In this week’s Memo:
- NEW Child Abuse Prevention Month resources
- NEW Holy Land collection
- Invitation to Chrism Mass
- Listening session in Spanish
- Bishop’s prayer intention for April
- Liturgical resources for Lent, Triduum and the Easter Season in English and Spanish
- Breaking the Silence of Abuse
- NEW National search for new president Fr. Tolton Catholic HS
- Job openings at Chancery
- School principal opening: Hermann and Macon, and other school positions
- Tornado relief for Alabama and Georgia
- Charity and Mercy grant cycle open – deadline April 30
- Email and text scams
- April 1: Protecting God’s Children workshops
- April 5: Ad limina listening session, St. Peter, Marshall
- April 6: Creighton Introductory Session, Columbia
- April 6: post-partum NFP course, Hallsville
- April 6: Columbia Tri-Parish Women’s Retreat
- April 7: NPM brainstorming sessions
- NEW April 13: Creighton Introductory Session, Kirksville
- April 13: Formación de Ministros Litúrgicos/Formation for Liturgical Ministers
- NEW April 27: Training as a FertilityCare Practitioner
- NEW April 27-28: Marriage Encounter
- April 27-28: Retiro de Jóvenes
- May 1: Sixth Grade Vocation Day
- May 1: REBOOT!
- May 3-5: Rachel’s Vineyard retreat in Kansas City
- Registration open for summer youth camps
- July 6-12: Summer mission trip for teens (deadline May 1)
- Nov. 21-23: National Catholic Youth Conference (registration deadline May 13)
Bishop McKnight’s messages
NEW Tools for publicizing Child Abuse Prevention Month
As we recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has provided an excellent set of resources parishes may utilize in a variety of ways including bulletin announcements, website and social media postings. All of these resources are available at https://catholiccurrent.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2019/03/CYP-TWIM-Final-1.pdf. The pdf is interactive; you can click on the various images to obtain the resources.
NEW Holy Land collection
Please see the attached letter from me (English in PDF and MSWord and Spanish in PDF and MSWord) to the faithful regarding the upcoming Holy Land Collection. I ask that you make this letter available to your parishioners in the best way you see fit, and please be sure to take up this national collection on Good Friday.
Chrism Mass
Please use this announcement in your bulletins for the next few weeks:
Bishop W. Shawn McKnight invites you to attend our annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral Church of St. Joseph, 2215 W. Main St., Jefferson City, on Thursday, April 11 at 5:30 p.m. This liturgy unites the diocese in recalling the gifts of the holy priesthood and the most holy Eucharist. The Oil of the Sick and the Oil of the Catechumens are blessed and the Sacred Chrism is consecrated at this time. These holy oils impact the lives of those who are preparing to enter into the Church, those who are ill, and all preparing for confirmation and holy orders.
Listening sessions
Thank you to the priests and people who attended the ad limina listening sessions. Next January, I will be making a special trip to Rome, along with other bishops from Missouri and some adjoining states. This ad limina visit, about which you can read more in the Catholic Missourian and on our website, calls for me to present a report in advance. As part of that report, I want to include insights from the people of our Diocese. Please help promote these sessions, including our final one in Spanish on April 5, 7 p.m., at St. Peter Church, 1801 S. Miami Ave, Marshall. These are facilitated sessions; we have a series of questions on which you can reflect and which we hope you will address during the sessions.
Please consider using the following bulletin announcement to promote these events:
Tres sesiones de escucha con el obispo Shawn McKnight se llevarán a cabo en nuestra Diócesis, incluyendo una en español, para ayudar al obispo a preparar un informe especial para la Santa Sede sobre el estado de la diócesis. Por favor, considere asistir a una de estas sesiones para proporcionarle al Obispo McKnight sus reflexiones en una conversación facilitada en torno a una serie de preguntas. Puede encontrar más información en el Catholic Missourian y en el sitio web diocesano en www.parishtemplate.diojeffcity.org. La sesión en español es el 5 de abril, 7 p.m . en la Iglesia San Pedro, 1801 S. Miami Ave, Marshall.
Prayer Intention for April
Please be so kind as to make this a part of your group and private prayer. Please add this intention to your parish bulletins and newsletters as well as to your parish Eucharistic Adoration Chapels. Graphics for bulletin inserts and social media are available online.
“For a more welcoming and hospitable environment in the Catholic communities of our parishes, schools and hospitals; that the Kingdom of Heaven may be experienced here on earth in our works of charity and mercy.”
“Por un ambiente de más bienvenida y hospitalidad en las comunidades católicas de nuestras parroquias, escuelas y hospitales; que el Reino de los Cielos pueda experimentarse aquí en la tierra en nuestros actos de caridad y misericordia”.
Liturgical Preparation Aid for Lent/Triduum/Easter Season
Once again, the FDLC offers a liturgical preparation aid for Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, and the Easter Season. This 48-page resource for the Great Ninety Days is attached. It will also be posted on the FDLC website. A Spanish version is also available. The document contains:
- A full presider’s text for the “Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Absolution and Confession”
- Sample Music Suggestions
- Sample Penances
- A Liturgical Year Calendar Advisory
- Frequently-asked Questions and Their Answers
- A summary of the Lectionary readings for Sundays and Solemnities
- Preparation sheets for the Rites belonging to the Period of Purification and Enlightenment
- Preparation sheet for Palm Sunday
- Preparation sheets for the Sacred Paschal Triduum
- An Order of Service for Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday evening.
