“This Is My Beloved Son, with Whom I Am Well Pleased; Listen to Him.”
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“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Mt 17:5b Worship with Us My dear Parishioners and Friends, Saturday Anticipated Mass 4 pm Sickness makes headlines! Over the past couple of Sunday weeks, the recent “coronavirus” that originated in China and 8:30 am & 10:30 am the even more deadly flu virus that seems to plague us every Weekdays (Monday-Friday) year have dominated the daily news. Nobody likes to be sick, 12:05 pm and especially with illnesses for which there is really no real cure or sure means of prevention. As I write this, while there Holy Days as announced are no coronavirus cases in Louisiana, since mid-October 2019 there have been 3,000 to 4,000 new cases of plain ol’ flu each week in Louisiana, with about 50 deaths from it each week in our State. Saturday 3 to 3:45 pm Lenten Weekdays (M-F) 11:15-11:50 am This has led some to wonder if here in the USA or in our diocese, as in a Always on request few other parts of the world, public gatherings such as church services or classes in schools might be forbidden. Even when permitted, the dyna- mics of such assemblies could be modified, even severely. Contact Us Well, first of all, please let me address everyone’s worries, at least about Mass and other Church activities: we will always do our best to follow best medical practices, and urge you to do the same. If things get very 412 North Street much worse, I’m sure we’ll take appropriate actions as needed. Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5496 What else to do? Obviously, if you are sick stay home! There’s never any Monday-Thursday obligation to attend Mass if ill or caring for the sick, and in fact deliber- 7:30 am to 12 noon & 1 to 4:30 pm ately to place others in danger of infection would itself be seriously sinful! Friday 8 am to 12 noon And always at Mass, if you’d prefer you certainly may wish peace to each other without physical contact, refrain from receiving holy communion on the tongue and/or from the chalice, and use wipes and sanitizer on 225-387-5928 yourself and furniture. While the chance of transmission of germs and viruses is very low among healthy people, these – along with frequent handwashing, and covering coughs and sneezes – are rather obviously Personnel and Staff the best means of prevention. In the meantime, both Bishop Duca for the diocese and I for our Parish have decided that there is no need for further restrictions at this time. If Most Rev. Michael G. Duca, J.C.L., D.D. I can be a bit light-hearted about it, remember, it was Jesus Himself who [email protected] said, “Take all of you and eat … and … take all of you and drink.” It is not our place to contradict Him, merely to do what He said in the best pos- sible way! Very Rev. Paul D. Counce, J.C.L., M.C.L. [email protected] Let’s see, what else needs mentioning here? Last week I worried here in this column that replacing our ceiling lights in the Cathedral would drive us out of the church into the Parish Hall for Mass soon. Well, I was wrong: Ms. Lorie A. Watson but only when I wrote the word “soon”! After a careful look at the needs of [email protected] the contractors and our own calendars, we’re just not going to be able to do it during Lent; it will have to wait until the dead of summer, in July. That’s actually good for our spirituality in this holy season of prayer and Deacon Gary C. Mooney penance, and it’s especially excellent news for our liturgical musicians who [email protected] miss being away from the great acoustics and magnificent pipe organs in the Cathedral itself. We’ll just have to make do with the present, but slowly degrading lighting-system in the church for a few months longer. Mrs. Debbie Orsot [email protected] Lastly, plan already to purchase your tickets and join us for The Cathedral Evening on Saturday, April 25. Since it’s a day when we honor special par- ishioners and friends who have done so much for our community at a Mr. Christopher Redden Mass and banquet, be a part of it! And remember, this is your last chance [email protected] to nominate someone either as one of our own St. Joseph’s Apprentices or for the Cathedral Community Award. Just send an email to me at [email protected] with your suggestion and the reasons behind it. Mr. David T. Summers In the Lord, [email protected] This weekend, March 7/8, we take up our monthly collection