News

4 March 2024

March 4, 2024 | Monday Memo

Synodal listening session

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent special listening session for the Synod on Synodality and our Shaping Our Future Together diocesan planning process.

Even if you missed the listening session, you can still share your thoughts with us. We will continue to accept written responses to the two prompts through March 5.

Click here to see the prompts and learn how to submit your responses.

You can also watch highlights from our recent diocesan Synodal listening session on Feb. 27, including remarks from Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

Decline to Sign

New bulletin graphics are now available to help protect life in Missouri. Parishes are asked to also promote resources to help pregnant women alongside these graphics.

Applications requested to serve on new Diocesan Youth Council

We are excited to introduce our Diocesan Youth Council which was established by Bishop McKnight on Friday, February 16, 2024. We need your help in spreading the word!

The vision for the Diocesan Youth Council is based off Christus Vivit, allowing for a place for young voices to be heard while also equipping the young people to be disciples in our Church.

Qualifications to Serve on the Council

A person must meet the following requirements:

Be a Catholic in full communion with the Catholic Church
Received all the sacraments of initiation and be an active steward of the parish
Must be outstanding in firm faith, good morals, and prudence
High school student at the time of their application and can commit to at least 1 term (2 years)
(preferred) Active or previous leadership experience in their parish and/or institution

Expectations of Members

A member of the council is required to commit to the following:

Attend quarterly meetings in person at the chancery building in Jefferson City. Meetings are always on Saturdays
- The first Diocesan Youth Council meeting will be May 11 from 9am-2:30pm. This will include a morning of recollection
Attend a yearly leadership retreat with the Diocesan Youth Council
Participate in leadership opportunities at a minimum of one diocesan youth gathering (i.e. diocesan youth rally, NCYC, summer camps, Totus Tuus, Confirmation Retreat)

Deadline for Application is April 5 and will be announced by April 19, 2024.

Application can be accessed on the website: https://diojeffcity.org/youth-council/.

To read more about the Diocesan Youth Council, the signed Statutes are available here.

Join us for Chrism Mass

All are invited to the Diocesan Chrism Mass on March 26, 3 p.m., at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Please use the provided graphics to encourage the faithful in your parish to join us for this special annual liturgy. Refreshments will be available in Cana Hall after the Chrism Mass and RSVPs are requested to provide an approximate count for the reception.

Holy Oil Request Form for Priests and Parishes

This year the Chrism Mass is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City.

In order to provide the necessary supply of Holy Oil for each priest and each parish, we ask that ALL priests and parish life collaborators complete the online Holy Oil Request Form no later than Wednesday, March 6^th. If you are responsible for multiple locations, please submit a separate form for each location.

The Holy Oils are to be renewed annually and it is not permitted to dilute the blessed oil. While priests have authorization to bless the Oil of the Sick (prayers found in the Rite of Anointing the Sick) and the Oil of Catechumens (prayers found in the Sacramentary), the Oil of Sacred Chrism must be consecrated by the Bishop.

Women’s Ministry Walking Together Newsletter

The March Women’s Ministry Walking Together Newsletter is out. Don’t miss this month’s edition. Our Spring book club titles are revealed along with additional information on our upcoming Spring Pilgrimage on April 6th.

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will be present in the Diocese of Jefferson City from July 1-5. A media kit is now available to begin promoting this special event in your parish. Please watch for more information and details about this exciting event coming soon. The latest updates can be found by clicking here.

OCP Parish Grants Program

Since 2001, the OCP Parish Grants Program has donated more than $3.45 million to parishes seeking to enhance their worship experience.

The Parish Grants Program is open to all Roman Catholic parishes and campus ministries (that can demonstrate a consistent Mass schedule throughout the year) in the U.S. and within U.S. territories. Applicants do not have to use an OCP worship program to qualify – only those parishes that received a 2023 Parish Grant are ineligible to apply.

