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Faith Activities &
Religious Information Bureau (RIB)
Faith and Works
Tony Jansen
State Faith Director
D&N – 573-768-0294
anthony.jansen@toyodagosei.com
As Knights, we belong to an order which is first, Catholic. If we’re to participate and lead in the New Evangelization, inviting the “nones” to join the Church, we must inform ourselves and others what the Bible and the Magisterium teach about the Faith; welcome our neighbors to our liturgies; and support our schools, our priests, and our bishops; including through the Religious Information Bureau (RIB) program. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). Thus mindful, our Faith programs support our efforts to build and support the Church.
Fr Joseph Weber
Msgr. Joseph Mancuso Catholic Education Grants
D&N – 314-434-4211
mokofccatholiceducationgrants@gmail.com
Deacon Michael Fritz
Liturgical Minister
D&N: 573-690-5684
mfritz@geoengineers.com
Joe Stoverink
Religious Vocation Fund
D&N – 314-537-4291
jdutchstoverink@sbcglobal.net
Edward M Cirar Jr
Fr. Michael J. McGivney Guild
D&N – 636-296-2531
emcii@prodigy.net
Jason Kehl
COR Meeting Chairman
D&N: 573-682-7901
jasonkehl@spirit-machinery.com
Michael Calliotte
Religious Appreciation/Pilgrimages
D&N: 417-818-5555
mcalliotte@aol.com
Robert Vornberg
Diocesan Chairman, St. Louis Archdiocese
D&N – 314-941-0170
bob.vornberg@gmail.com
Chris Bradfield
Diocesan Chairman, Kansas City-St. Joseph
D&N – 816-210-7675
chris_bradfield@hotmail.com
James Eberhard
Diocesan Chairman, Springfield-Cape Girardeau
D&N – 573-838-4284
jredle@swbell.net
David Kiesling
Diocesan Chairman, Jefferson City
D&N – 573-291-2731
sixcars2118@aol.com
Dino Durando
RIB Chairman
D&N – 816-888-0259
durando@diocesekcsj.org
Chris Teel
RIB Secretary/Treasure
D&N – 816-734-2118
clcnfamily@sbcglobal.net
Religious Information Bureau (RIB)
Dino Durando, RIB Chairman
Chris Teel, RIB Secretary / Treasurer
Welcome Grand Knights, Ladies Auxiliary Presidents, and District Deputies to the Religious Information Bureau RIB State Program! Our hope is that our program will assist Councils in sharing our Catholic faith with our neighbors, whether church families or not.
Religious Information Bureau in the Past
The Religious Information Bureau, RIB, was developed in the 1940s by the Missouri State Council to help non-Catholics learn about the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church. This was especially important in a time in which anti-Catholic bias was present in both religious and secular media. The Missouri State Council partnered with the Vincentian Priests and Brothers in Perryville, who started the Catholic Home Study Service that provided the free courses. Many of the materials were developed by the late Fr. Oscar Lukefahr, CM, a former State Chaplain for Missouri. Non-Catholics might take the home study courses available through the Catholic Home Study in order to learn about Catholicism prior to joining the church. The Missouri State Program was so successful that the Supreme Office developed the Catholic Information Service in 1953. That program is still very active today and can be a great resource for all the materials you can use to evangelize today. While the Vincentian partnership was immensely fruitful, and with the changing times, the Vincentians ended our partnership in November 2018 to invest more energy in preaching parish missions.
Religious Information Bureau Today
At the 118th Missouri State Convention in 2019, a new Religious Information Bureau program was announced. The new program consists of grants provided to each of our four Diocese’s to enhance their evangelistic efforts. Each Diocese provided their programs to the Columbian Charities grant committee for acceptance and funding. The new opportunities for the Dioceses to bring enhanced faith programs to their parishioners has been overwhelmingly well received. These programs will reach the four corners of Missouri with 21st century online technology at the forefront. Each of the Diocesan programs have given the Missouri Knights of Columbus acknowledgement of sponsorship and financial assistance. We are fortunate to currently have the Director of the Office of the Domestic Church and Discipleship, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Dino Durando, helping guide this program. See below for a synopsis of each Diocesan Program.
Our Goal – $285,000
With the new program aligned to the four Dioceses in our State, we have had great financial support the first year that the program changed. We need everyone’s help even more than ever so we don’t let our Church down. We are continuing to ask each Council to assign a quota of
$7.50 per member. Each member of the Ladies Auxiliary is asked to give $3.75. Fourth Degree Assemblies are asked to support this program with what they can. With 100% participation from the roughly 42,600 Knights in Missouri, we could raise $319,500, not to mention the additional from all of the Ladies Auxiliaries as well. Regular appeal letters will still be mailed so any Knights family that wants to give more than its quota of $7.50 can generously contribute.