Breaking the Silence of Abuse
As a Diocese, we are committed to breaking the silence of abuse. When someone is reporting abuse, we must acknowledge their pain and how difficult it is to talk about it. False allegations are very rare. Our initial response to someone who is disclosing abuse for the first time must be compassionate. For those who need to report abuse, encourage them to contact our Victims Assistance Coordinator, Nancy Hoey, and to make use of the appropriate State of Missouri hotline or the Attorney General’s clergy abuse online form. All of this information is also on our website, under the ‘report abuse’ tab.
For those who want information, or want you to convey a message to Bishop McKnight, please encourage them to use the ‘reach us’ form on our diocesan website, parishtemplate.diojeffcity.org. Assure them every submission is read.
We have also created graphics you can use in your parish bulletins or on your website with the information on how to report abuse. They are linked below:
English for web
English for print
Spanish for web
Spanish for print
Thank you to all. Each of us has a role in healing the pain of abuse. Let us continue to pray for one another.
Events
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Miscellaneous
NEW National search for new president, Fr. Tolton Catholic High School
This morning Bishop McKnight announced a national search for a new president of our Catholic high school in Columbia. You can read more here.
Chancery job openings
Parishes are requested to post the following information in parish bulletins for the next few weekends, and other recipients of this email are asked to circulate it to persons who might be interested.
The Diocese of Jefferson City has posted openings for the positions of Director of Human Resources and Administrative Assistant—Faith Formation Department.
The Director of Human Resources is responsible for all facets of employee relations and human resources administration for the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City. Administers all benefit programs for more than 2,000 employees. Serves as internal HR consultant for parishes, schools and agencies in matters pertaining to employment, benefits, labor relations, conflict resolution and compliance with applicable state and federal employment regulations.
The Administrative Assistant—Faith Formation Department provides clerical and office support to the Faith Formation Department. More information regarding these full-time positions can be found at parishtemplate.diojeffcity.org/about-us/employment-2, including detailed job descriptions and qualifications, and an application for diocesan non-teaching employment.
Applicants must send a cover letter, application and resume to the Moderator of the Curia. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
Coordinator of Columbia Catholic Hospital Ministry
The Diocese of Jefferson City is looking for a coordinator of Catholic Hospital Ministry in Columbia. The Coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating and directing the activities of Catholic Hospital Ministries in Columbia. Catholic Hospital Ministries serves Catholic patients in seven hospitals, none of which is a Catholic hospital. Columbia’s Catholic Hospital Ministries offers to Catholic patients and their families spiritually based, clinically trained pastoral care and counseling through sacramental ministry and spiritual/emotional support. Certification as a chaplain by the NACC/APC, or willingness to become certified is required. The candidate must be a practicing Catholic in good standing. Send résumé to Sister Kathleen Wegman, SSND, Chancellor or by mail: 2207 W. Main St., P.O. Box 104900, Jefferson City, MO 65110-4900.
School principal openings
St. George Catholic School, a multi-parish school in Hermann, Mo., is seeking applications for a principal beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year. With an enrollment of 170 students, pre-K to eighth grade, from four parishes, St. George School enjoys the strong support of the Catholic community along with the local community of business owners and residents. Candidates must be baptized practicing Catholics with a lifestyle in good standing with the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church, with at least three years of successful teaching experience, a master’s degree in education, and currently holding or working toward certification in School Administration in the State of Missouri. Candidates will be expected to submit performance references. Applications from qualified individuals can be submitted directly to the Diocese of Jefferson City Catholic School Office, P.O. Box 104900, Jefferson City, MO., 65110-4900 or or by email to the diocesan Catholic Schools Office, no later than April 12.
Immaculate Conception School, Macon, is seeking a teaching principal for the 2019-2020 school year. Current K-8 enrollment is 71 students. Applicants must be willing to work closely with the pastor. The qualified candidate must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, have at least three years teaching experience, and a master’s degree in education with a principal’s certificate, or working toward it. Applicants should file an application with the Diocese of Jefferson City at www.parishtemplate.diojeffcity.org and send a letter of interest to Fr. Ben Nwosu at ICS.macon.search@gmail.com.
Other school openings are available on our website.
Charity and Mercy Grant applications being accepted
Please consider promoting this opportunity:
Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri (CCCNMO) has opened the application cycle for 2019 Charity and Mercy Grants. Applications for Charity and Mercy Grants will be accepted only from parishes and affiliated groups and organizations (i.e. parish social concerns groups, St. Vincent de Paul Societies, etc.) which are located in and provide direct services to the needy within the Diocese of Jefferson City. The application cycle is open from March 1 to April 30. To learn more and apply, visit www.cccnmo.org or contact info@cccnmo.org, with “Charity and Mercy Grant” in the subject of your message.
Email and text scam
Please consider running this announcement on a regular basis:
The Diocese of Jefferson City warns the public of what appears to be an ongoing phishing scam involving emails and texts purportedly from priests or parish/Chancery staff. This scam has hit many parishes across the United States. The email or text purports to be from a person the target knows, such as one’s pastor, a parish staff member, the bishop or someone else from the Church. If the target responds to the fake email or text, the sender will follow up with a request for some sort of monetary assistance, often for gift cards or iTune cards. It is truly unfortunate cyber criminals will attempt to exploit the generous nature of our community. Sending emails or texts asking for cash or gifts cards is not how priests, parishes or the Diocese of Jefferson City seeks financial assistance for our work. If you receive an email or text from a trusted church personnel asking for assistance, confirm by calling that person and do NOT respond to the email or text. For more information on phishing scams and email security, review this attached handout. The FBI website address to file an online Internet crime complaint is https://www.ic3.gov.