Awarded grants must be used for liturgical and/or musical purposes. Common uses include: purchasing new music and worship resources, repairing or replacing musical instruments, attending or hosting conferences and workshops, improving multicultural ministries through training or purchasing bilingual resources, and more.

2024 applications

Applications for 2024 OCP Parish Grants are being accepted now through May 30, 2024. To apply, a parish representative simply needs to fill out an online application at ocp.org/parish-grants. Grant recipients will be announced in August. For more information, please visit ocp.org/parish-grants.

Scholarships offered to attend convention for liturgical musicians

The NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians) National Convention is in Kansas City this summer!

This is a unique opportunity for all liturgical musicians in our diocese to make your ministry more effective by experiencing ongoing education, new music from the top publishers in our church, and networking with your peers. Check out the details at https://npm.org/2023/06/05/2024-convention-information/.

The Jefferson City Diocese Chapter of NPM is pleased to announce that we are offering scholarships to attend this convention. Email JeffersonCityMO@npm.org for more information. Applications are due by March 10,2024.

Register for Diocesan Summer Camps!

Registration is now open!

Please use these graphics to help promote the camps in your parish. Both English and Spanish flyers are included. Flyers can be produced with English on one side and Spanish on the other.

Stewardship Conference — April 13, 2024

A new brochure is now available promoting our upcoming Stewardship Conference. Please use this brochure to help promote this conference in your parish! The diocesan Stewardship Conference will take place on April 13 in Cana Hall at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City. We hope to have representation from all of our parishes at this important event. We also have a promotional graphic available to download.

Apply Now for College Scholarships

The diocese is now accepting applications for college scholarships. Through a generous donation from the families of William H. (Bill) Simon and John L. Warack, funding is available to high school seniors or current college students with financial needs who commit to practicing their faith. Deadline to apply is March 28. Find eligibility details and applications here: https://buff.ly/3Kd7oWv

Catholic Charities March Menu of Engagement

Join Catholic Charities in serving others this month – check out our Menu of Engagement to learn how!

Share in bulletins, emails, social media, and websites

Fr. Samuel Hakeem to speak in Rolla

Fr. Samuel Hakeem, Vocations Director for the Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great, will be speaking at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 6, at 6 p.m. Fr. Hakeem is one of 50 Eucharistic Preachers commissioned by the USCCB for the National Eucharistic Revival.

Fr. Hakeem will also be presenting a talk on the S&T campus entitled “Catholicism and The Big Bang Theory: Faith, Science, and the Limits of Both.” It is at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 7, in Computer Science Rm. 120.

Webinar series: Lent and Synodality

Bishop Daniel Flores, whose preaching skills are known to many, will offer three Lenten webinars – on February 14 (Ash Wednesday); March 6, and March 19. He will focus on synodality using passages from Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse.

Bishop Flores is the Bishop of Brownsville, TX, the Chair of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine, and shepherds the synod process for the dioceses of the United States.

About the Lenten Synodal webinars: https://catholicreview.org/synod-and-scripture-bishop-flores-to-lead-webinars-on-john-14-and-synodality/

Please register for each webinar separately. Please direct specific questions to the USCCB Synod Office.

Session 2 – March 6 at 3 p.m. EST https://usccb.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fFNBy4UbTlOFl-zx_Co1_Q

Session 3 – March 19 at 4 p.m. EDT https://usccb.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_onAHL2XDRw6hN6PLaI6cyA

Each of these Sundays of Lent, we cordially invite you to join us at St. Peter’s in Downtown Jefferson City (216 Broadway) for sung Vespers at 5:00pm. On the Sundays of February 18, March 3, and March 17, Vespers will be immediately followed by a small recital at around 5:35pm. Vespers alone should last around 35 minutes, and together, with Vespers and Recital together lasting around an hour.

Contemplative Outreach of Central Missouri is conducting their “United In Prayer Day” event on March 9, 2024 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This event is for both current practitioners of Centering Prayer and those seeking to take their prayer life to a deeper level of intimacy and relationship with God.

