Third Sunday of Lent | Listening to the Word

Third Sunday of Lent

March 7, 2021

"The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.” (Responsorial Psalm, Ps 19:8)

In this edition:

Music in the Cathedral, First Scrutiny for RCIA Elect, Almsgiving for Adopt-a-Family, Lenten Food Drive with the Knights, Celebrating the Year of St. Joseph with a new Bible study, "Fasting for Faith & Fitness"

In Sunday's Gospel, the disciples' recalling of the words of Scripture is an apt reminder of our call to read and contemplate the Word with renewed purpose during Lent. We invite you to a special opportunity for studying the Word in our new Monday evening series, St. Joseph: Man of the Beatitudes, beginning March 8, led by our Dominican seminarians. Say yes to this invitation to spiritually prepare for both the celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19 in this Year of St. Joseph, and of The Resurrection of the Lord!

Please remember the sick who have asked for our prayers, especially, Msgr. Godfrey Mosley, Gloria Harrington, Rick Bell and Bill Largess; and for all those who are suffering from the coronavirus.

Find Mass Intentions through March 14, 2021.

Sunday Masses

7am (English) | 10am (English)

1pm (Spanish) | *5:30pm (English)

*5:30pm Mass interpreted for the deaf

All Masses are open to the public, with maximum capacity of 150 persons.

Reservations not taken

Online Offertory options:

PayPal with debit & credit options | FaithDirect

Livestreamed Masses

10am (English)

Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, celebrant

YouTube | Facebook | Program | Readings

1pm (Spanish)

Fr. John Benson, celebrant

YouTube | Facebook | Program | Readings

Sunday Afternoon Recital

Join us in the Cathedral on Sunday, March 7 at 3:30pm for an afternoon recital by Lynn Trapp. Featured works include Organ Sonata No 1, by Alexandre Guilmant, Passacaglia in C Minor BWV 582 by Johann Sebastian Bach, Triptych by Stephen Paulus, Te Deum by the recitalist. View the recital program. Strict social distancing and CDC guidelines will be observed. Seating areas will be roped off and face masks will be required to enter the Cathedral. All are also welcome to attend virtually through the Cathedral YouTube livestream. Contact Thomas Stehle, Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Director of Music Ministries, for more information.

Lenten Highlights

Click on the images below for more information on our Lenten offerings.

The Stations of the Cross, written and recorded in a collaborative project by St. Matthew's Cathedral parish community, features the stations in the interior of the Cathedral. Click above to watch and pray with us.

As Christians, our Lenten almsgiving is an expression of our conversion in relation to others. On Friday, March 5, join us at 6:30pm and learn about Horton's Kids, a local organization serving children in under-resourced DC communities. Join fellow parishioners and friends at https://gwu.webex.com/gwu/j.php?MTID=m57c297e581b95770c4198bde365a4c3b. (ID: 1203061213, password: rUB9AsJY), or by phone at (US toll) +1 202-860-2110 (access code: 1203061213).

On Sunday, March 7, Fr. Benson leads the Via Crucis in the Cathedral at 2pm, immediately following the 1pm Mass (no confessions this Sunday).

At the 5:30pm Mass on Sunday, March 7, Fr. Benson will lead our four RCIA Elect in the First Scrutiny. It will mark the second celebration of the RCIA Scrutinies with pandemic protocols here at St. Matthew's. During the Scrutinies with our Elect, we look within ourselves to find anything that keeps us from Christ and then look to Christ to heal those weaknesses and to strengthen us as we face further temptations. Please keep our four Elect in your prayers.

Another almsgiving opportunity - our Easter gift card drive starts Monday, March 7. Our Social Justice & Community Service Committee invites donations to be used to purchase grocery gift cards for families in need this Easter season. Donate via check (payable to Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle with "AAF Easter" on the memo line) or via PayPal or FaithDirect, or donate $25 Safeway or Giant gift cards.

Our Dominican seminarians, Br. Simon Teller and Br. Philip Nolan are back with a new Bible study! Beginning March 8, they lead us in a four-week series on the life of St. Joseph, in honor of Pope Francis establishing 2021 as the Year of St. Joseph. To sign up, email Br. Simon, or just connect to the Zoom meeting if you're free. On Monday, March 8, the topic is The Dream of St. Joseph: "Thirsting for Righteousness." Assigned readings are Matthew 1:18-24; Matthew 5:6. Join the Zoom meeting at

https://zoom.us/j/97507035777?pwd=cWFZNlJZVHI1bW5Qd3c1eDJtbVNOZz09 (Meeting ID: 975 0703 5777, Passcode: ZV8ZHh).

More on the Year of St. Joseph. With the Apostolic Letter “Patris Corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”) issued in 2020 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis recalled the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron Saint of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, he proclaimed a Year of Saint Joseph from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. At the end of the Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis added a prayer to St. Joseph:

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

In you Mary placed her trust;

With you Christ became a man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

Show yourself a father

And guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage.

And defend us from every evil. Amen.

Msgr. Jameson shares a recent reflection on the upcoming feast of St. Joseph, by Archbishop William E. Lori, that asks what we can learn from St. Joseph's virtues―from his faith and integrity, and his compassion and tender, sacrificial love for Mary and Jesus. Read Archbishop Lori's reflection in the Catholic Review.

Doug Lawrence, M.A.P.S. joins us on Zoom on Tuesday, March 9 for the second lecture in our series on the three pivotal spiritual practices, offering a holistic look at fasting. Doug studied theology and philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and obtained a Master’s in Pastoral Studies from Washington Theological Union. He is also a certified personal fitness trainer with the American Council on Exercise. Doug has sought to inspire growth in others through faith, education, and fitness. He believes that we reach our full God-given potential by integrating our body, mind, and spirit. Join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81895811640.

(Meeting ID: 818 9581 1640) One tap mobile +13017158592,,81895811640# US (Washington D.C).

The Knights of Columbus Potomac Council invite your contributions of non-perishable food items to a Lenten Food Drive. Needed items include pasta, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, canned meat and fish, peanut butter, jelly, and tomato sauce. Drop off donations before or after Masses on Sunday, March 14, or in front of the Cathedral that day anytime between 7am and 6:30pm. Click above for more information in English and Spanish, including how to make a monetary donation.

Confession continues to be available by appointment and on several Sundays of Lent after the 1pm Spanish Mass. You also are invited to pray for a seminarian this Lent - visit the Archdiocese of Washington Virtual Vocations Tree sponsored by St. John Neumann Parish, choose a seminarian, and download his prayer card (cards are in English and Spanish). Make it a Lenten offering to pray for the men called by God to serve the Church of Washington. Check our Lenten webpage for a full listing of events in in English and in Spanish.