Pentecost Sunday
May 23, 2021
"When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together." (Acts 2:1)
In this edition:
Pentecost Confirmations with Cardinal Gregory, Wednesday Organ Recital, Bilingual Reflection on the Sanctity of Life, Summer Bible Study, Book Club, Holy Hour for Vocations & more!
The Cathedral's COVID-19 protocols remain in place until otherwise announced. Any changes that may be made will be announced on our website and in future Parish Updates or Rector's Letters.
Sunday Masses

 7am (English) | 10am (English) 
1pm (Spanish) | *5:30pm (English)
*5:30pm Mass interpreted for the deaf
Masses are open to the public, with maximum capacity of 150 persons.
Reservations not taken
Online Offertory options:
Livestreamed Masses

10am (English), Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, celebrant
1pm (Spanish), P. John Benson, celebrante
Pentecost Confirmations

Cardinal Gregory will celebrate a special Mass at 3pm on Pentecost Sunday for this year's Confirmation Candidates, Sponsors and their families. This year 26 Candidates will be confirmed during the Mass, which will be livestreamed on the Archdiocese of Washington YouTube channel. The Cathedral will present 14 Candidates, listed below, to be confirmed that day.

Brendaliz Chavez | Gabriel Chavez | Vincent DePalo | Anthony Diller |
Cesar Duran | Elizabeth Elder | Sophia Griffith Harris | Sofia Larsen |
Jorge Lima | Taylore Presta | Roxet Thalia Romero Palacious | Amanda Seligman | Adriana Vizuete | Josephine Work

Let us pray along with the words of the Rite: “Almighty God, who brought your servants to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, freeing them from sin; send upon them, O Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your Presence. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.” (Based upon the Rite of Confirmation)
Pope Francis on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Pope Francis gave us a great gift in his 2014 series of catecheses, or instruction, on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Read a short teaching from Pope Francis on each of the 7 gifts, which are highlighted in the text from the Rite of Confirmation, above.
Daily Readings

Monday, May 24 (Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church)
Tuesday, May 25 (St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi)
Wednesday, May 26 (St. Philip Neri)
Thursday, May 27 (St. Augustine of Canterbury)
Friday, May 28
Saturday, May 29 (Pope St. Paul VI)
Parish News

Prayers for the Sick
Let us pray for the sick who have asked for prayers, especially Robert Jordan, Blanca Rose Juarez, Gloria Harrington, Bill Largess, and Eileen Ahearn. Please also pray for the recently deceased, especially baby Kennedy Kelly and Carroll Carter. You may add a name to the parish prayer list by emailing Msgr. Jameson. If you are asking for prayers on behalf of another person, please get their permission.

Closing Mass for Laudato Si' Year
Join the livestream of our 12:10pm Mass on Monday, May 24 as Cardinal Gregory celebrates the Mass to mark the close of the Vatican Laudato Si’ Year, which focuses on our care of the Earth and all of creation.

Sacramento de la Confirmación el Domingo de la Santisima Trinidad
El domingo 30 de mayo, día de la Santísima Trinidad, el Obispo Auxiliar Mario Dorsonville oficiara la Misa de 1pm, donde 23 adolescentes y 2 adultos recibirán el sacramento de la confirmación. On Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity, May 30, Bishop Mario Dorsonville will celebrate the 1pm Mass at which 23 youth and 2 adults will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Ordination Season
Save the Date!
Join parishioners and friends in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on Monday, June 14 at 7pm at a Cathedral Holy Hour for the Intentions of our Ordinandi of the Archdiocese of Washington, and an increase in Vocations to the priesthood and Consecrated Life.

Pray for our Priests
Let us pray for our priests as they celebrate their anniversaries of priestly ordination - this week Fr. Jack is a year closer to his 40th - happy 39th, Fr, Jack! Last week Msgr. Jameson celebrated his 53rd anniversary, and we look ahead to June to Fr. John's 2nd anniversary. St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote a Prayer for Priests that you can pray, or use as the beginning of your own prayer of thanksgiving for all the priests who have figured in your life.
Cathedral Young Adults
Coffeehouse Meets Outdoors this Sunday
The Cathedral Young Adults is a peer ministry for those in their 20s and 30s. CYA Coffeehouse, which typically meets virtually on Sunday evenings, instead will hold an in-person, outdoor Coffeehouse in Dupont Circle at 4:30pm, before the 5:30pm Mass this Sunday, May 23. Download and join the CYA Slack group so you can receive updates on where to meet on Sunday and on future events, including a hike in Great Falls National Park on Saturday, June 5!
Music at the Cathedral

