Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle 
Washington, D.C.
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April 2022

My dear parishioners,
 
Lent is passing quickly; Holy Week begins next week. We mark so many dramatic events at this time: Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem; his poignant last meal with his friends; his trial and brutal execution. But the darkness of Good Friday leads inexorably to the glorious “Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!” of Easter Sunday. It is our annual pilgrimage into both the darkness of human existence and the life-giving light of the Resurrection. 
An Easter Message

Pope Francis gives us this reflection on Easter Sunday:
 
Today our hearts are again filled with the joy of Easter. After the Lenten season, the time of penance and conversion, after the striking celebrations of the Holy Triduum, today we stand before Jesus’ empty tomb and meditate with wonder and gratitude on the resurrection of the Lord. Life has conquered death. Mercy and love have conquered sin! The Lord has risen among us! This truth indelibly marked the lives of the apostles who, after the resurrection, again sensed the need to follow their teacher and, having received the Holy Spirit, set out fearlessly to proclaim to all what they had seen with their own eyes and personally experienced. Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past. It contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force. In the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit. We need faith and hope in order to open ourselves to this new and marvelous horizon. And we know that faith and hope are gifts from God, and we need to ask for them: “Lord, grant me faith, grant me hope! I need them so much!” Then with our attitude, with our witness, with our life, we can say: Jesus is risen! 
                    ―Daily Lenten Reflection by Pope Francis, edited by Steve Mueller, All Saints Press, 2017
 
My prayer for you this Easter is that the light of the Resurrection will fill you once again and remain with you throughout the year. May the Risen Lord grant peace to our world.
Holy Week at the Cathedral

Holy Week is always so special at St. Matthew’s. In the past, thousands of people have come to celebrate the greatest week of the liturgical year, heralded by the blessing of palms, marked by beautiful and somber liturgies, and ending with the triumphant Resurrection of our Lord. The preparations for these overflowing celebrations are a labor of love―how we look forward to welcoming you and to being uplifted by your love of the Lord!

There will be more of a pre-pandemic feel to Holy Week this year. Everyone is welcome, with no seating limit and no mask requirement, though masks are encouraged out of consideration for the vulnerable among us. While more people are coming to Mass these days, apparently many still do not feel comfortable returning to the Cathedral. I can assure you that we are among the safest venues you will find.

Come and celebrate the greatest liturgy of the year with us! Jesus sacrificed his very life for us, dying on the cross. But he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday—rising from death to new life. Join us for a new life! Let us leave the darkness of Covid for the bright light of the Resurrection. Being truly an Easter people—an Alleluia people—we trust that the Lord will be with us as we make the jump!

A special word to you if you have served as a lector, an usher, an EMC or an altar server: please, step up once again to SERVE your brothers and sisters. We have really missed you; we need you. Your presence makes the liturgies flow so much better. Fear not! The Lord is risen. He will watch over you. Come out of the darkness of fear of Covid and rejoice. Do you want to serve again? Just give me a call at 202-347-9089, or send me an email.
Holy Week Liturgies
This year the Cathedral will once again mark Holy Week with many special liturgies and music events. The Schola Cantorum is back! Cardinal Gregory will be here, including on Holy Saturday when 11 catechumens will be baptized at the Easter Vigil, 6 candidates received into full communion, and 2 will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist. We also want to see you and all our visitors! Click below to see the schedule of Holy Week and Easter liturgies―the Chrism Mass with the priests of the archdiocese, a Communal Penance Service, Tenebrae, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday, Easter Vigil (with a special surprise this year!), and the great celebration of Easter!
Your Easter Offering

Special Easter Offering envelopes and Easter Flowers envelopes are in the pews. You may mail your offering to the rectory, drop it in the baskets at the doors as you leave on Sundays, or give via FaithDirect. You also may donate via PayPal. We really need a healthy Easter offertory collection to meet our budget. Our Christmas collection was down, as are our weekly collections. I will sincerely appreciate your Easter gift this year. You will be remembered at our Easter season Masses. Thank you so much. Muchas gracias.

Thank You! Muchas Gracias!

I thank those who contributed so generously to the 2021 Annual Appeal and those who already have made their gift to the 2022 Annual Appeal. If you have not done so, I would ask you now to consider a gift to this year’s appeal, which provides for the day-to-day needs of the least of our brothers and sisters. It also helps our seminarians and retired priests in the areas of retirement funding and long-term care. Please do what you can. They really need your help now. You may donate online.

Finally, Happy Easter! May this season bring you much joy, love and peace. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Sincerely yours in Christ, 
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