News
March 23, 2026
March 23, 2026
This Week - Holy Hour for Life
PRO-LIFE MASS FOR STATEWIDE PRAYER CAMPAIGNAll Catholics are encouraged to begin praying for the passage of the NEW Amendment 3 NOW. To kickoff this prayer campaign, all four bishops are leading various activities on March 25, 2026, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. In Diocese of Jefferson City, please join Bishop Ralph B. O'Donnell in praying for the sanctity of life during a Holy Hour at 12 pm at the Cathedral of St. Joseph - Jefferson City
Update on Amendment 3
With the ballot language for Amendment 3 finalized, the Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) has suggested actions that individuals can take now, while the campaign committee continues its planning and work behind the scenes:
- Pray for the success of Amendment 3!
- Talk to your circle of influence–family, friends, individuals in your Church group, etc.–about the amendment.
- Encourage others to join the Missouri Catholic Advocacy Network (“MOCAN”) at mocatholic.org to stay up to date on the latest campaign news.
- Visit herhealthherfuture.com to make a donation or find other ways you can get involved in this pro-life campaign.
As the vote approached, the MCC, in conjunction with each Missouri diocese and with our campaign coalition partners, will be developing materials that can be shared.
MCC staff members are also available to come speak to parishes regarding Amendment 3. Please visit mocatholic.org/speaker-request
Key Talking Points on Amendment 3
In Nov. 2024, Missouri narrowly passed a sweeping right to abortion in the State Constitution. With that State Constitutional Amendment, Missouri’s legislature lost the ability to set meaningful safeguards for the abortion industry, including:
- Requirement that only doctors perform abortions.
- Requirement that parents be notified and give consent before their minor has an abortion.
- Requirement that abortion clinics be licensed and inspected.
- In addition, because the amendment provided a broad and nearly absolute right to “reproductive health care,” it likely opens the door to constitutional protection for surgical or
- medical gender transition on minors.
In Nov. 2026, Missourians will be asked to restore these protections in Amendment 3, which will:
- Severely limit the number of abortions in the state.
- Require abortion clinics to meet high standards for safety and cleanliness.
- Ensure parental or judicial consent for minors.
- Prohibit gender-altering procedures for minors.
- Severely limit public funding for abortion services.
*Information taken from the Good News, a publication of the Missouri Catholic Conference—The public policy agency of the Catholic Church in Missouri, https://mocatholic.org/.
Easter Special Collection
Help promote the upcoming Easter Special Collection
Within the promotional toolkit, you will find:
Pulpit announcements to be read in the weeks leading up to Easter
Thank you for your assistance in promoting this important collection for our retired priests and religious!
Chrism Mass
All are invited to the Diocesan Chrism Mass on March 31 at 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. A light meal will be available in Cana Hall after the Chrism Mass and RSVPs are requested to provide an approximate count for the reception.
Chrism Mass & Reception Volunteer Sign up
The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 31, at 3 PM in the Cathedral. All the faithful of the diocese are welcome to attend this Mass in which the priests renew the promises of their ordination and the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils to be used in our parishes over the next year.
Volunteers are needed on March 30 and 31 to assist with preparations for the Diocesan Chrism Mass, luncheon for our diocesan priests and the reception in Cana Hall, which follows Mass. Use this link to sign up to help Chrism Mass & Reception Volunteer Sign-up or contact Terry Vignola at the Cathedral parish office 573-635-7991 ext. 310.
Important Schedule Change- Signs from God, Miracles and Their Meanings
Due to flight Delays
Due to current airline travel challenges, Tim Francis is unable to arrive as originally scheduled.
The good news—“Signs from God, Miracles and Their Meanings” will now be offered on the following evenings instead:
Tuesday, March 24 & Wednesday, March 25
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Sacred Heart Chapel
421 W 3rd St, Sedalia, MO
The presentation will be the same each night, so please plan to attend whichever evening works best for you.
