November 11, 2024
November 11, 2024
New
Decree Dispensing the Faithful from the Obligation to Attend Mass on December 9, 2024
This year, December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and a holy day of obligation, falls on the Second Sunday of Advent. When a Solemnity falls on a Sunday of Advent its observance is transferred to the following Monday (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, no. 5). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has abrogated the precept to attend Mass on certain holy days of obligation when they fall on a Saturday or Monday, however the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is not among them, therefore the precept to attend Mass remains after the transfer to Monday.
Unfortunately, the 2024 Ordo (an official publication printed by ecclesiastical authority and containing a nihil obstat and imprimatur), as well as other liturgical calendars, listed December 9th as "NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION." Due to this error, there is a grave possibility that some Catholics may choose not to attend Mass wrongly thinking there is no obligation. Some Catholic faithful may be scandalized by the lack of participation of other Catholics or may have a disturbed conscience having received conflicting information from official Catholic sources.
Furthermore, our diocese is rural with many of our parish priests serving multiple parishes. Since the offering of Vigil Masses will not be possible for the holy day this year, and with the canonical limitation of a priest celebrating no more than three Masses on a day of precept, the scheduling challenges only add to the difficulty imposed by this obligation.
To resolve these serious matters in accordance with CIC can. 87 §1, and at the unanimous recommendation of the Presbyteral Council, I hereby
DISPENSE
the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Jefferson City from the precept to attend Mass on the transferred Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 9 December 2024.
Furthermore, the obligation contained in CIC can. 534 §1 for pastors and administrators to celebrate Mass for the people (missa pro populo) on 9 December 2024 is likewise DISPENSED.
Nonetheless, I encourage all parish priests of the Diocese of Jefferson City to celebrate publicly at least one Mass on 9 December 2024 in honor of our national patroness under the title of the Immaculate Conception, even if Mass is not normally scheduled on Monday.
Given at the Chancery in Jefferson City on the 6th day of November in the year of Our Lord 2024.
New
Decree on the Use of Liturgical Music in the Diocese of Jefferson City
“I simply want to invite the whole Church to rediscover, to safeguard, and to live the truth and power of the Christian celebration. I want the beauty of the Christian celebration and its necessary consequences for the life of the Church not to be spoiled by a superficial and foreshortened understanding of its value or, worse yet, by its being exploited in service of some ideological vision, no matter what the hue. The priestly prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper that all may be one (Jn 17:21) judges every one of our divisions around the Bread broken, around the sacrament of mercy, the sign of unity, the bond of charity” (Pope Francis, Desiderio Desideravi, no. 16).
With the recent issuance of Suggested Mass Settings and Prohibited Hymns, which had as its aim to foster the active participation of the laity in the liturgy by providing common Mass settings for singing by the whole assembly in diocesan liturgies, it is now clear that an authentically synodal process of greater consultation did not occur prior its promulgation.
The Eucharistic Liturgy is “the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 14); moreover, it is my duty, with care and vigilance, to regulate the liturgical celebrations within the Diocese of Jefferson City (cf. Traditionis Custodes, Art. 2); and in order to provide for a more comprehensive consultation with the relevant parties within the diocese;
I therefore Decree that the previously promulgated Suggested Mass Settings and Prohibited Hymns is hereby abrogated and replaced by the corresponding diocesan policy Promoting Active Participation in the Liturgy through Sacred Music. It shall be promulgated by being published on the Diocesan website, and it will take effect immediately. It is approved ad experimentum for a period of one year, all things to the contrary notwithstanding.
I would like to reinforce that these rules and regulations are particular law for the Diocese of Jefferson City and are therefore obligatory for all who reside within its boundaries. Pastors, administrators, chaplains, and liturgical ministers are obliged to see that the norms of this policy are implemented in their parishes and institutions.
Given at the Chancery in Jefferson City, Missouri, on the 5th day of November in the Year of Our Lord 2024.
Read more about this topic in The Catholic Missourian: Bishop opens process of discernment toward promoting participation in the Liturgy through sacred music
Don't forget
2025 Open Enrollment for All Diocesan Benefit Eligible Employees
The following information is for employees of the Diocese of Jefferson City, including parishes and Catholic schools:
The Open Enrollment period for Calendar Year 2025 is Tuesday, Nov. 5-18.
Please watch for an email from no-reply@benmanage.com, which will include the 2025 Benefit Enrollment Guide. Please whitelist this email address so you don’t miss important messages in the future.
Included in the benefit enrollment guide will be directions on how to enroll for benefits effective Jan. 1, 2025, as well as information and rates for all benefits offered by the Diocese of Jefferson City.
If you are eligible for full benefits and you didn’t receive an email with the 2025 Benefit Enrollment Guide, please check your spam/junk folder.
Your parish bookkeeper and principal will also receive a copy of the guide.
A few items to emphasize:
- If you would like to participate in the FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or DCFSA (Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account) for calendar year 2025, you MUST make a new election. This benefit will not automatically renew. Unused FSA funds, up to a maximum of $640, will automatically rollover to 2025.
- If you choose to utilize the self-service option to enroll, you will receive a confirmation email upon completion of your enrollment.
If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of completing your online enrollment, please contact the enrollment center, at 877-338-6311, prior to the end of Open Enrollment, as this means the enrollment was not completed.
Once Open Enrollment is closed, we are unable to make adjustments to your benefits unless you have a qualifying event.
Updated
Diocesan retreat for married couples
Replay
Mass for Deceased Priests
The Memorial Mass for Deceased Priests was held in the Diocese of Jefferson City on November 6 at our Cathedral of St. Joseph. This special Mass commemorated the priests who have gone before us and celebrates our unity as one eternal family in the Body of Christ.
New
Salt and Light Newsletter
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Youth Rally and/or the Women's Ministry events! Both proved to be a huge success!
November Prayer Intention
Bishop McKnight's November Prayer Intention
Bishop McKnight's prayer intention will be published at this link every month for easy access.
For a spirit of unity and Thanksgiving to be cultivated in our lives and in our nation. That we may see God’s light reflected in the blessings of our family, friends and community.
Para que un espíritu de unidad y gratitud sea cultivado en nuestras vidas y en nuestra nación. Que podamos ver la luz de Dios reflejada en las bendiciones de nuestra familia, amigos y comunidad.
Don't Forget
Hispanic Ministry Youth Survey
The Diocese has created a survey to listen to our Hispanic youth and their families! These responses will help us create a plan that supports them in maintaining and growing their faith. Before we know where we’re going, we need to understand where we are. Your participation is key to the future of our youth! Help us build this path together by completing the survey in Spanish or English.
Matrimonial Tribunal
Due to vacation, from November 11-15, and November 25-27, there will be no one to answer calls in the Matrimonial Tribunal.
New
New
Upcoming events for bulletins, social media, etc.
Diocesan Events
Parish Leadership
Deanery Meetings
November 12
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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