Online Donations
Continuing is the facility to donate online to the Religious Information Bureau. The link is www.continuetogive.com/rib. Be sure to note the “/rib” at the end of the giving site URL, which ensures that a contribution is designated to support the RIB. You have the opportunity to make a one-time donation or a monthly donation. On the giving page, donors must enter a Council number in the “Message” section for Councils to receive the credit.
2023-2024 Diocesan Programs
Below is a synopsis of each Diocesan program. You can see that your donations to RIB are being used effectively. Remember, that without these additional funds, your Churches in Missouri would not be able to provide these valuable programs!
The Dioceses of Jefferson City, Springfield-Cape Girardeau, and Kansas City-St. Joseph used the Online Learning Platform “Franciscan at Home” offered by the Catechetical Institute as a powerful and effective solution to form leaders and the lay faithful in parishes. The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau also used funds to engage the Parish Success Group, providing professional leadership coaching for parishes. The Diocese of Jefferson City also used funds to support the Our Parish Coaching Cohort initiative. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is providing a Study Guidebook for Keeping the Lord’s Day, based on a pastoral letter from Bishop Johnston encouraging the faithful to rediscover the value of Sundays for worship, rest, and time with family. The Archdiocese of St. Louis is using the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation as an online initiative for adult religious education and faith formation, and also partnered with Catholic Brain for free access to online resources to engage students and involve parents in faith formation.
Missouri Diocesan Websites…
Archdiocese of St Louis Home RIB Faith Formation
Diocese of Kansas City – St Joseph Home RIB Faith Formation
Diocese of Jefferson City Home RIB Faith Formation
Diocese of Kansas City – St Joseph Home RIB Faith Formation
Diocese of Jefferson City Home RIB Faith Formation
Diocese of Springfield – Cape Girardeau Home RIB Faith Formation
How Councils and Members Can Help Achieve our $285,000 Goal
- Include the RIB donation with your Council’s or Auxiliary’s dues This is the easiest way for Councils to meet their quota.
- Hold a parish/community fundraiser and donate the proceeds to the
- Promote making a gift to the RIB as part of a member’s personal estate
- Earn an annual $50 credit for your Council by displaying a RIB Board at a public The application for the credit is below and on the State Council website. If you need pamphlets for your RIB board, you can obtain them on the Supreme Council website under Catholic Information Services. More information about CIS on page P12.
- Encourage your Parish to use one of the programs that each of the Dioceses are Each of the programs gives information that they are supported financially by the Knights of Columbus. This can also help Councils in recruiting new families.
- Send out the online donation information to your Council members and your This is an easier way to either have your members donate $7.50 or to respond to our appeal letter, at www.continuetogive.com/rib. Be sure to have your members include your Council number in the Message section on the giving page.\
Awards for the Fraternal Year 2023-2024
Special Recognition: All Councils achieving at least 100% of their goal by March 31, 2024 will be inducted into the Circle of Honor society for the current year and will receive a Commemorative Certificate of Recognition. The Council’s name will be inscribed with all the other Councils attaining this award and will be on display at the State Convention. Grand Knights whose Councils have attained 125% of their quota will be honored with the RIB Apostolate Cross Pin.
Council Awards: Each Council achieving 100% of their quota will receive a silver plate. Councils achieving 125% or more of their quota will receive a gold plate. Councils achieving 125% of quota will also be honored with the RIB Apostolate Cross pin.
Ladies Auxiliaries: Same criteria as the above Council Awards except the President will receive the Ladies RIB Apostolate Cross for achieving 125% of their quota.
District Deputies: In appreciation of their efforts, the Apostolate Cross pin will be awarded to the District Deputies whose districts attain at least 100% of their cumulative quota.
RIB Awards:
- Highest Percentage per Member
- Highest Gross Amount Donated by an Individual Council
- Highest Dollar Amount Donated over Quota
<Display Board Credit Application – Under Construction>
Faith Forms
Missouri Religious Vocation Fund
Joe Stoverink, Chairman
The Missouri Religious Vocation Fund was established to aid the Dioceses of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Jefferson City, & Springfield-Cape Girardeau and Archdiocese of St. Louis in promoting future vocations. The dioceses are working to inform students of the vocations in grade schools, high schools, and colleges. Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 for vocations in Missouri. To be successful and assist this program, we are asking for each Council, Assembly, and Auxiliary to consider contributions and donate 50¢ per member to help us meet our goal and provide support to the dioceses.
A suggestion to help us meet this goal would be to use the $100 reimbursement that you get back from the Supreme RSVP program and donate it to the Missouri Religious Vocation program. Checks should be written to “Columbian Charities” and include a note that the donation is to go to the Missouri Religious Vocation Fund, mailed to Jerry Herbert, Columbian Charities Treasurer (eMail Jerry for his USPS Information: herbert_jerry@yahoo.com)or donate online at www.continuetogive.com/mrvf.
