While many of the events have been introduced before and have their own publicity in the bulletin, I wanted to use my bulletin column to highlight their importance. With the school year having started and many social activities already crowding the schedule, we still need to make time for Church activities, especially Sunday Mass. 

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Training:  The first of two scheduled training sessions took place on Saturday, August 26 at 10:00 AM in the church. The second training session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Every Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion who serves either at the Eucharist or brings Communion to the homebound is expected to attend either one of these training sessions. It has been considerable time since there has last been a full training, re-certification with the Bishop, and a public commissioning of these important liturgical ministers. Please remember that every EMHC must be VIRTUS compliant, that is, has gone through the Safe Environment training and background checks that are mandatory for all volunteers of any type in our parish. This training is also for those who have expressed interest in becoming Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion for the first time at Mary Immaculate or Saint Rose. If either of these training dates do not work out for some, we will provide an alternate date and time should that be necessary. Please contact Msgr. Mak if you have questions or need further information.

Lector Training:  Training for all those who proclaim the Word at the Eucharist is scheduled for either of two dates: Saturday, September 16^th from 10:00 AM to Noon or Sunday, September 24 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. We will begin in the parish center for a review of the particulars of the ministry and then transition to the church for some practical advice and collaborative learning as we seek to better our service at the liturgy. Every lector at weekday or Sunday Mass is expected to attend one of these training sessions. Again, it has been a long time since there has been an opportunity to review best practices for reading at Mass. While we have excellent and dedicated readers, there are some practices that need attention, especially for consistency’s sake and for ensuring that we are all working out of the same policies and procedures. Please remember that every lector must be VIRTUS compliant before they exercise their ministry in public. That means that they have gone through Safe Environment Training and have had the requisite background checks. This training is for all those who currently read at Mass and all those who wish to begin this ministry. Please try to attend either of the dates. If necessary, we will schedule another training session for those who can’t attend these. If you have any questions, please contact Msgr. Mak for more information.

QPR Training: While I just recently wrote about promoting awareness regarding mental health and well-being, I am taking this opportunity to remind people of the event the Social Concerns Commission is sponsoring on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the parish center. The parish will be hosting a QPR training session in the Parish Center of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church. QPR is a 45 to 60 minute presentation on some basic mental health first aid to a person particularly where the potential of self-harm is recognized. This response is something that we can all provide to someone we encounter who is having some emotional, mental, or behavioral difficulties, or experiencing a crisis, until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.  We chose QPR because it is a program that specifically addresses an adequate response for a person who is at risk of self-harm. Anyone 18 years of age or older is welcome to attend. To help us prepare for hosting, please email the parish office or phone in that you are coming. I know it will be worth your while and will be a benefit to our whole community to have as many as possible be given some of this basic training in responding to a mental health crisis.

PEACE:  Parish Engagement and Charity Event:  On Saturday, September 23, 2023, Mary Immaculate and St. Rose will be hosting an outreach event presented by Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri. The Social Concerns Commission has been exploring ways to bring the mission of Catholic Charities to our area. In the meanwhile, Catholic Charities has been exploring ways to reach out to the various areas of our diocese and promote awareness of their services and mission. The event will take place in the Parish Center from 9:00 AM to Noon and begin with a light breakfast. A key feature of this event will be a presentation on the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church by Sr. Kathleen Wegman, SSND. Join in a morning of faith, formation, and fellowship along with presentations on Charity and Mercy Grants and an opportunity to connect with Catholic Charities and with other Catholics from the Northern Deanery who are involved in our diocesan mission of making parishes centers of mercy and charity.

5:30 PM Saturday Mass at the Newman Center on September 16:  It’s Family Day at Truman, so once again we are assisting our brothers and sisters at the Newman Center by having our Saturday vigil Mass at the Newman center instead of Mary Immaculate Church. Confessions will take place as usual at 4:30 PM but at the Newman Center in the chapel.