Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887), Christ in the Desert, Oil on Canvas, 1872
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Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887), Christ in the desert, Oil on canvas, 1872 Worship with Us My dear Parishioners and Friends, Saturday Anticipated Mass 4 pm Lent has now begun. On the First Sunday of Sunday Lent each year – from the 4th chapter of Luke’s Gos- 8:30 am & 10:30 am pel this year – we hear of Christ’s own special time of Weekdays (Monday-Friday) temptation at the beginning of His adult life and min- 12:05 pm istry. It was a 40-day time of challenge in a desert Holy Days As announced wasteland, and so it is the model of our own special season of deliberately difficult religious focus. But where did it happen? Sure, Jesus Himself went into the vast Saturday 3 to 3:45 pm Weekdays (M-F) 11:30 am rocky desert somewhere east or south of His native place. But we Always on request don’t have to, and it doesn’t really matter! The Biblical word for the -midbar] in Heb] מִדְ בַּ ר) place He went is ἔρημος [erēmos] in Greek rew). While we often translate it as “desert” the word more accu- Contact Us rately means “wilderness.” Had Jesus been from Louisiana His time of testing would likely have been in our wet wilderness of swamp- 412 North Street land, a hot and humid place, rather than the similarly hot but more Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5496 arid wasteland of the Middle East! Monday-Thursday There’s a lesson here for us: wherever we are there this chal- 7:30 am to 12 noon & 1 to 4:30 pm lenge is posible. And of course, this challenge offers an oppor- Friday 8 am to 12 noon tunity of growth, of change for the better. When we overcome our fears and weaknesses, when we forge ahead with life despite the challenges of doing it here, where we are, we become stronger and 225-387-5928 our society better. Our insights into what is really important become more disciplined, and ultimately when we rest from our 225-387-5929 labors we can draw satisfaction that we were less the victims of circumstance or our own shortcomings, and more the masters of our destiny. Personnel and Staff This is what Lent should be for us: a time when we attempt to be- come better. A time when we strive not to live life as we have been Most Rev. Michael G. Duca, J.C.L., D.D. doing – a “same old, same old” – but instead to improve. A time [email protected] when we take up self-sought challenges. Traditionally these are more prayer (communication with God), more fasting (self-denial Very Rev. Paul D. Counce, J.C.L. and -mortification), and more almsgiving (giving money to persons [email protected] and institutions in need). Yet just as the location of purposeful trials and challenges changes, Mrs. Lorie W. Weeks so too can our penances and other Lenten disciplines. Our prayer [email protected] can be more focused on reading, not only of the Bible, but perhaps of inspiring lives of the saints. Our fasting can be a digital diet, a time away from Facebook fascination, Instagram immersion, and Deacon Gary C. Mooney Twitter tribulation. And our almsgiving can move past increasing [email protected] our contributions to the Church and charities to actual time and attention given to individuals instead – perhaps lonely, aged per- Mrs. Ann Marie Waller sons who never have visitors? [email protected] While on Tuesday, March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, our patron, occurs, with its special 12 noon Mass, St. Joseph’s Altar and free meal Mrs. Debbie Orsot for everyone, until then nourish your spiritual life maybe in less [email protected] joyful but still effective ways! Yours in Christ, who triumphed over temptation, Mr. Christopher Redden [email protected] (vacant) Parishioners will notice that there is Sunday, March 10 an envelope in their packets for the annual Daylight Savings Time Begins! national collection for the Black & Indian Choir Rehearsal – 9 am Missions of the USA on this First Sunday in Diocesan Rite of Elect Services at 1 pm & 4:30 pm Lent, March 9/10. This helps US dioceses preach the Gospel and build the Church among African Monday, March 11 American, native American and native Alaskan Social Responsibility Committee Meeting – 5:30 pm peoples. The generosity of Catholic faithful just like Baptism Preparation Seminar – 6:30 pm you enables our bishops’ support for parish life and Tuesday, March 12 catechesis, evangelization and schools, and vocations Food Pantry – 10 am work among these communities, which are often im- Cemetery Fund Board Meeting – 5 pm poverished. Wednesday, March 13 Please again help out as best you can by placing