PODCAST

This episode reflects on our stewardship of nature and the role of hunters in our society — and offers a blessing for safety and a bountiful harvest for all in our diocese who will be hunting in the coming weeks. 

Bishop Shawn McKnight also reflects on his own background as a hunter. He shares how he brought those experiences into the symbols that he chose to represent his service as Bishop of Jefferson City.

Click here to listen.

Are there really 12 days of Christmas? Was Jesus actually born in a stable? Why do we place presents under the tree?

As we prepare ourselves for Christmas, students at Mary Immaculate Parish School and Helias Catholic High School shared their questions about this holy day. We are joined by Msgr. Robert Kurwicki who shares the history behind today's Christmas traditions. 

Msgr. Kurwicki is the Vicar General of the Diocese of Jefferson City as well as the Chaplain of the Missouri House of Representatives and the pastor of St. Michael parish in Russellville.

This month, Catholics in our diocese — and around the world — mourned the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. While most of us knew the former pope by reading his work or by watching him on video, some people in our diocese were lucky enough to cross paths with Pope Benedict during his lifetime. In this month’s podcast, listen to stories from three members of our clergy who were able to be in the presence of Pope Benedict — and hear how these experiences changed their lives.

Check out episode one of the Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri Mercy Moments podcast on this page! You can find future episodes on their website by navigating to the sidebar after you click the link.

On Christmas Day — as we were home celebrating with our families and friends — Bishop Shawn McKnight and a small delegation from the Diocese of Jefferson City were boarding an airplane. Two days later, the travelers arrived in the Archdiocese of Kampala in Uganda. In this month's podcast, Bishop McKnight and Fr. Boniface Nzabonimpa share their memories of the trip. They also explain our important connection with the Archdiocese of Kampala and describe how the two dioceses share their gifts to help Catholics in both places.

This Easter, the Diocese of Jefferson City will have a special collection to benefit retired priests and religious. This important collection helps us give back to those who have dedicated their lives to sharing the good news of the Risen Christ. 

In this month’s podcast, we give you a glimpse inside the life of a retired priest and a retired religious sister in our diocese — and show how they continue to serve us even well into retirement. 

How does the idea of hospitality relate to us as Catholics? In this month’s podcast, Fr. Stephen Jones describes how hospitality is central to how we live as stewards of God’s gifts. Fr. Jones also shares steps we can all take as we seek to demonstrate hospitality — inviting others into a deeper relationship with God.

This podcast episode is the first of a four-part series focusing on the four pillars of stewardship with Fr. Jones, the diocesan director of stewardship. This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

Prayer is how we grow our relationship with God and orient ourselves as stewards of God's gifts. In this month's podcast, we continue our discussion with Fr. Stephen Jones about the Four Pillars of Stewardship — focusing on the concept of prayer. 

This podcast is the second episode of a four-part series focusing on the Four Pillars of Stewardship with Fr. Jones, the diocesan director of stewardship. This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

Our formation as Catholic stewards requires both an education of the mind and a conversion of the heart. In this month’s podcast, we continue our discussion with Fr. Stephen Jones about the Four Pillars of Stewardship — focusing on the concept of formation in our faith.

This podcast is the third episode in our four-part series focusing on the Four Pillars of Stewardship with Fr. Jones, the diocesan director of stewardship. This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal. 

Service is a public expression of our faith. It’s how we express our belief in God and live out Jesus’s teachings. In this month’s podcast, we conclude our discussion with Fr. Stephen Jones about the Four Pillars of Stewardship — focusing on the concept of service.

This podcast is the fourth and final episode in our series about the Four Pillars of Stewardship with Fr. Jones, the diocesan director of stewardship. This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

As our world endures a time of conflict and war, how can we — as Catholics — help to bring about peace? The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, recently participated in a peace forum in Korea and Japan. In this episode, Bishop McKnight discusses what he learned about the long-lasting impact of war, and how our Church can work to heal these wounds and help bring peace to the world.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, parishes across our diocese will hold a special collection to support seminarian education and infirm priests in our diocese.

These are both very important needs, and we thank everyone in advance for their support of this collection — which is one of only three special collections held in our diocese each year. 

For this month's podcast, we are sharing thoughts about this collection from our seminarians and a retired priest. 

On December 18, the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published a declaration called Fiducia Supplicans. Three days after the document came out, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight took a few moments to share his perspective on Fiducia Supplicans.

