Catholic Missourian

“It starts with showing up,” stated Deacon Berendzen, coordinator for Columbia Catholic Hospital Ministry. “Just being present is often more important than what we say or do,” he said. “Being present opens the door to letting God work through us.” Bishop W. Shawn McKnight appointed Deacon Berendzen, who also assists the pastor of St. Francis…

In addition to Mass being available in many Catholic parishes on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 28), many local ministerial alliances organize ecumenical Thanksgiving prayer services in the days leading up to the holiday as a chance to pray as one faith community and take up an offering for local people in need. ‘These services are…

“I am adopted.” Jill Alberti has uttered those three simple words, overflowing with awe and gratitude, hundreds of times. “Those words mean my biological mom chose life!” said Mrs. Alberti, keynote speaker for the Hannibal Chapter of Missouri Right to Life’s (MRL) 2019 Pro-life Dinner. About 70 people attended the Sept. 27 event. Mrs. Alberti,…

Pauline Bescheinen was excited to attend Immaculate Conception parish’s second “Voices from the Past” cemetery tour. It brought back happy memories of friends and neighbors for the lifelong Loose Creek parishioner, who is 98. The Sept. 29 tour drew history enthusiasts and friends of the parish to the old cemetery behind Immaculate Conception School, with…

While studying Pope Francis’s “Joy of the Gospel,” LeAnn Korsmeyer was struck by his notion that church buildings should never be sterile places. “A church is better when it’s a little messy, because that means we’re using it for what it’s built for,” said Mrs. Korsmeyer. “The lights should be on and the chairs and…

Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate Pope Francis declaring Father Augustus Tolton “venerable” during a Mass with Cardinal Blase J. Cupich Oct. 14 at St. Philip Neri Church in Chicago. The promulgation of the decree by the Pope declaring Tolton “venerable,” which was announced June 11, means his life was formally recognized as demonstrating…

Joyful but resolute, the priests processed into St. Pius X Church in Moberly. They gathered at Christ’s altar as ministers of His death and Resurrection, to beg for assistance for their fellow priests who have gone before them. It was a Requiem Mass for the priests and bishops of this diocese who died since its…

Sister Kathleen Wegman of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), diocesan director of pastoral and charitable services, has announced that she is retiring, effective Nov. 30. She reached this decision in discernment with the leadership of her SSND community. “We are grateful to her for her 50 years of active ministry in the Church,…

For nearly 50 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has been the official domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Raising public awareness about poverty and its causes and working to break the cycle of poverty in the United States, the annual collection will be taken up in parishes throughout the diocese…

Missouri’s Roman Catholic bishops are encouraging voters to support a specific effort to expand eligibility for MO HealthNet, the state’s Medicaid program. Medicaid, funded by the federal and state governments, helps pay for healthcare for people with very low income. “We support expanding (MO HealthNet) to cover low-income workers, since doing so will help lead…