February 2, 2026
February 2, 2026
World Day for Consecrated Life, February 1
Short bulletin quote
World Day for Consecrated Life will be celebrated in the Church on Monday, February 2, 2026, and in parishes over the weekend of February 1, 2026. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation.
Prayers of the Faithful
For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. We pray to the Lord…
For those who have responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to be a consecrated person that they may experience the support of the Church as they continue their growth in holiness. We pray to the Lord…
Parish Bookkeepers Workshop
The diocesan Accounting Services team will be holding parish bookkeeper workshops throughout the diocese, throughout March. We will hold one day of training in each deanery to make attendance easier for the bookkeepers, Finance Council members and pastors of the diocese:
- Tuesday, March 3: Diocese of Jefferson City Chancery Office, 2207 W. Main St., Jefferson City, 65109
- Thursdays, March 5 and 12: Diocese of Jefferson City Chancery Office, 2207 W. Main St., Jefferson City, 65109 (5:00 – 8:00pm only)
- Tuesday, March 10: Holy Spirit Church, 404 S. Rollins St., Centralia, 65240
- Tuesday, March 17: St. Joseph Church Hall, 509 N. Main St., Edina, 63537
- Tuesday, March 24: Visitation Church Hall (behind the church), 105 N. Main St, Vienna, 65582
- Thursday, March 26: St. Patrick Church’s St. Leo Hall (behind the church), 176 Marian Dr., Gravois Mills 65037
Note the general schedule:
- 9:00am – 12:00pm: Workshop for parish bookkeepers whose parish has converted to QuickBooks Enterprise with the new, standardized chart of accounts
- 12:00 – 1:00pm: Lunch for all who attend
- 1:00 – 4:00pm: Workshop for parish bookkeepers using the original chart of accounts
Any bookkeepers that attend the afternoon session are welcome to join in the morning to see what QuickBooks Enterprise, the new chart of accounts and reporting is about. We will also have time in the afternoon dedicated to discussing the conversion and benefits of the new system for your parish.
Lunch will be provided for all who attend, morning or afternoon, so plan to join us at noon each training date. Please RSVP here so we can plan for space, lunch and any dietary restrictions. RSVP deadline is February 20.
We will have time set aside for any questions bookkeepers might have. However, it would be helpful to send pressing questions ahead of time to accounting-services@diojeffcity.org so that we will have answers prepared at the training.
Please contact Michelle Truesdale or Amy Reinhard with any questions at accounting-services@diojeffcity.org.
Women's Ministry Newsletter
NPM Jefferson City
The Jefferson City Diocese chapter of NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians) will be offering a weekly Zoom drop-in for all diocesan music ministers every Monday in February at 7 pm. This is your chance to drop in, ask questions, chat, and get to know other pastoral musicians in our diocese. No agenda. Just drop in. Note: If no one checks in by 7:15, the call will end. Here's the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/
Cursillo School Leaders
Hope you can join us for the next Cursillo School of Leaders on February 14, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Flanagan Hall in Columbia, MO. Social gathering begins after the 8AM Mass (8:45AM), followed by the program starting at 9:10AM. Becky Sander will present on Pre Cursillo, and Father Clever will give a presentation on "Allegiances Paul or Apollo.” We will conclude at 11AM with a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. It promises to be another fun and spirit-filled Saturday morning with a wonderful community of Cursillistas striving to grow closer to Christ and eager to do His work.
Attention Pastors, Administrators, Parish Secretaries, and OCIA Coordinators!
A list of parishes assigned to each service will be shared closer to the event date. In general, parishes located closer to the Cathedral will attend the 6:00 pm service, while parishes farther away will attend the 3:00 pm service.
- If your parish is listed: Your materials are on the way.
- If your parish is NOT listed: You will not receive parchment paper, and your group will not be included on the seating chart. If you intend to participate, please contact Jordan Newham as soon as possible.
Discrepancies in Participation Forms:
Some participation forms contained inconsistent numbers. We are currently waiting to hear back from seven parishes. If you received an email regarding these discrepancies, please respond as soon as possible. Accurate numbers are vital for our service planning and seating arrangements.
Contact Information:
- Administrative Questions: Contact Jordan Newham at jnewham@diojeffcity.org.
- Liturgical/Non-Administrative Questions: Contact Rev. Daniel J. Merz, SLD, at dmerz@diojeffcity.org.
February Deanery Christian Initiation (OCIA) Gatherings
Saturday, February 7
Macon | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Columbia | 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 10
Rolla | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 14
Tipton | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 17
Jefferson City | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
We strongly encourage each parish to be represented at one of these gatherings and look forward to your insight, experience, and collaboration as we continue strengthening Christian Initiation Ministry across the diocese.
Please contact Mary Madelyn Mertes, mmertes@diojeffcity.
Marriage Encounter Weekend
Strengthen your marriage, grow in faith, and invest in each other! Jefferson City Marriage Encounter is hosting its next weekend on February 14-15, 2026, at the Best Western Capitol Inn in Jefferson City. Spend quality time with the most important person in your life, celebrate how far you've come, and learn valuable tools to make your marriage even stronger. The weekend costs only $75, and scholarships are available. Register online at jeffcityme.com
Lenten Leader Retreat for DREs, Catechists, and Youth Ministers - March 28
Mark your calendars for a Lenten leader retreat designed for DREs, Youth Ministers, and Parish Leaders on March 28, 2026. Join us for a day of rest, community, and prayer! Register here. https://diojeffcity.org/
Marriage Retreat
Registration is now open for the 2026 Diocesan Marriage Retreat! Join us March 13-14, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Our retreat will be led by two inspiring couples from the Marianist Retreat Center. Childcare will be available.
Missouri Catholic Summit 2026
Missouri Catholic Summit (MCS) is a large gathering of Catholic young adults, ages 18-25, from across Missouri. The summit is a day dedicated to celebrating the Christian life and fostering fellowship among faithful young adults. Participants grow together in a warm and lively environment through inspiring talks by esteemed speakers, reflection, and prayer. Please invite young people in your community to join us for the MO Catholic Summit 2026 on February 28, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, MO!
Apply Now
College Scholarships Available
College Scholarships AvailableApplications for college scholarships are now available! Through a generous donation from the family of William H. (Bill) Simon, funding is available to high school seniors or current college students with financial needs who commit to practicing their faith. The deadline to apply is March 27. Find eligibility details and applications at diojeffcity.org/scholarships
Monday Morning Memo and Event Submissions
Please send your submissions to toswald@diojeffcity.org by noon on Thursday to be included in the following Monday's memo.
If you would like to have an event featured in the "Events" section of the Monday Morning Memo and added to the Diocesan calendar, please use this link https://diojeffcity.org/event-listing/ . The event link can also be found on the Communications page of the diocesan website.
Let us Pray
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle...
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
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.
