May 3, 2020
4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, World Day of Prayer for Vocations
“
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
”
(John 10:10)
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Thanking and Imploring St. Joseph the Worker
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While we feel joy and gratitude, at the same time we remember all still in need of a job or a living wage. At a general audience earlier this week, Pope Francis noted today's Memorial of St. Joseph and entrusted to God's mercy "all those who have been struck by unemployment because of the current pandemic.” Let us join him as he also prayed: “May the Lord be the Providence of all those in need, and encourage us to help them.”
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Reconsecration of our Nation to Mary
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Watch and join in prayer today
, May 1, at 3pm, as Archbishop Gregory joins with bishops from across the United States and Canada to renew the consecration of the two nations to the maternal care of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
"[A]n act of consecration is meant to be a reminder to the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s witness to the Gospel and to ask for her effective intercession before her Son on behalf of those in need." See the
USCCB Consecration webpage
.
Archbishop Gregory's prayer will be livestreamed from the Basicila of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on their
YouTube channel
. Read more in the
Catholic Standard.
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Praying the Rosary with Pope Francis
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- A link to the Holy Rosary Vatican webpage containing links to how to pray the Rosary, the Mysteries of the Rosary, and papal documents on the Rosary
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- Two prayers that we are invited to pray at the end of each Rosary. Pope Francis writes that he will pray these in spiritual union with us during the month. Click here for a printable copy of the prayers.
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Power of Prayer and the Road to Emmaus
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Were you with us for our first livestreamed parish Mass last Sunday, celebrated by Msgr. Jameson with Fr. Hurley concelebrating?
If so, you heard St. Luke's account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, which Msgr. Jameson described as "a testament to the power of prayer."
Emmaus and the Power of Prayer
After conversing with this stanger and then listening to him explain the Scriptures, something happens to the two disciples: "t
hey allow themselves to fall into a receptive, contemplative state. In essence, they leave space for God. This space enables them to hear the word of God in a new way. Their hearts burn within them. Their world, so recently shattered by grief, is now broken open again, but by joy."
Our Road to Emmaus
"We do not have to look far to find the same invitation to pray," Msgr. notes. Since mid-March we been compelled to "experience lock down in our homes, perhaps to be furloughed, to continue to work in areas considered essential for the needs of the people, or to find ourselves with people who now have the virus. ... Many today are struggling to pray their way through this tragedy. ... "
"The instinct to pray is natural and within every heart. When suffering comes, Jesus will be with us and will invite us to tell him about our pain. The decision to pray, the courage to face our deepest losses and sorrows in the light of Christ's death and resurrection, will help determine whether we emerge from hopelessness to glory."
As we continue living out our response to the coronavirus, many of us are finding hidden gifts of slowness, silence, even solitude. Can we set aside time for the two-way dialogue that Msgr. Jameson gently urges on us?
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Beginning this weekend, St. Matthew's will livestream two Masses from the Cathedral's St. Anthony Chapel on Sundays - 11:30am in Engish and 1:00pm in Spanish. Click below to watch live or later, or watch on our
YouTube channel or our
Facebook page.
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On this Fourth Sunday of Easter we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. As noted in our Choral Highlights website feature, images of Christ the Good Shepherd are found in the Responsorial Psalm, the second reading, the Alleluia Verse, and finally the reading from the Gospel of John.
Visit
Choral Highlights
for a taste of the music and text that the Schola Cantorum had planned to "bring to life the many scriptural references for this particularly vivid and poignant depiction of a shepherd who would lay down his life for his sheep."
All are invited to pray for our seminarians, deacons and priests on this Good Shepherd Sunday, also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Click on the photo for prayer inspiration from the Archdiocese of Washington Office of Priest Vocations.
Please pray also for our rectory priests, who will celebrate ordination anniversaries this month and next. Check next week's eletter for anniversary dates.
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Reflecting on Service at St. Matthew's
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St. Matthew's Coordinator for Social Justice & Community Services, Norma Canedo, has been a parishioner since childhood, celebrating her sacraments here and even attending her sister's recent (small) Cathedral wedding! Norma joined our Cathedral parish staff in 2011 and continues to distinguish herself with a heart for the poor and a willingness to work hard to serve them.
"
During this time of crisis, filled with uncertainty and anxiety, we have all seen humanity at its best; people desiring to give back by any means possible. Our parish is no different and is successfully attempting to maintain a sense of community, even in this time of social distancing.
Our Homeless Ministry’s Monday Morning Program has also evolved to keep up with this strong desire to maintain community and service alive and active. The ministry had to transform in order to uphold social distancing and CDC regulations. Originally, we planned to say goodbye to our homeless and low-income friends once more by giving out lunches in front of the Cathedral and explaining ... that we could no longer ... serve 60 plus people inside the parish conference room. ...
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It was on Monday, March 16th that the Monday Breakfast Ministry became the Sidewalk Ministry. Since then, with Monsignor Jameson’s blessing, we have been setting up our station in front of the Cathedral (sometimes under the garage entrance when it rains) and continue to serve our guests this way. ...
The interactions among our guests and volunteers is also a beauty to behold, as again our parish community embraces the call to recognize the dignity of all. Fr. John Benson’s company is also greatly appreciated by all who are present. One of our friends said it best when he joyfully exclaimed 'During this time, this is the only Church I get!'
While many doors are closed to the poor, I am most grateful that our parish is continuing to accept the call we find in the Gospel of Matthew by responding with a resounding 'Yes, I will!' to Christ’s 'Follow me.'"
Are you interested in serving in the Sidewalk Ministry?
We are looking for lunch donors and for servers. Monetary donations also are greatly appreciated as we continue distributing clothing and toiletries along with lunches. You may also give to our Emergency Assistance Program that helps parish families in need with their outstanding bills. Contact
Norma Canedo or
Fr. John Benson
.
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Ongoing Virtual Ministries
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St. Matthew's Adult Confirmation Preparation class, an outreach ministry to members of the Archdiocese of Washington, began on Thursday, April 30 via conference call. Registration remains open to new participants through May 14.
Find out more.
Contact
Theresa Prymuszewski
to register.
Please see the gold box below for links to our ongoing virtual ministries. Consider connecting with others for prayer, study and reflection; you are most welcome.
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Please remember in your prayers all our parishioners who are ill, including Celina Mendez.
If you would like the parish to pray for a parishioner who is ill, please email your request to
Msgr. Jameson
. Please be sure that you have permission before you send us their name.
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Offertory Giving and #GivingTuesdayNow
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While public Masses are suspended, we ask that you please continue to make an offertory gift to support our parish. If you haven’t yet enrolled in FaithDirect, our electronic giving program, you may do so at
St. Matthew's Faith Direct page (Church code DC284) (or click on the Faith Direct icon). FaithDirect is the best way to help, as sustained giving is the key to our survival as a parish.
To make an online gift now using PayPal or your credit or debit card,
click here
or on the icon below. For those who have used the QR code in our music leaflet to make a donation, the PayPal and debit/credit options are the same payment options offered via the QR code.
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Did you know that next Tuesday is #GivingTuesdayNow? This new global day of giving and unity will take place on May 5, 2020, in emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Be on the lookout for ways to participate.
Thank you for your continued support. Let us remain united in Christ, one in the Spirit. Let us help and pray for one another until we gather again.
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©
2017- 2020
All rights reserved
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