will have the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, available in both English and Spanish, before or after Mass; Mass will be at 5:30 p.m. and adoration and healing prayer will be offered following Mass.
Father Norbert Rappold, from the Diocese of Little Rock, will celebrate Mass and offer healing prayer and laying of hands. Father Rappold has said he has seen God move in miraculous ways through his devotion to Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother. He actively prays for healing in his parish, area hospital and nursing homes, at conferences, and at Healing Masses.
The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church is nestled within the Ozark hills of Missouri on 60 acres in Laurie, Missouri. It is adjacent to St. Patrick Parish at 176 Marian Dr., Laurie, MO 65037.
Colloquially known as the “Mothers’ Shrine,” the Shrine is dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church and to all mothers. The Shrine features an awe-inspiring 14-foot stainless steel sculpture of Mary, with her arms outstretched to welcome all to her embrace. The platform that holds the sculpture of Mary turns 360 degrees every four minutes to face all pilgrims as they enjoy our grounds.
Registration is not required for this event, and all are welcome and invited to come for healing and prayer. More information can be found at mothersshrine.com, or by calling 573-374-MARY (6279).
Account holders update
In April 2021, the Diocese of Jefferson City Fund began using Mateo software to track parish deposits and loans. Part of the functionality of the Mateo software is to generate monthly statements. Once a month is closed, statements are sent by email to all account holders.
An additional feature of Mateo is the ability for account holders to log in and download their statements and view balances at their convenience. There is also the ability to run a summary report for any period.
After the last meeting of the Diocese of Jefferson City Fund Trustees on January 26, it was determined to roll the functionality of account user access to all account holders. Each account will have the pastor or parish life collaborator assigned to the customer access for internal control purposes.
In addition, the pastor or parish administrator may assign an additional person to have access to the account in order to print statements and run reports. For example, the additional person could be the bookkeeper or finance council president who utilize the statements for parish reporting.
Please use this address https://diojeffcity.org/finance-office-deposit-loan-statements-form/ to complete the form for your account by April 15.
The Fund will send statements for February and March. Then, after May 5, each account holder will download the statements for April and following months as they become available.
Please email Kathy Smith (financeks@diojeffcity.org) with any questions.
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Quinceañera retreat information now available
Please post the following announcement for available Quineceañera retreats and post the graphics at the “Download Graphic” button below:
The 2023 Quinceanera Retreats are now available in the following parishes. Please contact your parish Quinceanera Team or Deacon Castro at ecastro@diojeffcity.org or 573-680-3650 for more information.
Por favor publiquen el siguiente gráfico y anuncio de los retiros de Quinceañera disponibles:
Los Retiros de Quinceañeras 2023 ya están disponibles en las siguientes parroquias. Comuníquese con el Equipo de Quinceañeras de su parroquia o con el Diácono Enrique Castro a ecastro@diojeffcity.org o al 573-680-3650 para obtener más información.
William H. Simon and John L. Warack Scholarship Application Process is OPEN
We are pleased to announce the opening of the application process for the William H. (Bill) Simon Scholarship and the John L. Warack Scholarship, and we hope you will promote this opportunity to your parish families and use this information for a bulletin announcement.
Applications are accepted through March 31, 2023. These scholarships are available to high school seniors or current college students with financial needs who commit to practicing their faith. The John L. Warack Scholarship is specifically for a student attending the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Scholarship eligibility and applications are available at diojeffcity.org/scholarships. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Hoogveld or Denise Barnes.
Our diocese is blessed to have families committed to the continuing education of our parish families. Please include the Simon and Warack families in your prayers.
Catholic Charities Annual Lenten Appeal
Support Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri’s Annual Lenten Appeal with a gift to help provide compassionate social services to those in need across our diocese. The Lenten Appeal is a wonderful opportunity to answer the call, as people of faith, to give alms this season. You can learn more about Catholic Charities, and give your secure gift online at cccnmo.diojeffcity.org/give.
Parish Secretaries and Bulletin Editors: Please consider using this graphic in your parish bulletins to help your parishioners become aware of the Annual Lenten Appeal and encourage support of our Catholic Charities agency.
The women of the Immaculata Club of Immaculate Conception Church in Jefferson City would like to invite ladies of all ages from your parish to a mini-retreat titled “Invitation to (W)holiness: Nurturing Body, Mind and Spirit as Women of Faith.” The event will be on Saturday, March 18 in Kertz Hall (the cafeteria space) of Immaculate Conception’s school building from 8:45 – noon and all are invited to start the morning together at the 8 a.m. Mass.
Attention all engaged couples, MPFs and pastors:
2023 Pre-Cana Conference dates & locations:
- March 11th @ Our Lady of Lourdes: 903 Bernadette Dr, Columbia, MO 65203
- June 17th @ Chancery Offices: 2207 W Main St, Jefferson City, MO 65109
- September 23rd @ St. Thomas More Newman Center: 602 Turner Ave, Columbia, MO 65201
2023 Engaged Encounter dates & location are to be determined.
NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference) Registration for Parishes is open. To lock in the cost of $650, Parishes must register with the number of registrants by March 15. For more info and to register click here: https://diojeffcity.org/national-catholic-youth-conference/
Employment opportunities
A Director of Youth Ministry is sought to create and direct an environment which leads the youth from Newman and Sacred Heart Parishes into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Church in coordination with youth ministry staff at Our Lady of Lourdes through tri-parish high school and middle school youth groups. Click here for more details.
The Diocese of Jefferson City is seeking a skilled and dynamic Executive Director to promote the work and mission of Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, this role provides leadership and program support, ensures fiscal responsibility, and represents the agency with partner organizations, parishes, and communities across the diocese. Strong candidates are mission-minded, understanding that all leadership responsibilities are performed in concert with the agency’s vision and Catholic social and moral teaching.
Catholic Charities responds to the needs of people in 38 counties regardless of faith, culture, or situation. This includes services in mental health, food security, health and nutrition education, Hispanic community support, disaster preparation and response, family reunification through immigration legal services, and resettlement of refugees. For more information, visit cccnmo.diojeffcity.org.
Catholic Charities offers a competitive compensation and benefit package, including medical, dental, vision, FSA, matching 403(b) retirement plan plus paid vacation and holidays. Applicants are encouraged to apply through our posting on Indeed.com or you can send your resume to hrdir@diojeffcity.org.
Holy Family Parish in Hannibal is seeking a Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister. Key responsibilities include:
- Assist the pastor in the responsibility for the Catholic faith formation for parish youth and adults
- Implements the Bishop’s confirmation preparation policy
- Organizes, schedules and oversees religious education in the parish
- Administers a formation program for catechists that leads to certification and tracks completion
- In cooperation with Diocesan Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister, orders approved textbooks, liturgy materials and other works that complement the religious education efforts of the parish
- Provides resources and programs for adult formation
A Bachelor’s degree in theology or religious education is preferred. The pastor is willing to consider either one (1) full-time candidate or possibly two (2) part-time individuals. Resumes can be sent directly to Fr. Alex Gabriel, Holy Family Parish, 218 S. Maple Avenue, Hannibal, MO 63401 or applicants can apply on Indeed.com.
We are now hiring for summer missionaries! These are paid summer jobs for graduating seniors in high school through college age. Please help spread the word and personally invite young adults that may be a great missionary. To access social media, bulletin and flyer please click here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aOiwUhL3qlNGa8M62MrWVpP6x8dP40K0?usp=sharing
St. Andrew Catholic School in Tipton has an opening for a junior high science and literature teacher. Part-time science and/or literature would be acceptable. All interested persons can contact the principal, Kara Higgins, at khiggins@saintandrewpirates.com.