Christians in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East are facing severe persecution as unstable political regimes in these parts of the world are unable to provide protection from growing acts of violence. Local Coptic Christian leaders are calling for restraint and forgiveness, even as they seek to engage their attackers in dialogue.  

Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt has filed a bi-partisan bill in the U.S. Senate that will create a new U.S. Department of State special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East aimed at promoting and protecting religious freedoms. The bill (S. 653) is known as the Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2013 and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Bishop Richard E.Pates of Des Moines recently issued a statement updating the Bishops on the issues facing Christians in Egypt and wrote a letter to Secretary of State Kerry, urging him to take action in response to the crisis there.

In a separate letter to Secretary of State Kerry, Bishop Pates called for the U.S. to seek a negotiated peace in Syria, stating that "dialogue and negotiation ... is the only option" for addressing the increasing violence there.

Fifty years ago this week, the historic March on Washington took place where the Reverend Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. What many don't know is that the second half of that speech - the" I Have a Dream" part - was improvised. When famed Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson shouted out: "Tell Them About the Dream, Martin," Dr. King departed from is prepared remarks and launched into those soaring passages known to almost every school child today. Here is a fascinating account of the story behind the speech recently published by the New York Times. You may also want to view this ABC interview with Dr. Clarence Jones, an attorney who crafted the prepared part of Dr. King's address.

If you are 60 years of age or older and had any involvement in the 1960's Civil Rights Movement or if you love Gospel Music, you know who Mahalia Jackson was. But we all don't fit that description. Here is some biographical information from NPR. And here is an video of her singing How I Got Over. The video is not very slick and has some rough patches in it, but Jackson's passion for the Lord and her way of connecting with the congregation comes through just fine.

One estimate says over 10,000 Catholics participated in the 1963 March on Washington, D.C.. Archbishop Patrick A. Boyle of Washington gave the invocation. A recent article in the St. Louis Review recalls some local Catholic involvement in the March.

The growing disparity in the income of U.S. workers is the theme of the Labor Day Statement of Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, chairman of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. The bishop states: "The growing imbalances are not inevitable, but demand boldness in promoting a just economy that reduces inequality by creating jobs that pay a living wage and share with workers some profits of the company."  

The names of all those who attend this year's MCC Annual Assembly will be placed in a drawing for three prizes that will be awarded at the Annual Assembly on September 28. First prize is a 23 inch tall lawn statute of St. Francis of Assisi. The beautifully colored statue depicts St. Francis holding a cross and rosary. A small bird sits on his arm. Don't miss this opportunity! Register today! Participants must be present to win.

The United States has the third largest Catholic population in world, largely because of its growing Latino population. Latino Catholicism represents a diversity of cultures and traditions. At the MCC Annual Assembly a workshop will be offered that explores this rich faith heritage that has a deep devotion to Mary, a strong family unit and a vibrant spirituality.

In this workshop F. Javier Orozco, Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Louis; Sharon Weidelman, Director of Family Life Ministries in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese; and Fr. Daniel Robles, Pastor from St. Eustachius Catholic Church in Portageville, will explore the richness of Latino Catholicism and discuss practical ways to engage Latino Catholics in our parish communities and local churches. This enlightening workshop is a must see!

Lifeline Missouri, a telephone assistance program overseen by the Missouri Public Service Commission, helped 227,000 Missourians in 2012.

Lifeline Missouri is a discounted telephone plan for those who meet the criteria for the Low-Income Discount Plan or the Disabled Discount Plan. Lifeline Missouri allows for discounts but does not cover the cost of phones or all services offered by the phone company. Some service providers will allow for free plans with certain restrictions. Additional services like call waiting, Caller ID and text messaging are not discounted. Each service provider has forms to enroll in the program. 

There are numerous cell phone and landline providers in the state who are a part of the program. 

State employees can now support their local Catholic Charities agency through the Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign! Every Catholic Charities agency in the state is an eligible charity for the state campaign. Use the codes below on your donation form to support your local agency:

Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri - 4058

Diocese of Jefferson City

Catholic Charities of St. Louis - 5333

Archdiocese of St. Louis

Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph - 3414 (Kansas City) or 1302 (Northwest)

Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri - 6023 (Southwest) or 7023 (Southeast)

Diocese of Springfield-Cape