“This Is My Beloved Son, with Whom I Am Well Pleased; Listen to Him.”

“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 possible 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 parishioners 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. If we would Sacraments each school-year within a special pro- accept credit cards or if you would authorize us to gram here. withdraw a set donation from your account, a percentage of your gifts would end up going to the Special, brief preparation programs are held here bank! Maybe we’ll eventually have to move into each Spring, one for our parish’s teenagers who “electronic funding” in this 21st century, but for are in the eleventh grade, and another for other the moment there are still many other, easy ways adults who wish to be confirmed. to give! You can also be creative in your giving: first and best, include the Cathedral in your will or in a Church regulations require at least six months of living trust! This is a way to be generous with dedi- preparation for any wedding. Our advice is to call cated monies, often in a significant way. On a well in advance of that time to reserve a wedding smaller scale, there are many other needs and date and receive information: our facilities are of- opportunities for you to defray the costs of our ten booked in advance 12 to 18 months ahead-of- worship and ministry. time! One’s own parish priest or deacon is ex- pected to supervise the mandatory Catholic pre- Contact Ms. Lorie Watson, our Parish’s Director of nuptial preparation and to officiate at the wedding Administration, at [email protected] or 225- ceremony here, and our own wedding coordinator 387-5928 if there is any need! will be in charge of the rehearsal and wedding too.

The Cathedral Evening will be held this year on April 25, at and following the Saturday vigil Mass. Please mark your PAST ST. JOSEPH APPRENTICE AWARD RECIPIENTS calendar now and plan to be part of this always enjoyable 1996 Evena Fontenot; Morris Parrino occasion! Also, please consider nominating a parishioner of 1997 Genevieve Floyd; Ed Polozola the Cathedral for one of our special “St. Joseph’s Appren- tice” Awards which are given out at this event. We also wel- 1998 Herb Landry; Rose Mary Poirrier come suggestions for our “Cathedral Community Award” 1999 Alex Bourgeois; Rosalie Cangelosi which honors a Catholic (not necessarily a parishioner) 2000 Jeanne Baumann; Nora Tilton; Susan & Bryan whose impact has benefitted the entire Baton Rouge com- Vincent munity. Below are the names of past honorees. Please sug- 2001 Jan & Ivy Garon; Elmo Rodriguez gest names whom you think are worthy of these awards to 2002 Paul Brown; Grace Uter the Parish Office as soon as possible. 2003 Wanda Beth & Frank Atkinson; Claire & Fred My name: ______Bahlinger; Lois Webb I suggest as a St. Joseph’s Apprentice: 2005 Reginald Brown; Vivian Cazayoux; Mary Ellen Davros; Ann Felice Fourrier ______2006 Carole Fredrickson; Evelyn Heck; Vincent This person deserves this recognition because… Leggio; Mary & George Rettig 2007 Sister Fides Bourgeois; Sister Carla Candella; ______Paula & Joe Melancon; Nan & John Nowak; ______Father Frank Uter; Sylvia Winder 2008 Richard Cointment, Jr.; Tommy Darensbourg; ______Nina Fox; the Bill Koren Family; Father Charlie ______Landry; Bernadette Purnell ______2009 Anne & James Laville; Sean Molony; Shirley Mundt; Gloria Simmons; Joy & Vic Weston

PAST CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENTS 2010 Randy Arceneaux; Erick Swenson; Jay Thompson; Penny Trepagnier; Father Gerard 2013 Michael Acaldo Young 2014 John Folse 2011 Bobbie Carey; Gwen Hamilton; Joe Lotwick; Mary Stein 2015 Pat Shingleton 2012 Bishop Shelton Fabre; Dot Craig; Andy 2016 Davis Rhorer Plaisance; Harry Theriot; John, Joy & Johnny Ballance 2017 Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady 2013 Gery, Vinetta, Denis & Samantha Frie; Tom 2018 Pete Boudreaux Oswald; Billy & Karen Rimes; Bill & Ruth Nelson 2019 Charles & Nancy Valluzzo 2014 Mary Furlow; Todd, Hope, Barnabas, Bridget, Paige & Ethan Gaudin; Gabe & Judy Jumonville; Robert René I propose for the Cathedral Community Award: 2015 Don & Janice Aucoin; Goldie Domingue; ______Heather Kirk-Ballard; Jackie Kreutzer; Jane I suggest this person(s) for the Cathedral Community Skerkoske Award because… 2016 Archbishop Alfred Hughes; Chip Landry; Angele Davis Kelley; Marino & Betty Casem ______2017 Charlotte Anthony; Tino & Tere Dalmau; ______Boyd Newman; Charles Salemi 2018 Irby & Betty Dupont; Dickie Howze; Barry ______Miles; Michele Nardini; John and Nancy ______Tooraen and family ______2019 Thomas & Mary Acosta; Dorothy Hall; Sheila Juneau; Bishop Robert Muench ______