For the Maintenance Sunday, March 8 and Repair of the Cathedral. Monies Daylight Savings Time Begins! collected have helped to keep us warm in Safe Haven Sunday (see below) the winter, cool in the summer, and dry during Monday, March 9 those rainy Louisiana days. Thanks for doing your Baptism Preparation Seminar – 6:30 pm part in making that happen! Tuesday, March 10 Cemetery Fund Board Meeting – 5 pm Wednesday, March 11 Parents preparing for the baptism of a KC Council Meeting – 6:15 pm child are reminded that they must attend Choir Rehearsal – 6:25 pm a pre-Baptismal parents’ seminar at least once. While it’s a requirement for Friday, March 13 parents, the godparents are invited as well. The Stations of the Cross – 11:30 am next seminar is scheduled for this Monday, March Saturday, March 14 9, at 6:30 pm. It’s held in the Conference Room of Farmers’ Market – 8 am our Parish Office just behind the church. If you’ve already registered, we’ll see you then … if you haven’t, simply send a quick email to [email protected] or by making a quicker telephone call to 225-387-5928 – we need to know how many people will be attending! The family home should always be a safe haven, but inappropri- ate use of technology in the home thwarts this role, and is the great- Don’t forget that this Sunday, March est threat to the sanctity of marriages and families 8, Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 today. Pornography and other online threats are am. Remember to set your clocks often a click away, and parents often feel over- forward one hour so that you’ll be sure whelmed, not knowing how to best protect their to arrive at the correct time for Mass! children in our fast-paced digital world. This weekend, March 7/8, the Diocese of Baton Rouge Christian Formation Secretariat and the Office of Child & Youth Protection is taking a bold step to help families by celebrating Safe Haven As Lent continues, please mark your Sunday. This awareness day will provide access to calendars and plan to join us here at practical resources that any caring adult can use to St. Joseph Cathedral for a special organ protect themselves and our young people from concert. Titled A Lenten Reflection, online risks. with organist Jacob Benda, it will take place on Monday, March 16, at 7 pm. Please join us with your prayers and presence as we prepare for this unique event. To learn more, The concert is free and open to the public and will please contact 225-387-0561 or visit the website be a wonderful experience to add to your Lenten www.cleanheart.online and click on “Diocese of journey! Baton Rouge” under the Partnering Dioceses tab. Every Friday – Stations of the Cross are prayed every Lenten Friday at 11:30 am Sunday Brunch Weekday Confessions – Confessions are heard 10:30 am – 3 pm daily before noontime Mass, Monday through Fri- day, starting at 11:15 am or as soon afterwards Bottomless mimosas! that the priest can get here! 225-346-8422 Not only our own parishioners and friends but Catholics from throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge are welcome to choose their Cathedral for The regular collection for Sunday, February 23, the celebration of the Sacraments. These impor- brought in $6,222.50 ($6,032.50 from 80 Identified tant spiritual events are always scheduled through Givers and the remaining $190.00 given anony- our Parish Office (you can simply call us at 225- mously). The Ash Wednesday collection on 387-5928 or email us at [email protected]). February 26 totaled $939.00 from 36 Identified Givers, with another $1,267.00 offered by others, making a total of $2,206.00. The regular collection Parents must attend a required pre-baptismal par- for the weekend of February 29/March 1 totaled ents’ seminar as well as schedule the baptism. $8,315.50 (94 Identified Givers offering $7,776.50 and the remaining $539.00 in the loose collection). Thank you for your stewardship to our Cathedral Preparation for adult Sacramental Initiation (Bap- parish! tism, Confirmation and Eucharist) takes place as part of the Parish’s RCIA process throughout the Please remember that we highly recommend that year. you adopt the “Bill Pay” feature offered by your bank to donate to the Cathedral: set up an auto- matic payment from your checking account to us Second grade children, no matter where they at- every month. This costs you nothing and the Par- tend elementary school, are prepared for these ish gets every penny of your donation.