There is an additional way to support the Missouri Religious Vocation program: it is by getting a personalized Missouri Knights of Columbus vehicle license plate. Send a $25 (one-year) or a $50 (two-year) donation to Columbian Charities, mailed to Jerry Herbert, Columbian Charities Treasurer, (eMail Jerry for his USPS Information: herbert_jerry@yahoo.com). Joe Stoverink will return to donors an Emblem Use Authorization Statement that applicants must take to the license bureau.
Diocesan Chairmen
Robert Vornberg, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Chris Bradfield, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
James Eberhard, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
David Kiesling, Diocese of Jefferson City
The diocesan chairmen are the liaisons between the Knights of Columbus and the dioceses of Missouri. They are responsible for the all programs in the diocese done in conjunction with the Knights, including helping Councils and Auxiliaries identify seminarians to sponsor. Chairmen will communicate with the District Deputies and Grand Knights concerning activities and opportunities within their areas, and keep in touch with the dioceses on individual council activities. If we are to build up the Catholic Church, good communications with our Bishops are extremely vital for our success.
Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP)
Keep the faith alive by supporting our seminarians and postulants. As the strong right arm of the church, Knights of Columbus are committed to providing moral, financial and spiritual support to our future priests and religious at all stages of their formation. A featured program, RSVP counts for two credits toward the Columbian Award. Knights of Columbus stand in solidarity with our priest and religious. Through this program, council and parish families will raise funds to support seminarians in their areas. For every $500 donated to an individual seminarian or religious aspirant, Supreme Council will refund $100 back to the council, up to a maximum of $400 refund per council per fraternal year.
Form 2863 must be used to apply for reimbursement, and receive featured program credit. Copy your diocesan chairman as well. A good way to use your reimbursement from Supreme is to donate this reimbursement to the Missouri Religious Vocations Fund, which, as a reminder, is a completely different program.
Msgr. Joseph Mancuso Catholic Education Grant Program
Fr. Joseph Weber, Jr., Chairman
Providing a strong Catholic education for our youth has always been a priority of the Missouri State Knights of Columbus. Beginning in 1984, Msgr. Joseph Mancuso spearheaded a drive to establish a $1,000,000 Trust Fund to support and fund Catholic education programs around the state. Since 1990 interest earned from this fund has provided over $700,000 in grants to Catholic schools and parish-based religious programs. During the 2021-2022 fraternal year this program was able to provide grants totaling $50,000 to 74 education programs throughout the four dioceses in Missouri.
Catholic schools, which include pre-schools, parochial schools and high schools along with K-12 religious education programs can apply for either a $500 or $1000 grant. Application forms are available on the state council website under the forms section and are due no later than March 1st – no late forms will be accepted. While electronic submissions are highly preferred, if you have issues with the online form please contact Fr. Weber. Please follow the criteria precisely.
Grant Criteria when submitting your application:
- Deals with a specifically Catholic dimension of education which is in conformity with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
- Would affect a high percentage of the potential number of students enrolled or other persons involved.
- Shows promise of continuing after the initial funding is
- Does not merely replace what is an expected service but offers an improved dimension (supplements basic programs, does not supplant, or initiates a needed program).
- Could be replicated in other Catholic educational
- Show clearly the basis of need for this
- Show clearly the inability of the local setting to meet this
- Would be implemented by personnel with appropriate background and
- Is accompanied by a budget which meets requirements and includes no request for overhead expenses unless it is a new project.
- Offers matching effort (not necessarily financial) on the local level to the extent
Fr Michael J McGivney Guild
Edward M. Cirar, Jr., Chairman
On October 31, 2020, Joseph Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, presided over Holy Mass to beatify our founder, Father Michael J. McGivney. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us in paragraph 2683 of the importance of those who have gone before us into the Kingdom of God in that “Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.” While we pray for him to be raised to the dignity of the altar, we must not neglect his role as our intercessor to God. We encourage you to continue to ask for our founder’s intercession daily.
Continue to promote the Father McGivney Guild through this beatification process and keep informed by receiving quarterly newsletters from the Father Michael J. McGivney Guild. Membership in the guild is free and open to not only Knights of Columbus members but anyone who is interested in our founder’s history. For more information, you can go to the Guild’s website at www.fathermcgivney.org. Please encouraged your Council, Assembly, and Auxiliary members to join the Guild by using the link below.
Religious Appreciation & Pilgrimages
Michael Calliote, Chairman
When Jesus walked this earth, he told his disciples “What so ever you do for the least of my brothers, you are doing it for me.” Our Order is established on that principle of Charity.
