Dear Cathedral Family,
Happy Lent! The season of Lent is modeled after our Lord’s 40 days in the desert in preparation for His public ministry. At the end of those 40 days, the Lord allowed Himself to be tempted by Satan, as we will hear in this Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew. Satan focused on 3 things: he appealed to Jesus’ hunger, he tried to weaken Jesus’ spirit by tempting His pride, and Satan tempted Jesus with earthly glory and riches. Therefore, what we call the Three Pillars of Lent (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) are taken from the three temptations of Christ in the desert.
There are several opportunities at Cathedral this season to aid in our practice of almsgiving. Please consider joining us for the following:
- CARES Food Pantry Donations
- Each Sunday we will be collecting specific items for the CARES food pantry. All donations can be placed in the designated area in the narthex. This Sunday we will be collecting toiletries. Next Sunday we will be collecting canned fruit. See each week's donation item here: CARES Food Pantry Donation List
- Loaves & Fishes
- Every 4th Sunday of the month, our parishioners are involved in Loaves and Fishes Ministry to serve the poor and homeless of Baltimore City. For Lent, on Sunday, February 26th and Sunday, March 26th, there will be an added Snack Packing opportunity alongside the regular Meal Prep and Distribution Ministry. Please take advantage of this opportunity and sign up you and your family here: Loaves & Fishes Registration
- Painted Bowls
- On Friday, March 10th at 7:15 PM in the undercroft, we will be hosting our annual Painted Bowls event. Everyone is invited to paint and design bowls that will be donated and auctioned for St. Vincent de Paul's Empty Bowls event on Saturday, April 22nd at the Maryland Fairgrounds in Timonium. RSVP is required. Sign up here: Painted Bowls Registration
Diaconate Ordination of Seminarian David Wang
Many of you likely remember seminarian David Wang from the Diocese of Zhao Xian in China who is studying at St. Mary’s Seminary. David was assigned to Cathedral for some time and even lived in the rectory during breaks from the seminary. David will be ordained to the Diaconate on Saturday, March 4th at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Seminary. He cordially invites you to join him for that celebration as he gives thanks to Almighty God for this great grace in his life. Also, please join us here at Cathedral for David’s first Mass as a deacon. He will serve Mass for Archbishop Lori on Saturday, March 4th at 5:00 PM. Please join us as we celebrate with David.
Cameron Kuzepski, principal organist at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, will offer an organ concert on Sunday, March 5th at 3:00 PM in the Cathedral. Cameron will perform a wide variety of organ pieces that span the centuries. Please join us to hear Cameron play this concert on our world-class instrument.
- World Premier of Steve Warner’s Good Friday Passion – Friday, March 31st at 7:00 PM
- Charm City Bronze Handbell Ensemble – Sunday, April 30th at 3:00 PM.
May God bless you.
Father Louis A. Bianco
Rector