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This article originally appeared on the Catholic Missourian’s website and can be read in its entirety there.

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Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri (CCCNM) is going places, having placed its new Mobile Resource Bus (MRB) into service.

Dubbing it the “Chariot of Charity,” Bishop W. Shawn McKnight blessed the recently donated and outfitted vehicle at a June 6 ceremony outside the Alphonse J. Schwartze Memorial Catholic Center in Jefferson City.

“This bus will bring the Kingdom of God to those who are in need,” said Bishop McKnight. “With this bus, we will be able to put into action the faith and devotion of so many good hearts and supporters of Catholic Charities.”

Attending the blessing ceremony were Bishop Emeritus John R. Gaydos and several priests, diocesan Chancery employees, CCCNM board and staff members and donors, and representatives of SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospitals in Jefferson City and Audrain County.

CCCNM Executive Director Dan Lester said the MRB will be “an office on wheels, allowing Catholic Charities to take our services directly to those in need.”

Catholic Charities’ community-services employees will staff the MRB, allowing them to meet directly with people seeking assistance with a variety of basic needs — from housing to energy assistance to food.

“We’ll be collaborating with our Catholic parishes, hospitals, clinics and other faith-based and secular social-service providers in a variety of locations throughout the 38 counties of the Diocese of Jefferson City,” said Mr. Lester.

He noted that people in rural areas who are seeking social services often have to travel great distances to get what they need, “taxing their already limited resources.”

The vehicle will also be used in the aftermath of natural disasters to transport supplies and provide a safe meeting place for Catholic Charities disaster-response staff and survivors who have been displaced, he said.

Read the full article on the Catholic Missourian’s website