February 10, 2025
February 10, 2025
New
Scholar Bowl Champs!
On February 7, the Diocese of Jefferson City held its first annual Scholar Bowl at the Cathedral of St. Joseph School. Seventh grade students from across the diocese participated in this fun academic event.
The winning team, Team D, was celebrated with a balloon drop. The top two teams also took home prizes.
Find more photos on the diocesan Facebook page: www.facebook.com/diojeffcity
Reminder
Sacred Music Consultation
The Diocese of Jefferson City is embarking on a sacred music consultation. Through this effort, we are inviting the faithful to share their thoughts on the matters raised in a temporary policy promulgated by Bishop McKnight in early November, Promoting Active Participation in the Liturgy through Sacred Music.
Learn more about the consultation by visiting this webpage.
The consultation includes synodal-style listening sessions and input from parish leadership, the local NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians) members, the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, and the Diocesan Pastoral Council, resulting in a new decree presented to Bishop McKnight by the Diocesan Liturgical Commission.
We are encouraging the faithful to take part in an upcoming listening session. These sessions are available at locations across the diocese. Click here to see a list of locations, dates and time — and register to attend.
The Diocese of Jefferson City is also sharing a video and podcasts featuring input from national experts as we reflect on the important questions at the heart of this consultation.
New
2024 Special Collections
In 2024, the generous faithful of the Diocese of Jefferson City shared nearly $1 million with the beneficiaries of our three diocesan special collections.
In March, parishioners contributed $330,998.54 to our Easter Special Collection. These gifts support retired priests and religious. Following that collection, the diocese distributed $165,449.27 to the National Religious Retirement Office, and $165,449.27 was transferred to the Priest Mutual Benefit Society.
The diocese held a Missions Special Collection during Masses on July 20-21. This collection raised $194,805 in support of our missions work. These funds provide assistance to the people in the home dioceses of the mission priests serving us, as well as support national collections that benefit missions work around the world.
Our 2024 Christmas parish assessment, supported by gifts given during the Christmas Special Collection, raised $447,408. From that total, $200,000 was given to the Infirm Priest Fund, and $247,408 was distributed to the Seminarian Studies Fund.
We appreciate all the faithful for their extraordinary support of these important needs in our diocese. In 2025, the Diocese of Jefferson City will repeat this same schedule, with special collections held at Easter, in July, and at Christmas.
New
Appointment
10 February 2025
I am announcing that the Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, has recently made the following appointment:
PRIESTS
- REVEREND MONSIGNOR MARION J. MAKAREWICZ, resignation accepted from the office of Pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish, Kirksville and its mission St. Rose of Lima, Novinger together with resignation as Sacramental Minister of St. Mary Parish, Milan and its mission of St. Mary, Unionville, effective 5 February 2025.
From the Office of the Chancellor,
Chancellor
Reminder
Diocesan Calendar
As your parish prepares to host events, please make sure to enter them into our diocesan calendar to help share them with parishioners across our diocese.
New
Directory updates
New
Youth Opportunities Available
- Camp Registration for summer 2025 is now live! https://diojeffcity.org/
youth-camps/ To access advertisements that can be used on social media or bulletins immediately click here: https://drive.google.com/ drive/folders/ 1L78R9KwTQGsx1GvFqDeWwVEMnCS9X YIJ?usp=drive_link We will be adding more resources for advertisement in the coming weeks. - Totus Tuus has 3 available spots for parishes for this next summer: 2 spots for June 15-20 and 1 spot available for July 6-11. If your parish is interested, please register here: https://diojeffcity.
org/totus-tuus-parish- registration/ - NCYC Registration is now open for November 20-23. NCYC 2025 Parish Info Packet has all important information for group leaders: https://diojeffcity.org/wp-
content/uploads/2025/01/NCYC- 2025-Parish-info-Packet.pdf. To register your group and access other info and resources check out the diocesan website: https://diojeffcity.org/ national-catholic-youth- conference/
Seeking Spanish-Speaking Summer Camp Missionaries
Reminder
Faith Formation Opportunities Available
- DRE & YM Spring Workshop is February 25 and will be at Our Lady of Lourdes in Columbia this year! You will have an opportunity to meet Regina Quinn, the new director of Safe Environment. Also we will have two national speakers joining us via zoom. To register click here: https://diojeffcity.org/
registration-workshops/ - Catechesis of Good Shepherd Level 1 Training is now open for registration for this summer. People from our diocese receive a large discount thanks to the Knights of Columbus RIB Grant. To get more information and register click here: https://diojeffcity.org/
catechesis-of-the-good- shepherd/
Reminder
Rite of Election participation form
The Rite of Election will be held on March 9, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City. There will be a reception in Cana Hall with punch and cookies immediately following Mass.