The mini-retreat will be held in the Alphonse J. Schwartze Memorial Catholic Center (Chancery Offices), and those unable to travel to Jefferson City may attend online via ZOOM.

In addition to multiple periods of silent communal prayer Fr. Matthew Flatley will give a presentation on “Diving Deeper into The Method of Centering Prayer”. In his talk he will address the question of just what is happening when We Enter the Inner room and Consent to God’s Presence and Action Within.

This is an invitation to contemplatives both new and experienced to come away for a day of enrichment, making available the precious time and space for prayer and soul friending in community. For those interested in attending but less experienced in Centering Prayer a special mini-introduction to Centering Prayer is being offered on March 7, beginning at 7:00 pm, online via ZOOM.

For details and to register for both events visit the COCEMO website at www.cocemo.org.

Lenten Mission Series – Just Rest

New promotional materials are now available in both English and Spanish!

All are invited to join us this Lenten season for a Healing Mission sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Sedalia. Over four days Catholic Evangelista Sonja Corbitt will guide us through different aspects of healing through “Rest” … Rest in Thoughts, Rest in Emotions, Rest in Soul, and Rest in Body. We will kick-off the “Just Rest” Mission on Sunday, March 17th, starting the first session at 2:30pm at St. Patrick Chapel, with a Lenten Penance Service following at 4pm. Remaining sessions will start at 6:30pm at St. Patrick Chapel on March 18th, 19th, and 20th. We will conclude the “Just Rest” Mission with a bi-lingual Mass following the session on the 20th. There is no cost to attend this mission. All within the diocese are welcome to join us for one or more or all of the sessions, whatever you can work in your schedule. St. Patrick Chapel is located at 415 E. 4^th St. Sedalia, MO.

Upcoming Women’s Ministry Events

Don’t miss out on opportunities to gather with women from around the diocese. Join us on April 6th at our Diocesan sponsored Spring Pilgrimage in Shelbina MO with National Speaker Jill Simmons. You can also head to Jefferson City for a retreat with the ladies of Immaculate Conception featuring a talk by our own Father Flatley or St. Stanislaus in Wardsville for a program put on by Arise Ministry. Fliers for bulletins are available for download below.

Arise Women’s Ministry of JCMO is hosting a women’s spiritual day of reflection on Sunday, March 24 from 1:00-5:00pm entitled RESTORED-Through the Five Wounds of Jesus. A wonderful way to enter into Holy Week, the afternoon event will include delicious refreshments, beautiful music, fun games and Spirit-led messages of reconciliation, restoration and redemption. Location of event: St. Stanislaus Parish/School Gym, 6410 Rt W. Jefferson City, MO 65101. Cost: $20. To register for the event, you may find your tickets online at eventbrite.com, search for Restored – A Women’s Retreat or email registerariseevent@gmail.com. For questions, please contact LeAnn Korsmeyer 573 690-2882/Millie Aulbur 573 690-4635 or Mary Markway 573 690-5284.

Employment opportunities

St. Martin Catholic Parish is seeking a Parish Bookkeeper. Essential duties and responsibilities include:

Preparation of payroll, associated taxes and reports
Prepares bank deposits and records receipts
Prepares vouchers, including coding and payment of invoices
Reconciles parish, school, and cemetery books, if applicable
Maintains tuition and school accounts, if applicable
Balances checkbook(s) monthly
Produces accurate financial reports as requested; may work with outside accounting firm
Other duties as directed by pastor/director

For more information or to apply, see our ad on Indeed.com or email your resume to hrdir@diojeffcity.org.

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church is seeking a Custodian. Duties include, but are not limited to:

Responsible for maintenance, minor repairs, painting and safety at all parish buildings.
Janitorial (cleaning) services at all parish buildings, including church, fellowship building, offices, and educational areas.
Develop and maintain a cleaning schedule for all parish buildings in coordination with the pastor and administration commission.
Perform ground maintenance and repairs to include lawn mowing, snow removal, etc.
Provide preventive maintenance program for parish to include plumbing, HVAC, and electrical, and maintain records as necessary. Maintain records of venders and projects for office staff.
Perform regular building inspections and report deficiencies to pastor.
Set up furniture and fixtures as necessary for religious education and other church sponsored activities.

