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The Very Rev. Kevin McKenna
Jesus' command to practice the corporal works of mercy is direct, uncompromising, and everywhere present in the New Testament. Taken as a whole, every tenth line in the New Testament id a direct challenge to the Christian to reach out to the physically poor. In Like's gospel, it is every sixth line. In the Epistle of James, it is every fifth line. Involvement with the poor is not a negotiable item. This is mandated with the same weight as is any creed, dogma, and moral or spiritual teaching.
This strikes us very close to home. The ranks of Americas poorest poor have climbed to a record high - 1 in 15 people spread widely across metropolitan areas. new census data paint a very stark portrait of the nation's haves and have nots at a time when unemployment remains persistently high. We also discovered that Rochester ranks third among the largest U.S. cities with 47% of poor people living in neighborhoods in which at least 40% of residents are below the poverty line. In Monroe County suburbs, the number of people living below the poverty line increased over the last 10 years to 40%.
We can hope that initiatives such as Mary's Place and Joseph's Place will be helpful. The affordable housing that is available at the former Holy Rosary Campus provided by Providence Housing is helpful. A small initiative like the Cathedral DeVany Fund that is providing grant initiatives to those who can present a program that deals with a systemic poverty issue can help. But all these will never be enough. Our parish is called upon to continue to explore new and more way to help alleviate this insidious problem of poverty.
All the great encyclicals, beginning with Leo XIII to Pope Francis reiterate oer and over that we who have surplus of any kind must share with those who lack basic necessities.
This weekend we honor Jesus Christ enthroned as King of Kings. He judges each of us. And we are judged on our capacity to love - to feed, to give drink, to clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger in whom we see our King.
Thought for the week: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one" (Mother Teresa).
Smile for the week: Parachute for sale, No strings attached.
God bless! Have a wonderful week!
Fr. Kevin McKenna
Bentley Vega is a five-year old parishioner at the Cathedral who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. He is in need of a bone marrow transplant. If interested in being a possible donor, please contact BeTheMatch.org. You should be between the ages of 18 - 39, taking no medications, have no heart condition, no past history of cancer, and no sugar diabetes. Please continue to keep Bentley and his family in your prayers.
WEEKEND MASS TIMES
WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
CONFESSIONS:
Whats Coming Up :
ADVENT BEGINS NOVEMBER 30
Advent Taize Prayer 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Nov 30, Dec 7, 14, and 21 (Join us each Saturday for this beautiful and peaceful experience using the music of the Taize Community)
Christmas Ornament Sale after all weekend masses November 30 and December 1; and December 7 and 8 (Ceramic Angels are handcrafted at Holy Childhood and Wood Doves are handmade of varying hardwoods at St Michael's Woodshop. Gift is packaged at Holy Childhood, where developmentally challenged young people train for the workplace. 8$ donation each to benefit St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, Haiti's only children's hospital, FREE to the indigent.)
Advent Giving Tree beginning November 30 / December 1 weekend (The Social Ministry Committee is sponsoring the Advent Giving Tree. Families will be referred by Catholic Family Center. The tree will be placed in the narthex the first weekend of Advent Nov 30 / Dec 1. Please follow these directions: Choose a tag; Purchase the suggested item; Return the UNWRAPPED gift to the Advent Tree by Sunday, December 15 or the Cathedral Office by December 15 at 1:00 pm. Catholic Family Center suggests $25 Wal-Mart gift cards for each adult in the household. We are no longer provided with the names of the individuals due to confidentiality regulations.)
Breakfast with St. Nicholas, December 7th, 9:00 am (Please join us for a breakfast of Pancakes, sausage and eggs. Santa Claus and St. Nicholas will be there! Enjoy a coloring contest and decorating Christmas Tree ornaments from various cultures. December 7th at 9:00 am in the Cathedral Hall. All Are Welcome! This event is FREE!)
The Food Pantry at Joseph's Place Open Wednesday December 11th, 2019 (Hours for December 11th will be from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, which are the regular hours for the second Wednesday of the month. Note: The Food Pantry at Joseph's Place will only be open on two Wednesday's during December due to the Christmas Holiday; December 11th and December 18th.)
As you are aware, the CMA has begun. To date, we have received 47.76% of our goal of $79,113. Thank you to all who have made their pledge and for supporting our mission. Please pray for the success of reaching our goal. Thank you!
One of our responsibilities as a follower of Jesus Christ is to study and learn more about him each day. As followers of Jesus we are also called to study the "signs of the times" that we might promote Gospel values and our Christian Faith within the culture and community in which we live, which also requires us to study and educate ourselves about issues that concern the common good. With this in mind, we have opened the "Cathedral Library and Cafe" in the former Gift and Book Shop. The hours for the Library and Cafe are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm, and before and after each weekend Mass, or by appointment. Coffee is available as well! All Are Welcome!
Our Mission Statement
The Cathedral Community is a Roman Catholic parish of the Dioceses of Rochester that gathers and worships at Sacred Heart Cathedral. We are an ethnically, racially, and economically diverse community with unique gifts and challenges within an urban neighborhood.
Our mission is to reach out with hope to all in our community, neighborhood, and beyond, to proclaim the Gospel with joy and enthusiasm, and to prepare disciples who will go forth to serve God and others, especially the poor, with mercy and compassion.
Here's what we're doing to ensure that our children and vulnerable persons are safe:
DOR Creating A Safe Environment Information (click here)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
1150 Buffalo Road
Rochester, New York 14624
