– To the Desert to Pray –

Lent begins on Wednesday, March 2. Each year, we are called to journey the path of penance. To pray, to fast, to give alms. To realign ourselves to God. 

Jesus traversed the desert for 40 days, resisting temptation, and discerning the will of His Father. We too are called to visit the desert. The desert, on the surface, appears to be dead at first. It can seem desolate, foreboding, even punishing.

But that's the funny thing about the desert. It's not dead. It's quite alive. Vibrantly alive. You just have to look closely. Life in the desert doesn't always jump out at you. Rather, it calls you to find it. Nestled in the sand are saplings. Trees and cacti take root along steep rocky hills. Animals find nourishment and live in the desert. 

As we begin our Lenten journey, how can we find life in the spiritual deserts we may experience? How can we, through prayer, through fasting, through giving of ourselves, become aware and attuned of the vibrant life God has created all around us? Jesus experienced the pains of the desert. John the Baptist called his followers to the desert. The Desert Fathers of the early Church found their vocations in the desert. We do not walk the Lenten journey alone. We walk it with those who know the pains, and the joyful life, of the desert.

May you have a Blessed Lent, one that leads you through the desert to the Hill of Calvary to the Empty Tomb.
 

– Ash Wednesday and Lenten Activities at the Cathedral –

Ash Wednesday and Lent are right around the corner! Click here for a schedule of Masses and Stations of the Cross for Ash Wednesday, March 2.

Click here for a schedule of Lenten activities at the Cathedral. Monsignor Jameson has sent his annual Lenten message to parishioners, which you can read here. 

– Join Our (In-Person!) Cathedral Coffeehouse! –

In-person Cathedral Coffeehouse has resumed! Join us this Sunday, February 27 as we partake in the Synod listening session, and on Sunday, March 6, for a Lenten warm-up activity. All meetings take place in the North Conference Room of the Cathedral following the 5:30 PM Mass (the Synod listening session will take place in the Great Hall). Join us as we meet again in-person, meet our new Seminarians, and enjoy some warm coffee, all in 30 minutes!

 Join our Slack group to get more frequent updates and stay in-touch with fellow Cathedral Young Adults! And be sure to like us on Facebook and Instagram for additional updates on our events!

Interested in becoming more involved with Cathedral Young Adults? Email Fr. John Benson to learn more and to become more involved!

– Synod Listening Sessions –

Pope Francis has announced a historic Synod, or meeting of global bishops, to discuss critical issues to the Church, for 2023. Making this Synod even more historic is that Pope Francis has charged every diocese worldwide with receiving input from the lay faithful (if you're reading this, that means you!) to learn about your journey with the Church. 

St. Matthew's Cathedral is hosting a number of listening sessions to prepare for the 2023 Synod. The final in-person listening session will be on Sunday, February 27 at 6:30 PM (following the 5:30 PM Mass) in the Great Hall of the Cathedral. If you can't join, you can complete this online survey of the Synod's questions prepared by the Archdiocese of Washington. 
 

– How Can I Help? –

Please consider making a direct financial gift to St. Matthew's Cathedral, or signing up to make a monthly gift via FaithDirect. The good works done by the Cathedral requires everyone to chip in. Your gift helps retain staff, supports parish liturgies, and brings the Gospel to parishioners and visitors. Click here to make a direct contribution.

February and March are the months when the Archdiocese of Washington conducts The Annual Appeal, which supports critical services and ministries of the Church in the DC and Maryland area, and supports ministries larger than any particular parish or agency (70+ ministries are sustained by The Annual Appeal!). Click here to donate to The Annual Appeal and help support the work of building God's Kingdom across our Nation's capital. 

– Prayers and Mass for Ukraine –

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has called on all the faithful to fast and pray for peace and an end to war on Ash Wednesday, March 2.
Masses at the Cathedral on Friday, February 25 (7:30 AM, 12:10 PM, and 5:30 PM) will be offered for peace and for the people of Ukraine. Join us for Mass if your schedule permits. 
 

– Updated Cathedral Mass Schedule and Resource Links –

The Cathedral has implemented a new schedule for Masses, which can be found here. Daily Mass will be 7:30 AM, 12:10 PM, and 5:30 PM. The Saturday Vigil will be at 5:30 PM, and Sunday Masses will be 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Spanish), and 5:30 PM. Confessions are held 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Monday-Friday, and 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Saturday. 

In-person Masses have resumed in the Archdiocese of Washington, and the dispensation from attending Mass has been lifted. Those who are unable to attend Mass in-person due to on-going health concerns are invited to tune in to the Cathedral’s live-streams of the 11:00 AM (English) or 1:00 PM (Spanish) Masses. 

Did you know that Fr. Hurley is recording reflections on the Saints? Be sure to check out the Cathedral's YouTube page to view Fr. Hurley's Feast Day reflections. 

Do you receive the weekly parish e-newsletter? Click here to sign up, and read this week's e-update! 

– Black History Month Event  –

February is Black History Month. Join members of the Social Justice Ministry for an event to close Black History Month on Sunday, February 27 at 2:30 PM on Zoom. Click here for more information, including the link for the Zoom meeting.