Choir Rehearsal – 6:25 pm your marked check or envelope into our one offertory KC Council Meeting – 7 pm collection. And thank you for your generosity! Friday, March 15 Stations of the Cross – 11:30 am Saturday, March 16 Our monthly administration of the Farmers’ Market – 8 am Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick Baptism – 10 am here at the Cathedral was postponed from last weekend because of Carnival parades, so it will be held this Saturday, March 9, after our 4 pm Vigil Mass. This “Sacrament of the Sick” can be received by Catholics over the age of 7 who suffer Are you a junior in high school or older, that from either chronic or acute serious illness, are facing is, an adult seeking to receive the Sacrament of major surgery, or are significantly enfeebled by old Confirmation? If so, we’re beginning preparation ses- age. Please invite friends and family members who sions for this very soon. More information and regis- are in these circumstances to come benefit from this tration for this opportunity is available by sending an special moment of prayer and blessing. email to our Pastoral Assistant, Mr. Chris Redden, at [email protected]. Confirmation is always cele- The Redemptorist order has graciously loaned us two brated here at the Cathedral at our 10:30 am Mass on relics of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. These Pentecost Sunday – this year, it’s June 9! are available for veneration during the administration of the Sacrament, and everyone attending receives a special blessing with it. We pray that his intercession be a healing remedy for the sick! We hope you can join us on Tuesday, March 19, to celebrate our patronal feast, the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Following the 12 noon Mass we will host our usual St. Joseph’s Altar and free Lenten Meal for the Our next pre-Baptismal parents’ public. We welcome donations of cookies (both Ital- seminar is scheduled for this Monday, ian fig and other types) to be served with the meal on March 11, at 6:30 pm. Parents who are pre- this Solemn Feast of our Patron Saint. paring for a child’s baptism are required to If you like to bake and can help us out, you can simply attend one at least once, and the god- drop off your cookies at the Parish Hall on Saturday, parents are invited also. If you haven’t already done March 16, from 9:30 am until 4 pm and on Sunday, so, please register beforehand by sending an email to March 17, from 9 am until 2 pm. If you have any [email protected] or by making a quick phone questions, or would like to help with this annual call to 225-387-5928 – we need to know how many event, please call the Parish Office at 225-387-5928 or people will be attending! email [email protected]. Mark your calendars today for Not only our own parishioners and friends but Cath- Thursday, March 28, at 6:30 pm, as the olics from throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge Cathedral will host an Organ Concert in are welcome to choose their Cathedral for the cele- Memory of Robbie Giroir, given by bration of the Sacraments. These important spiritual Robbie’s former student, Christopher events are always scheduled through our Parish Berry. This event is free and open to the Office (you can just simply telephone us at 225-387- public, and we encourage you to share 5928 or email us at [email protected]). with current and former students of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, parishioners of the Cathedral, and his former organ students. Parents must attend a required pre-baptismal par- ents’ seminar as well as schedule the baptism. Christopher Berry was born and raised in Baton Rouge, and is an alumnus of Catholic High School. He started studying the organ at age 13, and during his high school Preparation for adult Sacramental Initiation (Bap- years was an organ student of Robbie Giroir. When a tism, Confirmation and Eucharist) takes place as part senior in high school, Robbie often asked Christopher to of the Parish’s RCIA process throughout the year. be an assistant organist, which meant playing for the Saturday Vigil Masses and assisting at other large Cathedral events, which included the funeral of Bishop Second grade children, no matter where they attend Stanley Joseph Ott. elementary school, are prepared for these Sacra- ments each school-year within a special program Christopher considers Robbie’s teaching and mentoring here. to have been the best foundational pedagogy he could have hoped for, and uses Robbie’s pedagogical prin- ciples as Professor of Organ and College Organist at Special, brief preparation programs are held here Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.