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Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 28, 2024
"Remain in me, as I remain in you." (John 15:4)
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In this edition:
Easter Mission in Dupont Circle
Young Adult News
Ordination News
Weekend Retreat in July
& more
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Oneness with God
"There is nothing we have to do to get God because God is always and forever one with us, this very second! ...Spiritual growth may take time, but we can also enjoy this divine identity right now." Read the full reflection, and check out the Mystical Word archive.
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Let us pray:
—for the sick, especially Dan Evans, Maria da Silva, Paul Fry, Francisca Granados Flores, Soila Manchame, Margaret Judy, Sofía Valero, Dorianne Alvarado, Donald Klawiter, Simona, Halina Mielnik, Camilia Juber Carmona, John Guerriero, Elsa Henderson, Yvette Romero, Enmanuel Del Valle, Patricia Castro, Michael Harrill, Eileen Elvin, Geralda Masi, Katie Roland, Peter Tan, Mary & Carl Milewski, Therese Fergo, Maria Gianino, Yolanda Mendez Acevedo, Anne Rader, Robyn Nishimi, Paul Gruber, Sick of Mufide Rende Family, and Blanca Rose Juarez.
This Sunday's Meetups —
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Easter Mission
Fr. Benson gives an Easter Mission Sunday afternoons in Dupont Circle, through May 5. Come out and enjoy it in the spring weather this Sunday at 2:30pm!
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The Cathedral Young Adult ministry (C†YA) serves the community of Catholic adults ages 21 - 39 who live and work in DC, supporting them in the continued growth of their faith, discernment of their vocations, and development as stewards of the Church through opportunities for socializing, community service and spiritual reflection.
Sunday Night with C†YA
Join us Sunday nights at 6:30pm, following the 5:30pm Mass, in the North Conference Room. Meet other Catholics, talk about the faith, and build friendships!
Tuesday Happy Hour
Come for a C†YA Happy Hour at 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 30 at Zorba’s Café in Dupont Circle, and every other Tuesday through the summer. Grab a drink and get to know the group!
Let's Stay Connected
C†YA uses a WhatsApp Community to plan future events, post updates, and stay in touch! You can join using this link.
Upon this Rock
On May 20 we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, celebrated each year on the Monday after Pentecost. Check out the special event featured on the Young Adults webpage — Upon this Rock, Celebrating Mary, Mother of the Church, with two priest bands, including our own priests of the Archdiocese of Washington, headlining at Pearl Street Warehouse in SW DC on May 20 at 7pm. See the Facebook event and buy tickets online. All are welcome!
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El Obispo Evelio habló a las familias en el Grupo de Oración en Español del martes pasado y posó con la clase de Confirmación en español de este año, Fátima Aybar y el Padre John Benson. / Bishop Evelio spoke to families at last Tuesday’s Spanish Prayer Group and posed with this year’s Spanish Confirmation class, Fatima Aybar, and Fr. John Benson. | |
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Eventos
- Grupo de oración en español – los martes de abril y mayo a las 7pm en el salón de conferencias del oeste (el martes 14 de mayo, en el salón de conferencias del norte con P. Juan Noboa, Tema: La Liturgia.)
- Clase de Bautismo en español – el domingo 19 de mayo a las 9am en el salón de conferencias del este
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El Diácono Isaac habló en el Retiro de Justicia Social del verano pasado en el Monasterio Franciscano. / Deacon Isaac spoke at last summer's Social Justice Retreat at the Franciscan Monastery. | |
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Noticias de Ordenación
El diácono Isaac Sagastume será ordenado sacerdote por el Cardenal Gregory, junto con otros 15 diáconos de la Arquidiócesis de Washington, el sábado 15 de junio en la Basílica del Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepción.
El Diácono Isaac, quien está en formación en el Seminario Redemptoris Mater, ha ministrado este año en la Catedral tanto en español como en inglés, sirviendo y predicando en las Misas dominicales, presidiendo las Horas Santas, preparando a las parejas para el matrimonio y a los padres para el bautismo, celebrando bautismos, dirigiendo el Vía Crucis y enseñando RICA para los jóvenes.
¡Oremos por el diácono Isaac mientras se prepara para la ordenación!
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St. Paul's Letter to the Romans
Join us for a NEW Tuesday evening series of classes on St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, taught by L.J. Milone - begun last week! Meet next in the East Conference Room on April 30 at 7pm. READ MORE
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May Book Club Selection, Let's get reading
Join the Cathedral Book Club on Thursday, May 23 in the West Conference Room, 7 - 8pm, to discuss "Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America," by Boston College Professor of History Heather Cox Richardson. Fr. Jack Hurley leads the discussion.
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Weekend Retreat at Loyola Retreat House
Save the dates
Join us July 26 – July 28 for "Light of Christ," a weekend retreat for St. Matthew's parishioners and friends at Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner, MD. The weekend includes talks, silence for prayer, Adoration, confession, and ample social time.
For more information, email L.J. Milone. Registration information available shortly.
