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Religious Information Bureau (RIB)

Welcome to the Religious Information Bureau State Program. Our mission is to help councils share the Catholic faith with neighbors both within and beyond their parish communities. Through this work, we help bring the state theme to life: “Your Grace is Sufficient for Me.”

A Brief History of RIB

The Religious Information Bureau (RIB) was established by the Missouri State Council in the 1940s to help non-Catholics better understand the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church. At that time, anti-Catholic bias was common in both religious and secular media, so clear and accessible faith education was especially important.

To support this mission, the Missouri State Council partnered with the Vincentian Priests and Brothers in Perryville, who operated the Catholic Home Study Service and offered free courses. Many of these materials were developed by the late Fr. Oscar Lukefahr, CM, a former Missouri State Chaplain. The program became so successful that the Supreme Office created the Catholic Information Service in 1953, which remains an important evangelization resource today.

Although the Vincentian partnership bore much fruit, it concluded in November 2018 as the Vincentians shifted their focus toward parish missions. Even so, the spirit of the work continues through the renewed RIB program.

RIB Today

At the 118th Missouri State Convention in 2019, the Missouri State Council introduced a renewed Religious Information Bureau program. The updated model provides grants to each of Missouri’s four dioceses to strengthen evangelization efforts through approved local initiatives.

Each diocese submits its program to the Columbian Charities grant committee for review and funding. These initiatives have been well received and are expanding faith formation across Missouri, often through modern digital tools that reach parishioners more effectively. The diocesan programs also recognize the Missouri Knights of Columbus for their sponsorship and financial support. Dino Durando, Director of the Office of the Domestic Church and Discipleship for the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, continues to provide valuable guidance for this effort. A synopsis of each diocesan program appears below.

Our Goal: $260,000

Since RIB was realigned to serve Missouri’s four dioceses, the program has received strong support. To continue this work and expand its impact, we are asking every council, auxiliary, and assembly to help meet this year’s goal of $260,000.

  • Councils are asked to assign a quota of $7.50 per member.

  • Ladies Auxiliary members are asked to contribute $3.75 each.

  • Fourth Degree Assemblies are encouraged to support the program as they are able.

If every one of Missouri’s roughly 44,000 Knights participated, the program could raise $330,000—before including additional support from Ladies Auxiliaries and other generous donors. Regular appeal letters will still be mailed, and any Knights family that wishes to contribute beyond its suggested quota is warmly encouraged to do so.

How Councils and Members Can Help Achieve Our $260,000 Goal

  • Include an RIB donation request with your council’s or auxiliary’s dues notice.

  • Hold a parish or community fundraiser and donate the proceeds to RIB.

  • Encourage members to include RIB in their personal estate planning.

  • Earn an annual $50 council credit by displaying an RIB board at a public event. The application appears in the Faith Forms area on the State Council website. If you need pamphlets for your display, they are available through Catholic Information Services on the Supreme Council website.

  • Encourage your parish to participate in one of the diocesan programs. These initiatives identify Knights of Columbus support and can also help councils connect with and recruit new families.

Share the online donation option with council members and the parish community. This gives members a simple way to contribute $7.50 or respond to the annual appeal at www.continuetogive.com/rib. Remind donors to include your council number in the “Message” section so the contribution is properly credited.