Celebrating Great Organ Music
Thanks to all who have joined in the celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the rededication of the Cathedral Great Organ. This past week St. Matthew's presented a bouquet of five splendid, newly-recorded organ pieces, one premiering each day on our YouTube channel, performed by Nathan Laube, our 2019 Great Organ Dedicatory Recitalist. Click below to enjoy the grand finale - today's premiere of Nathan Laube playing Charles-Marie Widor's "Allegro Vivace."
Links to the full week of Cathedral YouTube premieres are below. Each video contains a mini-lesson in music appreciation for that particular piece - lively and illuminating remarks by the artist. Enjoy these anytime on our YouTube channel!
Wednesday Afternoon Recital
On May, 26, join us in the Cathedral when Rebecca Yoder appears for a midday concert on the Great Organ at 12:40pm, right after the 12:10pm Mass. Featured works include Fantaisie, from L’Orgue Mystique: Epiphania Domini by Charles Tournemire, Elevation from Three Pieces for Organ by George Walker, Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542 by J.S. Bach, the second chorale from Trois Chorals by César Franck, and the Scherzo and Finale movements of Symphonie No. 2, Op. 20 by Louis Vierne. Enjoy this performance in person or livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Spring and Summer Recitals
Next in our Spring 2021 series will be a recital by Andy Brown on Wednesday June 9, at 12:40pm, following the 12:10pm Mass. The program continues with summer recitals with Peter Bayer (Toronto, Ontario) and Stefan Donner (Vienna, Austria). Details will be available shortly.
Respect Life
Evening Reflection on the Sanctity of Life
The Respect Life Ministry invites you to an evening of reflection in the Cathedral on Tuesday, May 25 at 6:30pm. Join us as we host the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and welcome Fr. Joaquin Ibarra, IVE for a bilingual reflection, followed by Adoration and the praying of the rosary in English and Spanish for conversion of hearts and an end to abortion.

Noche de Reflexión sobre la Santidad de la Vida
El Ministerio Respeta la Vida los invita a una noche de reflexión sobre la santidad de la vida con la Imagen Misionera de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Vengan a la Catedral el martes, 25 de mayo, a las 6:30 pm para una reflexión bilingüe por Padre Joaquín Ibarra, IVE, seguido de Adoración al Santísimo y el Santo Rosario en Inglés y Español. Todos están bienvenidos a unirse en oración por la conversión de corazones y poner fin al aborto.

Petition to "Save Hyde. Save Lives."
As Catholics, we are gravely concerned about the prospect of any expansion of taxpayer funding of abortion. For 45 years, the Hyde Amendment and other life-saving appropriations riders have prevented taxpayers from being forced to pay for elective abortion. The Hyde Amendment has had longstanding bipartisan support every year since 1976 but is now at risk of being overturned. Please consider signing a USCCB-sponsored petition to Congress (Save Hyde. Save Lives.)
Summer Bible Study & Book Club
Registration Open for Angels in the Bible
Our summer Bibly Study is filling up, but you can still participate! In June and July, St. Matthew's hosts a 6-session Bible Study newly published by Little Rock Scripture Study, "Angels in the Bible." Register for either of two parishioner-led groups that will meet virtually once each week - one on Sunday afternoons, and one on Monday evenings.
Let's Get Reading!
Fr. Jack Hurley leads a Cathedral Book Club Zoom discussion of "I Came as a Shadow: An Autobiography," by John Thompson, on Thursday, June 17, from 7 to 8pm (Zoom link to be published). It is the story of the recently deceased native Washingtonian whose life on and off the basketball court threw America’s unresolved struggle with racial justice into sharp relief. All are welcome. 
What's New Online?
Click to View

Msgr. Jameson, 10am Mass Homily
Ascension Sunday
P. Benson, Homilía de la Misa
a la 1:00 de la tarde
Domingo de la Ascension 
Reflection by Fr. Hurley on St. Bernardine of Siena &
Sr. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, O.P.
May 20, 2021 
Quick Links for the Week
A mix of virtual and in-person events
 

See you 'round the Cathedral!