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Signs from God, Miracles and Their Meanings. Come and learn the truths to be found in the Eucharist and strengthen your faith as we approach Holy Week. Join us at the Sacred Heart Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul Parish (421 W 3rd St, Sedalia, MO) from 6:30pm - 9:00pm on March 24 and 25. The presentation will be the same each night, choose which evening works best for you.
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/
Southwest Deanery Ultreya
St. Peter Parish - Jefferson City cordially invites you to attend an Ultreya on Tuesday, March 24 in Hoog Hall! Refreshments and social time begin at 6:30 pm with Ultreya at 7. Come join us on your Lenten journey. Entrance is from the alley on the right side of the church (lower level of Selinger Center – 216 Broadway Street, Jeff City).
3rd Annual Heart of a Hero Men's Conference
Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Heart of a Hero Men's Conference, to be held in Cana Hall on April 10 and 11. This event, sponsored by the Men of Signum Crucis, is produced for the purpose of bringing men together in fraternity to deepen their faith and relationship with Christ. Contact Mark Rehagen at 573-680-2520 with questions. Register Here
Women's Spring Pilgrimage
Ways of the Cross for Victims of Abortions
You are invited to join us for the Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Columbia Planned Parenthood (711 N. Providence Rd). Together we will pray the Stations of the Cross for all those affected by abortion—babies who have lost their lives, mothers and fathers, family members, and abortion facility workers. Clergy will lead the stations as volunteers carry large station images. All are welcome to attend and pray for healing, mercy, and the protection of life. For more information or to volunteer to carry a station picture, contact (573) 821-5130 or
kathy@midwestmarchforlife.com
40 Days fo Life
Join us on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at St. Andrew (400 St. Andrew’s Lane, Holts Summit, MO) as we come together to celebrate the conclusion of this year’s 40 Days for Life campaign. Even if you didn’t make it to the sidewalk this year, we would still love to have you there!
Schedule of the Evening:
• 6:00 p.m. – Doors open for fellowship and a silent auction
• 7:00 p.m. – Dinner prepared and donated by the Knights of Columbus Council 8400
• 7:45 p.m. – Special talk by Crystal, sharing her court witness against Columbia Planned Parenthood
March for Life
Save the date for the Midwest March for Life on April 30, 2026, at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Join advocates from across the region for prayer, witness, and Holy Mass with Bishop James V. Johnston, along with featured speakers and a special display on the Eucharistic miracles. Learn more at midwestmarchforlife.com.
Join us on Sunday, April 26, 2026 from 1–5 PM at Eldon Middle School for Fishers of Men, a fun afternoon of fishing with local priests! This catch-and-release event is open to teens and young adults (5th grade and up) from across the Diocese. Bring your fishing gear and a chair—we’ll provide the food! Parents are welcome to come along and enjoy the afternoon as well.
Come relax, connect, and cast a line with us!
Eldon Middle School – 1400 N Grand Ave, Eldon, MO
Questions? Contact Erin Koerner at 573-645-3396 or sacredheartsec@outlook.com.
Remember to RSVP using the QR code so we can plan for food!
NPM Jefferson City
The Jefferson City Diocese chapter of NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians)
NPM 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.
NPM Jefferson City - Event
Camp Registration
Camp Registration is Now Open:
New
Licensing for live streaming or reprinting worship music
ONE LICENSE provides permissions for parishes to reprint worship music for congregations or livestream music on the Internet.
The Diocese of Jefferson City has a group agreement with ONE LICENSE which provides a 20 percent discount to parishes. If your parish does not currently participate in the group agreement and would like more information, please contact Tracy Oswald, toswald@diojeffcity.org, before March 31, so you can be included in the new group licensing agreement.
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
Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Development Center– Diocese of Jefferson City
Now Enrolling at Immaculate Heart of Mary School!A strong Catholic foundation
Quality academics
A caring, family-centered community. Give your child a great start in a place where faith, learning, and community come together. Learn more and register today: https://diojeffcity.org/
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.
Events
Eventos en Español
Upcoming events will be available soon!