All are encouraged to read the English translation of Fiducia Supplicans at this link.

This Easter, the Diocese of Jefferson City will have a special collection to benefit retired priests and religious. This important collection helps us give back to those who have dedicated their lives to sharing the good news of the Risen Christ. 

In this month’s podcast, we give you a glimpse inside the life of a retired priest and a retired religious sister in our diocese — and show how they continue to serve and lead by example.

On Nov. 5, Missourians will vote on Amendment 3, which would legalize abortion in our state. In the latest episode of the Podcast from the Diocese of Jefferson City, we explore what’s contained in Amendment 3 and what it would mean for women and unborn children in Missouri. Thanks to Jamie Morris and Kathleen Lavery of the Missouri Catholic Conference for speaking with us for this episode.

This podcast episode focuses on hospitality. It's the second in a new four-part series about the four pillars of Catholic stewardship. In this series, we hear from clergy and lay people from across our diocese about what it means to be stewards of God's gifts. 

This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

This podcast episode focuses on prayer. It's the second in a new four-part series about the four pillars of Catholic stewardship. In this series, we hear from clergy and lay people from across our diocese about what it means to be stewards of God's gifts. 

This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

This podcast episode focuses on formation. It's the third in a new four-part series about the four pillars of Catholic stewardship. In this series, we hear from clergy and lay people from across our diocese about what it means to be stewards of God's gifts. 

This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

This podcast episode focuses on service. It's the final episode in a new four-part series about the four pillars of Catholic stewardship. In this series, we hear from clergy and lay people from across our diocese about what it means to be stewards of God's gifts. 

This series is designed to help us deepen our understanding of the spirituality of stewardship as we approach the October Catholic Stewardship Renewal.

Earlier this year, Christopher Hoffmann was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City. In this episode, we introduce Fr. Hoffmann as he begins his priestly service in our diocese. Learn about how he began to hear God's call as a university student, and how seminary helped him discern his vocation.

The Diocese of Jefferson City is embarking on a Sacred Music Consultation — a time to reflect on the music of our Catholic liturgies.

In this special two-episode series, we reflect on the core questions we face in this Sacred Music Consultation with help from Msgr. Rick Hilgartner, the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Cockeysville, Maryland. He previously led the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and the Secretariat of Divine Worship for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

We also hear from Teresa Pitt Green. Teresa is an abuse survivor who lives in Albany, New York. She advocates for other survivors of abuse, and helps make our church more welcoming for them to return to our parishes.

Learn more about the Sacred Music Consultation at diojeffcity.org/sacred-music.

There have been many stories in the national media recently about our Church and its role in immigration into the United States. For this episode, we explore this topic from the perspective of what's happening here in the Diocese of Jefferson City with help from Marissa Flores Madden, Director of Family Immigration Services at Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri. 

In this mini-episode, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight describes how the Chrism Mass is unlike any other Mass of the year. 

He also invites you to join us at 3 p.m. on April 15, 2025, to celebrate this liturgy with us at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. RSVP to attend at https://diojeffcity.org/chrism-mass-rsvp/.

We are now roughly halfway into our Jubilee year, a time when we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope.

In this episode, we highlight a group of young people who recently took that concept literally by spending their spring break from college traveling as pilgrims to visit holy sites in Rome. In our latest podcast, they share reflections from their trip.

We also invite everyone to take part in the pilgrimage opportunities available right here in our diocese. Learn more: diojeffcity.org/jubilee-year.

School is starting soon in the Diocese of Jefferson City. 

In this podcast, learn about our school system and the unique relationship our schools have with our parishes. This episode includes insights from Diocesan Administrator Msgr. Robert Kurwicki and Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Erin Vader.

We wish everyone a happy, productive and faith-filled start to the new school year!

In this episode, Msgr. Robert Kurwicki, Diocesan Administrator, retraces the history of the Diocese of Jefferson City by reflecting on the leadership and legacy of our previous four bishops. Remembering our past helps prepare for our future — Bishop-elect Ralph O'Donnell, who will begin his service in October.

On October 18, the community will gather to celebrate 120 years of service at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City. In this episode, we trace the history of the hospital. We also discuss the Catholic spirit that guides and inspires the care at the hospital. A number of activities are planned to mark this anniversary, and everyone is invited to join in the fun!