What is the Religious Information Bureau?

This program was originally set up to help non-Catholics inquiring about the Catholic Church. It is also used by Catholics who want to learn more about their faith. Non-Catholics might take the Home Study Course to learn about Catholicism prior to joining the Church through a parish CCD program. Catholics take the courses to update their knowledge of Church teachings and the Bible.

For more information contact:

Bob Hawkins, RIB Director   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

OUR 2012-2013 GOAL HAS BEEN SET AT $280,000.00

Achieving our Goal:

We ask that every Knight in the Missouri Jurisdiction follow the state's request and donate to the Religious Information Bureau by giving at least $7.50 through its Council.  Each member of the Ladies Auxiliary is asked to give $3.75.  Clown Clubs, Fourth Degree Assemblies, Columbian Squires, and Columbus Girls are asked to donate to this worthwhile program.  With a 100% participation from the 42,000 Knights in Missouri we would raise $315,000.  Add $15,000 from the Ladies Auxiliaries and the total grows to $330,000.

Ways you can achieve the Goal:

• The easiest way is to include it with your Council or Auxiliary dues.
• Encourage your parish to use the Home Study Service booklets and materials for their youth and adult education programs. Hold classes using the R.I.B. materials before, during or after Council meetings. This would educate all of our members and then they would understand what the program is all about.
• Hold a fund raiser to collect the necessary amount to achieve your quota, then go above your goal!
• Earn a $50 credit for your council by displaying a R.I.B. Board at a Public event. (This credit can be given once each fraternal year. The application can be found on the menu to the right.)

Council Awards: Each Council achieving 100% of their quota will receive a silver plate, and Councils achieving 125% or more of their quota will receive a gold plate, to affix to the Council's R.I.B. Achievement Award plaque. Councils achieving 125% of quota will also be honored with the R.I.B. Apostolate Cross pin.

Special Recognition: All Councils achieving at least 100% of its quota by March 31, 2013 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 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 R.I.B. Apostolate Cross pin.

A "Special" Plaque will be awarded for the following achievments:

• Highest Percentage Per Member
• Highest Gross Amount Donated By An Individual Council
• Highest Dollar Amount Donated Over Quota

Ladies Auxiliaries: Each Ladies Auxiliary that meets the quotas established under Council Awards will receive the same awards.  The exception being that the pin will be the Ladies R.I.B. Apostolate Cross pin.

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.

Catholic Home Study Service (CHSS), sponsored by the Missouri Knights of Columbus Religious Information Bureau, has been offering free courses on the Catholic Faith for more than seventy years. They help others gain a clearer knowlegde of Catholicism as a step toward becoming Catholic, or just to learn what we believe.

It is located on the campus of Saint Mary's of the Barrens, in Perryville, Missouri.

Rev. Father Oscar Lukefahr, C.M. is the Director of Catholic Home Study Service.  Fr. Luke has served the CHSS and R.I.B. causes for many years, we are glad to have him back.

More information about Fr. Luke's return, and news about CHSS and AMM, can be found here.

Further details about CHSS can be found here.

And here's the order form for any of the Free Study Courses:  PDF     Docx

For more information, look at the CHSS web website.

There are many enlightening sources of information on Catholicism available as pamphlets.
These pamphlets are usually displayed in your R.I.B. board.

List of pamphlets :   DOC   or   PDF

To Order Pamphlets, contact:
Catholic Home Study Service
P.O. Box 363, Perryville, MO 63775
(573) 547-4084

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web Pages:
www.amm.org/chss
www.morib.org