Below is a link to the participation form. Please fill out this form even if no one in your parish is participating in 2025. The deadline for submitting participation forms is February 10, 2025, but please submit your form as soon as possible. If some of your group members are still unsure if they can attend, please include them in the numbers you report. This will ensure there will be enough room for those that are attending to sit with their group, as well as give us an accurate list of all coordinators and their contact information.
For those that are participating, parchment paper, instructions for signing the parchment paper, and an outline for the Rite of Election will be mailed to the address that you provide in this form. Any changes or updates will be emailed to the address provided in this form.
A separate email will be sent at a later date from the Diocesan Communications Office requesting a list of names of those in your parish that will join the church on Easter. These names will be published in the Catholic Missourian around Easter time.
Please direct any administrative questions to Jordan Newham at jnewham@diojeffcity.org, and any non-administrative questions to Very Rev. Daniel J. Merz, SLD at dmerz@diojeffcity.org.
Participation Form Link:
https://diojeffcity.org/rite-of-election-participation/
New
Liturgical Preparation Aid for Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and the Easter Season 2025
FDLC is pleased to offer this collection of free resources to assist in your parish and diocesan preparations for Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and the Easter Season in both English and Spanish (coming soon):
This Liturgical Preparation Aid includes:
- The Order for Reconciling Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution (Readings, Sample Penances, Music Suggestions)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- A Liturgical Calendar for Lent, Triduum, and the Easter Season
- The Lectionary for Mass – Year C
- Preparation Sheets for the Rites belonging to the Period of Purification and Enlightenment
- Preparation Sheet for Palm Sunday
- Preparation Sheets for the Sacred Paschal Triduum
New
Annual Parish Sacramental Records Report Requested
The Annual Parish Sacramental Records report for the calendar year 2024, is now being requested by the Office of the Chancellor. An Excel spreadsheet was emailed to all parishes on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and included worksheet tabs for Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and Deaths.
This report is due as soon as possible, but not later than February 14, 2025, as this information is included in our Annual Report to Rome. Please complete each form and return to Ben Roodhouse, broodhouse@diojeffcity.org. If you have questions or difficulties, please reach out to either Mr. Roodhouse or Bernadette Adams, badams@diojeffcity.org.
Reminder
Marriage Retreat
Help us promote the upcoming Marriage Retreat — and please encourage married couples in your parish to attend!
The retreat will be held on March 14-15, 2025 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph and will be led by two inspiring couples from the Marianist Retreat Center.
Attendees can expect three delicious meals, inspiring talks, engaging prayer experiences, and quality reflection time. Registration is open now at diojeffcity.org/marriage-retreat.
We have social media and bulletin graphics available for you to use in your promotions at this link. There are two sets of graphics: general graphics and graphics asking for volunteer host homes. If your parish is in the Jefferson City area, please use the volunteer host homes graphics. Thank you for sharing!
Questions? Contact Julie Gramlich at julie.g@cathedraljc.org or 573-635-7991.
New Handout
Discovering God's hope during a Year of Jubilee
This holy year invites the faithful to embrace the spirit of hope. As we embark on this year of Jubilee, there will be numerous opportunities to experience grace, including by participating in special Jubilee Masses or joining a pilgrimage.
Stay up to date with the latest information about the Jubilee by visiting: https://diojeffcity.org/jubilee-year/
The diocese has recently published a new handout in English and Spanish with information about the Jubilee indulgence. Click here to download the handout.
Apply now
College Scholarships Available
Applications for college scholarships are now available! 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 26. Find eligibility details and applications at diojeffcity.org/scholarships
New
Pilgrimage to Italy and Poland
New
Midwest March for Life Save the Date
The MidWest March for Life will be held on May 1 at the Missouri State Capitol. Please find more information in the flyer.
Pray with us
Bishop McKnight's February Prayer Intention
Bishop McKnight's prayer intention will be published at this link every month for easy access.
For mutual respect of the unique roles and responsibilities we are given as members of the Body of Christ. May we recognize and draw strength from the distinctive gifts God has given each of us with a spirit of co-responsibility. We pray to the Lord.
Por el respeto mutuo a los roles y responsabilidades únicos que se nos han dado como miembros del Cuerpo de Cristo. Que podamos reconocer y encontrar fortaleza en los dones particulares que Dios nos ha dado a cada uno, con un espíritu de corresponsabilidad. Roguemos al Señor.
Diocesan Events
2025 Marriage Retreat
March 14-15
Cathedral of St. Joseph
(Jefferson City)
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.