RETURN TO [email protected], OR TO 412 NORTH STREET, BATON ROUGE, LA 70802-5496, OR FAX 225-387-5929.

Come worship with us during this most Next Sunday, March 15, we will host the special of our Catholic Church season. Diocesan Scout Sunday Mass at 10:30 This Second Sunday in Lent, March 8, am. This event is sponsored annually the following music here at the Cathe- by the diocesan Catholic Committee on dral will enhance our Lenten journeys Scouting. All Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts, and help us in our efforts to get closer to God and Girl Scouts & American Heritage Girls are invited to prepare for his death and resurrection: attend in uniform, with their families. There will be reserved seating for uniformed scouts and their Organ Prelude: omitted during Lent parents, but it will be a very crowded Mass, so be 10:30 Offertory Chant & Anthem: Meditábor in prepared for this!! mandátis tuis – chant [English translation: “I will The Mass will be followed by a lunch with Bishop meditate on thy commandments, which I have Michael Duca in the Parish Hall. loved exceedingly, and I will lift up my hands to thy commandments, which I have loved” – Ps The Mission Statement of the Catholic Committee 119:47-48] (from the Graduale Romanum) on Scouting of the Diocese of Baton Rouge: The purpose of the Catholic Committee on Scouting is to 10:30 Communion Anthem: Transfiguration– Joel Martinson promote the personal, social, and spiritual needs of Catholic youth participating in scouting programs Organ Postlude: omitted during Lent (both in and outside of Catholic-sponsored units) and to act in an advisory capacity to the Bishop of Baton Rouge, or through his designees.

Men suffer from abortion too! If you now carry the pain and sorrow of ending a child’s life by abortion, you are not alone. The Diocese of Baton Rouge, through its Office of Marriage and Family Life, is sponsoring a Day of Prayer and Healing for Men to be held on Saturday, March 21, from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information and confidential registration, call 225-325-3459 or email [email protected].

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT Saturday/Sunday, March 14/15, 2020

4 pm 8:30 am 10:30 am Fr. Paul Counce Fr. Paul Counce Bishop Michael Duca

Ministers of Holy Com- Bryce Benzine Buddy Morris Mary Acosta munion Wayne Hampton Carolyn Morris Charlotte Anthony Diana LeBlanc Lorie Watson Mary Ellen Davros Mary Furlow Robert René Billy Rimes

Readers Todd Gaudin (1) Michele Nardini (1) Tommy Darensbourg (1) Bridget Gaudin (2) Karen Boyd (2) Geri Munson (2)

Servers Joey Moffet Colette Clebert David Diez Cooper Clebert Dickie Howze Sean Molony

Sacristans Gabe Jumonville Erick Swenson Dickie Howze Thomas W. Acosta, Jr. Attorney At Law NOW 911 Seventh Street Port Allen, LA 70767 OPEN 440 Third Street • Downtown Baton Rouge Phone: Mon -Sat 7AM - 7PM • Sunday 8AM - 7PM Catering Services Available 225-383-2302 225-343-0600 LIVE Ladies of the MUSIC! Cathedral Invites all Ladies to join SUNDAY BRUNCH SUNDAY in our parish and community 10:30AM-3PM BRUNCH service activities 11AM-3PM MEETINGS: 9 AM on Bottomless Mimosas! 1ST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH 225-346-8422 225-926-1172 ssociated WILBERT Consider waterproofing corp. remembering a FUNERAL HOME your Cathedral CONTRACTORS Record your personal wishes and in your will. Martin Mapp instructions in a pre-arrangement CATHERINE WILBERT CHUSTZ For further 225-389-9612 br • 504-738-9831 no Pre-need Counselor information Proudly providing services for www.wilbertservices.com please call the Parish Office at St. Joseph Cathedral, 687-9542 Baton Rouge & New Orleans 687-1850 or 383-1850 225-387-5928

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