With our clergy appreciation programs throughout the year every Council, Assembly, and Auxiliary have an opportunity to show our clergy and religious just how much they are appreciated. We are blessed for each of their sacrifices made to follow Christ and devote their lives to serving our Mother Church and the needs of others. Please take time to show them by honoring them at your parish with the church community or taking them out to diner some evening.
For centuries Catholics have undertaken pilgrimages as journeys of devotion. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said “To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures or nature, art or history… To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God.” The State Council will continue to offer pilgrimages to help the Councils, Assemblies, and Auxiliaries further their faith and relationships with God. Councils can attend religious retreats and days of reflection organized by other groups. However, if they are attending a reflection and not planning it themselves, council attendance should be significant with at least 10 percent of the council or a minimum of 10 members participating.
Again, this fraternal year we are planning to have a pilgrimage in each diocese. More information will be published on these pilgrimages as the fraternal year gets underway, so please check the Faith Forms area at the link below often for updates.
Faith Enrichment
As Knights families, we are all called to serve God our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Mother Church and our parish communities. Included under the heading of faith enrichment, in cooperation with our pastors, Councils might:
- Meet with your Pastor and align the council’s agenda with his plans and
- Discuss goals and planned activities for the council’s fraternal year that will support the
- Ask for pastoral guidance to ensure the council remains on a sound spiritual
- Ask what your council can do to help support his pastoral work and then LISTEN!
- Implement programs that teach and promote the sustaining gift of God’s
- Implement programs that teach and promote our common
- Promote a positive image of our priests in the parish, in the home, and in the
Faith In Action Supreme Programs
Eucharistic Revival and Holy Hour
With the launch in June 2022 of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival this month, all families are urged to deepen their devotion to Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist through prayer, faithful attendance at Mass and adoration. The Supreme Council has also developed eucharistic procession training materials in consultation with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Supreme Knight has asked Knights to “stand ready” to help their bishops and pastors with revival
efforts. Councils that have encouraged eucharistic devotion in their brother Knights have seen it energize their charitable work. Look for videos supporting the Eucharistic Revival and ideas for supporting a Eucharistic procession at kofc.org.
Building the Domestic Church – Kiosk & Catholic Information Service
Help strengthen the domestic church (our families) by providing exceptional religious education materials to all Catholics. Building the Domestic Church Kiosks contain engaging, faith-based literature and are available for councils to distribute to members, parishioners, and the general public. By organizing activities in your parishes, councils will educate and evangelize using the rich resources found in the Catholic Information Service (CIS) Building the Domestic Church series of booklets.
For $150, councils will receive a Building the Domestic Church Kiosk (#BDC-K) and the first set of 225 booklets of the most popular CIS resources, aimed at helping Catholics to live out the Church’s vision for our families.
Into The Breach
Deepen member spirituality and formation to combat the crisis of religious faith in our world. Into The Breach is a call to battle for Catholic men which urges them to embrace masculine virtues in a world at crisis. Councils can institute men’s study groups to read the Apostolic Exhortation Into the breach and use copies of the Into the Breach Booklet and Study Guide as a resource.
Rosary Program
Build faithful families and communities through rosary prayer. The Knights of Columbus Rosary Program encourages councils to promote devotion to the rosary in our families and parishes by scheduling regular rosary prayer services. Kits with rosary rings, rosary prayer guides, and leader books are available for councils to order. This program encourages devotion to Mary, the patroness of our Order, and emphasizes the importance of prayer in community and as a family.
Sacramental Gifts
Support families during the most important events in the life of the domestic church: the sacraments. Councils will play an integral role in these momentous faith events and the lives of our families and parish community through prayer and the presentation of symbolic gifts. As children and adults members become more integrated into the life of the church and their parish, they should know that members of the Knights of Columbus will always be present in a tangible and meaningful way, regardless of who else is there for them.
Spiritual Reflection
Create annual opportunities for prayer and reflection together as a fraternity. Under the guidance of our chaplains, councils can attend a retreat or day of reflection together or organize their own event for the families of the parish.
Cor Meetings Initative
Jason Kehl, Chairman
The Cor initiative, introduced in 21 jurisdictions in a pilot phase in early 2023, includes regular gatherings, centered on prayer, formation and fraternity, outside the traditional Knights of Columbus council business meeting.
“The word ‘cor’ is Latin for heart … and the purpose of the Cor meeting is to get to the heart of the matter, and to form men to have the heart of a father. That is something every Catholic man needs,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly.
The initiative will be supported by a new Bible study for Catholic men, titled “Men of the Word,” which will provide discussion content for the Cor meeting. “It’s a spiritual resource that also offers practical advice — including showing our men how to pray with Scripture,” the supreme knight explained. “When it comes to understanding what it really means to be an authentic Catholic man, God’s word — praying with Scripture — is one of the most powerful tools that we have.”
