October 21, 2024
October 21, 2024
New
Making Connections: A Novena for the Electorate
By Bishop W. Shawn McKnight
The act of voting is an expression of faith.
When we make our choices this Election Day, we are empowered in that moment to advocate for justice, uphold human dignity, and promote the values of the Gospel in society.
We can influence policies to better align with our faith and the teachings of Christ. Our collective voice as Catholic voters can help foster a community that more strongly reflects our ideals of charity and mercy.
Our Catechism makes it clear that engaging in the electoral process is not an option. Rather, voting is an obligation of our faith.
Thus, I urge all of you to make the most of this opportunity to live out our faith as we go to the polls on November 5. To all our Catholic faithful: Please vote!
Yet, as the election draws near — and as we continue to study the issues and prepare our consciences — we must also acknowledge that we are living during a moment of extraordinary division in our nation.
As Christians, it is important that we respond to this challenge with an extraordinary moment of prayer.
Beginning this Sunday, and continuing for nine days, I invite everyone in the Diocese of Jefferson City to join me in the powerful act of praying a Novena.
Our Novena prayer will not focus on any candidate or party. We will not ask God to grant us the election results we desire.
Rather, we will pray for each other, and for ourselves, as we navigate this contentious political atmosphere — it is a Novena for the Electorate.
As Christians, let us use the gift of prayer to seek peace and unity. Let us ask God to grant us his grace as we encounter others in society. Let us work to be promoters of civility in public discourse.
We will pray for compassion, understanding, and respect for one another — especially when opinions differ.
Your opportunity to participate in this Novena begins at Mass. It will be prayed during every Mass offered in the Diocese of Jefferson City beginning this Sunday and lasting through November 4.
However, I also invite you to make the Novena for the Electorate a part of your personal daily prayer life. It can be prayed at home, in your parish groups, by yourself or with your loved ones and friends.
In addition, there will be special opportunities to gather in prayer on the two Sundays during our Novena. Learn more about these on our website: diojeffcity.org/electorate-novena.
Please join us, raise your voice and unite with us in prayer. Let us all ask for God’s grace and wisdom in these final days before the election.
I ask God’s blessing on all of us as we prepare to undertake this duty, both civic and holy, on November 5.
Let us pray, and then, let us vote.
Click here for more information and to access resources to help promote the Novena in your parish.
Amendment 3 Updates
As we approach the Nov. 5 General Election, the Diocese of Jefferson City continues to add resources to our website as we educate the faithful about Amendment 3, including materials available in both English and Spanish.
Visit www.diojeffcity.org/amendment3 for all of these resources and more:
- Message from Bishop McKnight: "On life, let us be guided by God's mercy"
- Podcast: Understanding Amendment 3
- Stories from The Catholic Missourian
- Social media and bulletin graphics
- Links to resources from the Missouri Catholic Conference
New statement from the Missouri Catholic Conference on Amendment 3
(Read the statement in Spanish)
We, the Catholic Bishops of Missouri, are committed to protecting the sanctity of human life in every circumstance and every stage of development. In Missouri, the dignity of life in its earliest stages is being threatened by Amendment 3, which will appear on Missouri’s November 2024 ballot. This proposed amendment to our state constitution is an extreme proposal that would allow full-term abortion with no protections for the preborn child, including when the child is capable of feeling pain.
The proposed amendment would effectively eliminate common-sense state regulations that have protected Missouri women for years. These include health and safety requirements for abortion clinics; the requirement that only a medical doctor be allowed to perform abortions in the state; and that parents of a minor be notified before she can have an abortion.
Amendment 3 would allow for unregulated abortions until viability–approximately six months into a pregnancy. After viability, the proposed amendment would create a broad mental health exception that a healthcare provider could exploit to allow abortion in the 7th, 8th, or 9th months of pregnancy.
Amendment 3 would also prohibit any type of penalty for someone who assists a person in “exercising their right to reproductive freedom”. This broad protection would prohibit women and families from suing an abortion provider who harms them.
The legalization and deregulation of abortion would represent a tragic step backward in our work to protect all human life at all stages. For these reasons, we urge Catholics and all persons of good will to oppose Amendment 3.
Conoce Más Sobre la Enmienda 3
¿Por qué la Iglesia se opone a esta radical iniciativa proaborto? Aprenda más sobre la Enmienda 3 con una presentación en vivo de Dr. Guillermo Villa-Trueba, Director de Vinculación con la Comunidad Hispana para la Conferencia Católica de Missouri.
Why does the Church oppose this radical pro-abortion initiative? Learn more about Amendment 3 by watching this Spanish-language presentation from Dr. Guillermo Villa-Trueba, Hispanic Outreach Manager for the Missouri Catholic Conference.
New
Mass for Deceased Priests
The annual Mass for Deceased Priests will be held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 6 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
All faithful are invited to join us for this Mass.
New
Notice of Appointments
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
- REVEREND MONSIGNOR MARION J. MAKAREWICZ, acceptance of resignation as Dean of North Deanery, effective 15 October 2024.
- REV. R. WILLIAM PECKMAN, appointed Dean of North Deanery, effective 15 October 2024.
From the Office of the Chancellor,
Mr. Benjamin Roodhouse, JD, JCL
Chancellor
New
Baby formula offered
Updated
Online updating for the Official Catholic Directory now in process
Parishes and other Catholic entities listed in the Official Catholic Directory are asked to carefully review, update, and submit your listing for inclusion in the 2025 edition. Those responsible for updating your listing, please go to ocdedits.com/login, and enter your email and password. If you do not remember your password, use the “Reset Password”; be sure to check your spam/junk folder in case the reset password email gets re-routed. If your email is not registered, click the “Register” button and follow the registration process.
Parishes with Schools: Make sure you open and review the school information by hitting the “Edit” button next to your school’s name (located under “Sub-Entities”).
This year, the editorial staff of the OCD will be conducting five (5) brief webinars (approx. 30-45 mins.) throughout the update cycle. Please sign up for the webinar at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5L3R7QXTRoilp7jk_xUyjA
The deadline to complete your updates and submit your information is November 8, 2024.
If you have questions about updating your OCD entry, please contact Bernadette Adams at badams@diojeffcity.org, or 573-635-9127, x236.
Upcoming events for bulletins, social media, etc.
Diocesan Events
Women's Ministry Fall Events
November 1-2
Witness — Fall Youth Rally
November 3
Note: the following lists populate events for the current week. To view all upcoming events, please click "View all events on our diocesan calendar" below.
Parish Events
Eventos en Español
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