Christian Meditation
Drop in for a meditation session with instruction and practice, offered by L.J. Milone twice a week on Zoom (Sunday afternoons at 1:30pm and Wednesday evenings at 8pm), and in-person in the St. Francis Chapel (Mondays & Wednesdays at 12:45pm).
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National Eucharistic Revival
This year, the U.S. bishops are sponsoring a National Eucharistic Revival. The aim is to kindle love for the Risen Jesus in the Eucharist and revitalize the Catholic people’s participation in Sunday Mass. To this end, we present brief weekly meditations on the Eucharist until the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, June 2, 2024.
From the writings of Ruth Burrows, OCD
Ruth Burrows, OCD, "The Essence of Prayer"
This is the heart of our subject: that the essence of prayer is God. The God of Jesus, total Given-ness, is always there to love us and, in that loving, transforming and `saving' of us, brings us to that perfect fulfilment for which we were created. On our side prayer is simply being there: open, exposed, inviting God to do all God wants. Prayer is not our activity, our getting in touch with God, our coming to grips with or making ourselves desirable to God. We can do none of these things, nor do we need to, for God is there ready to do everything for us, loving us unconditionally. We all know this in theory; but how many really know it in terms of practical living? Implicitly, if not explicitly, we think we have to find our own way. Our truth, we assume, is identical with how it seems to us; what we think; our point of view. It is our own spiritual life we are wanting and our own prayer. Yet it is a statement of incontrovertible truth that `I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by me.' (Jn. 14.6) The surest help we can give to ourselves and others is to exhort them to an ardent coming to grips with Jesus in the New Testament so as to `get God right' and the constant plea for greater faith. Nothing else is needed.
There is no ladder to climb; God has come down to us, God who comes most surely to the lowly, the poor, those who long for the Divine and who are not seeking for themselves in any way.
The Mass is the supreme expression of prayer because it holds, for me, at this moment, the mystery of Jesus himself in his surrender to the Father and in the Father's response to that surrender. Here we see that it is God who does everything. I can only be there, saying my fiat and surrendering with Jesus. This is the pattern of all true prayer. Once we have really grasped this, prayer is simple indeed - so simple that it can easily scandalize because it isn't sublime or exalted enough! It is simple but it isn't easy, just because it is sacrifice and surrender, and these are never easy. It is life lived out for God alone.
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Ordinations to the Diaconate and the Priesthood
Two men in active ministry at our Cathedral parish for the past year soon will take next steps on their vocations journey.
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Seminarian Daniel J. (Dan) Roberts shortly will be ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Most Rev. David Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh. This weekend will be Dan's last time serving at a Cathedral Mass before his ordination.
Dan has served regularly at Sunday Masses and special prayer services, led Stations of the Cross, prepared couples for marriage and parents for baptism, and taught RCIA classes. We will welcome him back to ministry at the Cathedral parish in the fall, when he returns to Theological College for studies before ordination to the priesthood.
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Deacon Isaac Sagastume will be ordained a priest by Cardinal Gregory, along with 15 other deacons of the Archdiocese of Washington, on Saturday, June 15 at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Deacon Isaac, who is in formation at Redemptoris Mater Seminary, has ministered this year at the Cathedral in both Spanish and English, serving and preaching at Sunday Masses, presiding at Holy Hours, preparing couples for marriage and parents for baptism, celebrating baptisms, leading Stations of the Cross, and teaching RCIA for youth.
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Let's keep both men in our prayers as they prepare for their ordinations, and also pray in thanksgiving for their ministries at St. Matthew's!
Holy Hour for Vocations
Save the date for a Eucharistic Holy in the Cathedral on Monday, June 10 (6 - 7pm) to pray for the 16 (!) men to be ordained this year as priests for the Archdiocese of Washington.
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Green Team Earth Day Cleanup
Once again, a hearty crew from St. Matthew's celebrated Earth Day weekend by joining in the Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day cleanup of Kingman Island. Saturday's work marked the 5th year of participation by the Green Team in this event. Congratulations and thank you, Green Team!
SJC Meeting
St. Matthew's Social Justice Committee meets Monday, April 29 at 6:15pm in the North Conference Room. Interested parishioners are welcome to attend.
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If you missed our April 21 Earth Day Lessons and Carols, click above to check out the video of the full service on the Cathedral YouTube account, and enjoy photos from Catholic Standard. | |
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Rectory Office Holidays
The rectory office will be closed on Saturday & Sunday, April 27/28.
RCIA Inquiry: Exploring the Catholic Faith
Wednesdays at 7pm
St. Matthew's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Inquiry meets Wednesday, May 1 and most Wednesday evenings. FIND MORE INFORMATION
Celebration of the Word
Wednesdays at 7:30pm
Join us Wednesday evenings (next gathering, May 1) at 7:30pm in the East Conference Room for a simple liturgy: readings, a homily, and prayers.
Prayer List
To add a name to the prayer list of the sick or the recently deceased, email Msgr. Jameson. If asking for prayers for a person who is sick, please first get their permission.
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See you 'round the Cathedral! | | | | |
