Making Connections
By Bishop W. Shawn McKnight With a year under our belt of the diocesan pastoral plan, and even more time for some parishes to be using a parish pastoral plan, the reviews indicate we’re making progress, even with challenges such as a global pandemic. The numbers are, quite frankly, phenomenal: 97 of the 106 parishes…
Read More
By Bishop W. Shawn McKnight Our world has faced a health crisis for more than a year now, unprecedented in modern times. More than 4.3 million people have died from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, and we have seen a resurgence in cases in our diocese this summer. We are all feeling fatigue and anxiety, especially…
Read More
On July 16, 2021, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, issued an apostolic letter “motu proprio” entitled “Traditionis custodes.” This document alters church law on the use of liturgical books from before the reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council (1962–65). Under previous legislation, any priest of the Roman Rite was permitted to use the pre-conciliar…
Read More
By Bishop W. Shawn McKnight It’s not just about the Sacrament of Holy Communion; it’s about the communion of the Church. There’s been much interest in whether the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) intends to restrict some politicians from receiving Holy Communion, based upon our Church’s pro-life teachings. Church (canon) law, however, states…
Read More
In response to the verdict of guilty in the ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin trial for the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight has issued the following statement: While the trial of Derek Chauvin has finished and our justice system moves forward, we must still face the reality that we…
Read More
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight has issued the following statement: Recent statements from some bishops of the Catholic Church and subsequent news stories on these statements have caused public confusion regarding the moral implications of Catholics using the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. I affirm what the Holy See, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Missouri…
Read More
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight Today we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Christian who sacrificed his life in enabling our country to come to a “more perfect union.” His words are perhaps more urgent today, as we struggle with what we can do to heal the terrible divisions and to cease…
Read More
Inauguration Ceremony of Governor Mike Parson, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick and Attorney General Eric Schmidt By Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, STD, DD, Bishop of Jefferson City 11 January 2021 Let us pray. O God and Lord of history, in gratitude we turn to you in…
Read More
Modification of canon law recognizes women’s formal roles as lectors and acolytes JEFFERSON CITY – Bishop W. Shawn McKnight will be implementing a modification of canon law, announced by Pope Francis today, as soon as possible. The new law allows a formal role for women during Mass, as lectors and acolytes (servers). “I am thrilled…
Read More
By Bishop W. Shawn McKnight During an historic pandemic, our country faces one of the most contentious presidential election campaigns in recent memory. Some of our fellow Americans may be wondering if they are living in the apocalypse, with fire, drought, hurricanes, flooding, riots and other stresses added to the mix. Just where is our…
Read More