Applicants should express their interest by emailing: office@ourladylakeozark.org.

We are seeking a dedicated, enthusiastic Programs Assistant to join our team at The National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, contributing to the memorable and spiritual experiences and growth of our pilgrims and visitors. As a Programs Assistant, you will collaborate closely with the Director of Operations to conceptualize, plan, and execute various enriching experiences including Shrine tours, Catholic Masses, pilgrimages, retreats, and events, with a particular focus on honoring Mary as Mother of the Church and all mothers in accordance with our Mission Statement. View our website at: MothersShrine.com. You may access the full job description at this link.

The Newman Parish is seeking a Director of Youth Ministry 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 to see the full job description.

Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri has several openings within its agency.

All employees of Catholic Charities must possess a strong commitment to the mission of the agency, including the understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and the ability to demonstrate the philosophy and values of the agency. The identity of the agency is clearly Catholic; and as such, Catholic Charities adheres to the social and moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

All positions require the utilization of common software and digital applications (Microsoft Office suite, Outlook, Teams, timekeeping software, etc.)

We invite you to review our current opportunities.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Development Center is seeking dedicated and passionate individuals to join our team as Early Childhood Center Staff in a LEAD Position. A successful candidate is committed to providing a safe, Christ-like environment for the children, where they are loved, safe, and encouraged to learn. As part of our center, you will play a crucial role in providing a nurturing and educational environment for young children. Your primary responsibilities will include engaging in age-appropriate activities, ensuring the safety and well-being of children, promoting their social and cognitive development, and maintaining a positive atmosphere within the center. Starting pay for a lead position is $18.00 per hour for a qualified employee. Click here to apply online.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Development Center is seeking dedicated and passionate individuals to join our team as Early Childhood Center Staff. A successful candidate is committed to providing a safe, Christ-like environment for the children, where they are loved, safe, and encouraged to learn. As part of our center, you will play a crucial role in providing a nurturing and educational environment for young children. Your primary responsibilities will include engaging in age-appropriate activities, ensuring the safety and well-being of children, promoting their social and cognitive development, and maintaining a positive atmosphere within the center. Starting pay is $15.00 per hour. Click here for more information.

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.

St. Joseph School in Westphalia, MO seeks a faith-filled, organized individual to join our team in the role of Principal,starting July 1, 2024. As the principal, you will provide leadership, vision, and guidance to our school community. You will be responsible for ensuring the academic excellence and assisting with the spiritual development of our students while fostering a safe and nurturing environment. Candidates should be practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church, have at least 3 years teaching experience, a degree in education, and principal’s certificate, or be willing to pursue such credentials. This role is full-time, exempt and eligible for an extensive benefit packets and paid time off. For more information, please see: https://www.stjosephwestphalia.org/principal-position-opening.html

St. Andrew School in Tipton has 2 openings for Junior High Teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. Junior High is departmentalized and the available content area is Science, Social Studies, ELA, and Religion with 7th and 8th grade homeroom. All interested persons can contact the Principal, Kara Higgins, at khiggins@saintandrewpirates.com

Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School Positions:

Cafeteria Supervisor: OLLIS is looking for three adults (parents, grandparents, friends) who like children and want to make extra money. Qualifications include love of children, practicing Catholic preferred, ability to lift 50 lbs., and standing on feet for extended periods. This is a position that follows the students’ calendar. You are off when students are off. The essential duties include supervising students and assisting them with their needs during lunch, such as opening things, sweeping up the floor, and washing tables between shifts. This would be fun if you could find two other friends to join you. We would love to see a group that can help us with our ROAR expectations and makes our dining experience something students continue to enjoy. Hours are 10:30-1:30. If interested, please email Elaine Hassemer at ehassemer@ollisk8.org.