On Wednesday of this week, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved by vote of 10-7 a limited military strike against Syria. The committee approved the military action while suggesting that the action would include in some form or fashion a change of leadership in Syria. The matter still has to be voted on by the full Senate and the House with the outcome at this point unknown.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has urged international leaders not resort to military action, tweeting on Thursday, "I ask each party in the conflict not to close themselves in solely on their own interests. #prayforpeace"

Pope Francis has also called upon all men and women of good will to pray for peace this Saturday, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace. In his call for the prayer vigil, the Pope reminds us all that "peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected" and that "all men and women of good will are bound by the task of pursuing peace."  

Have you ever wondered how your Missouri tax dollars are spent in Jefferson City? Governor Jay Nixon's recommended operating budget for FY 2014 totals $8.28 billion in state appropriations, not including federal funds or revenue generated from other than state sources which account for an additional $17.41 billion.[1] 

The $8.28 billion budget is broken down as follows:

Human Services                                 $2.46 billion (29.7%)

Higher Education                                $857 million (10.3%)

Corrections & Public Safety                  $687 million (8.3%)

Judiciary, Elected Officials, Gen. Assembly     $271 million                                                                                   (3.5%)

All others                                         $1.05 billion (12.7%)[2] 

Recently Pope Francis received a letter from a young woman seeking guidance after she discovered she was pregnant and feeling "alone". 

The Pope called her soon after receiving her letter. Click here to read an English translation of the story.  

Living "off the land" may sound like a bygone era, but for some Catholics it is a chosen way of life that strengthens their faith and their family.  

Based on the Catholic Land Movement that began in Great Britain in the early 20th century the New Catholic Land Movement seeks to return the family to the land as a way to help families grow together through work, prayer and a simpler way of life that appreciates the rural culture.

The presenter for this workshop is Kevin Ford, an organic farmer and Catholic Land Movement blogger who lives in Kansas. Come learn about this exciting movement and its impact on family life!

In 2011, in the state of Missouri 154,200 people were either blind or had a visual impairment. Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), a program through the Department of Social Services, provides a variety of services to eligible blind and visually impaired Missourians. The program helped 2,282 Missourians last year.

The program offers vocational rehabilitation, assistive technology resources, independent living rehabilitation, transition services, a business enterprise program, children's services, employer services and a prevention program called Blindness Education, Screening and Treatment Program or BEST. These services offer training, access to resources, counseling services, guidance, and more.

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind was created to provide a variety of services in order to help those who are blind or have visual impairments to reach their maximum potential in all areas of life.

The criteria for the programs includes having a severe visual impairment or being legally blind; the impairment must create a barrier to employment and vocational services are required.

Anyone interested in the services offered by Rehabilitation Services for the Blind should call 1-800-592-6004.