Mary Immaculate

September 11, 2024

Dear Mary Immaculate Parishioners, including the Newman Center Community
and the Mission of St. Rose,

Fr. Callistus Okoroji, former pastor of Queen of Peace Parish in Ewing and St.
Joseph Parish in Canton and temporary Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph
Parish in Edina, has been granted permission by Bishop McKnight to return to his
diocese of incardination, the Diocese of Okigwe, Nigeria, at the request of his
Bishop, effective September 6.

Bishop McKnight has appointed Fr. Boniface Nzabonimpa as Pastor of Queen of
Peace and St. Joseph and to continue as Pastor of St. Joseph in Edina. He will no
longer be temporary Parochial Administrator of Mary Immaculate and St. Rose
and Chaplain of the Newman Center.

Bishop McKnight has appointed Fr. Joseph Luzindana from Associate Pastor of
the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City to temporary Parochial Administrator
of Mary Immaculate, St. Rose, and the Newman Center, and to continue as
Diocesan Moderator of Youth and Y ow1g Adult Ministry. Fr. Joseph will preside
at the Masses beginning this weekend. It is planned that he will remain in
Kirksville until the Pastor returns.

Please keep Fr. Joseph, Fr. Boniface, Fr. Callistus, Msgr. Makarewicz, and your
faith community in your prayers.

Rev. Christopher L. Cordes
Vicar for Priests
Diocese of Jefferson City
_______________________________________________________________________

Here is the update from the diocese that was read at Masses August 24/25:

"This is a brief update from the diocese.  Msgr. Makarewicz will be away for at least six more weeks.  We can't provide additional information because he hasn't given permission to do so.

There have been rumors that Msgr. Makarewicz will not return to the parish.  The plan is for him to return.  Nothing is absolute, but the expectation of the diocese is that he will return.

[Fr. Simeon's] assignment as temporary administrator will end [today] (8/27). Bishop McKnight has appointed Fr. Boniface Nzabonimpa, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Edina, as temporary administrator of Mary Immaculate and St. Rose. He will move to Kirksville [today]. Another priest has been appointed temporary administrator of St. Joseph for the duration of the time Fr. Boniface will be here.

The Mass schedule will be affected by this change.  There will not be an 11 o'clock Mass at Mary Immaculate on Sundays. The temporary administrator for St. Joseph is also pastor of other parishes, so he will not be able to provide the Mass at the Newman Center.  The temporary schedule will be:

5:30pm on Saturday at Mary Immaculate

7:30am on Sunday at St. Rose

9:00am on Sunday at Mary Immaculate

11:00am on Sunday at the Newman Center

This change will take place [this] weekend, August 31/September 1.

The weekday schedule will have one change. After this week, there will not be a Mass at Mary Immaculate on Wednesdays, as Fr. Boniface will have the Mass at the Newman Center on Wednesdays [at 8pm].

Please continue to pray for Msgr. Makarewicz and for our parish family and the parishes and priests affected by these temporary changes."

If you would like to send a card or note to Msgr. Makarewicz, you may mail it or drop it off to the parish center, or put it in the offering basket at Mass, and we will forward these to the chancery to be passed on to him.