Celebration of the Eucharist

Celebration of Eucharist

4:00 Saturday evening (live streamed as well)

7:00 am and 9:15 am (live streamed as well) and 11:15 am Sunday morning.

Daily Masses

Monday - 12:10 pm:

Tuesday - 7:30 am:

Wednesday - 12:10 pm;

Thursday - 12:10 pm;

Friday - 12:10 pm.

The Cathedral Office Hours

Sacred Heart Cathedral Office Hours...

Monday - Thursday, 9:00am - 3:00pm

Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Celebration of Penance

Celebration of Penance

Fr. Van Lieshout will be available for confessions from 11:30am until noon before every 12:10 weekday Mass. The full confession schedule here at the Cathedral is as follows:

Monday: 11:30am until noon

Tuesday: No Confessions

Wednesday: 11:30am until noon

Thursday: 11:30am until noon

Friday: 11:30am until noon; 4:45pm until 5:30pm

Saturday: 2:30pm until 3:30pm

The Very Reverend Peter D. Van Lieshout

Sacred Heart Cathedral Rector, The Very Reverend Father Peter Van Lieshout

Praised be Jesus Christ!

As a quick follow up to last week’s article about the spiritual benefits of Mass intentions, I would also like to encourage everyone to take advantage of the graces that are available to us in attendance at weekday Mass, when possible. I probably would not be a priest today if I hadn’t started attending daily Mass as a college student. It was in the quiet, simplicity of the weekday parish Mass that I really began to fall in love with the Mass itself in a new way, and eventually found it to be an essential cornerstone of my spiritual life.

I’ve been very encouraged by the recent good attendance at daily Mass here at the Cathedral and I’d really like to see that trend continue. I know that for many, this is just not possible given the demands of work, school, and other activities. But for those whose weekday schedule permits it, here are some reasons to consider putting daily Mass into your normal prayer routine:

1. There is no greater prayer available to us. In the Mass, the one, perfect Sacrifice of Christ is made present on the altar. By joining our weak human praise to that of Christ’s, our prayers are elevated and perfected.

2. It helps ensure that Jesus is truly the center of our day. A lot of people want to know how they can grow closer to Jesus in their daily lives. The answer is as simple as attending daily Mass, in which Jesus himself draws close to us! It also helps us to make sure that we are spending some time each day dedicated to prayer.

3. We need a quiet break in the midst of our day. It’s almost a cliché for priests and spiritual writers to lament how much of our lives we spend in front of screens and smartphones. All I’m going to say here is that those who attend daily Mass are forced to “unplug” for at least those thirty minutes of Mass each day, and so even on a merely natural/pragmatic level, this seems like an obvious benefit.

4. It prepares us better for Sunday Mass. Obviously, the Sunday community Mass is of utmost importance to our lives as Catholics. But in my experience, the rhythm of daily Mass attendance helps me to hunger all the more for Sunday, and also helps me to enter into it more deeply. I am not sure I really knew how to “pray the Mass” until I started attending it during the week.

5. More scripture and more saints. During the weekday Masses, there are more or less continuous readings from large sections of the scriptures. We also celebrate the feast days of many great saints in our liturgical calendar. I find that Catholics who attend daily Mass with regularity end up more Biblically literate, and have a greater love for and devotion to the saints.

6. Another chance to receive Our Eucharistic Lord - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. (Need I say more?!)

God bless your week!

In the hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Fr. Peter Van Lieshout

September 12, 2021 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Faith Formation, Confirmation, RCIA

Faith Formation 2021 - 2022 I

I’m so grateful to Karen Stevens for helping me to piece together an “in-person” religious ed. program here at the Cathedral, after having an online only program last year due to COVID. Karen worked in this role here at the Cathedral several years ago, and she has been extremely helpful in getting us up and running again. We are still in the early stages of planning but we would like to begin taking signups. The program will start Sunday, September 19th and take place most Sundays from 10:15am until 11:15am. This will allow a family to have their child(ren) enrolled in the program and also attend either the 9:15am Mass (beforehand) or the 11:15am Mass (afterwards).

Signup forms are available in the Cathedral narthex, or can be downloaded here...

Faith Formation Registration (Download) 2021-2022

or Families can enroll online at the link to the Registration Form found in the Menu above under Faith Formation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is generally administered by Bishop Matano to 9th graders at the end of that second year of classes. Confirmation classes will also take place at the same time as Faith Formation: Sundays from 10:15am until 11:15am.

The RCIA program is an intellectual and spiritual journey for those individuals who have never been baptized, but are interested in exploring the teachings of the Catholic faith in view of potentially seeking baptism and entrance into the full life of the Church next spring. But I also find that RCIA classes can also serve as helpful formation for those nonCatholic Christians who are already baptized, but are considering “converting” to the Catholic faith by being received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Depending on interest, I am hoping to host these Wed. evening from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Cathedral starting Sept. 15th.

HOMILY SERIES... John, Chapter 6

Beginning July 25, 2021 (The 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time) , the Gospel reading was taken sequentially from Chapter 6 of St. John’s Gospel. This is Jesus’ great teaching on the Eucharist! And it is section of Scripture that all Catholics should know and be able to explain.

What follows is Fr. Van Lieshout’s homily series on this mystery which is the “source and summit” of the Christian life!

Week 1: Eucharistic Implications of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (John 6: 1-15)

Week 2: The Manna from Heaven (John 6: 24-35)

Week 3: Jesus’ Identity and the Centrality of Faith (John 6: 41-51)

Week 4: The New Bread from Heaven (John 6: 51-58)

Week 5: “To Whom Shall We Go” (John 6: 60-69)

NINE-DAY NOVENA TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A NINE-DAY NOVENA TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, PATRON SAINT OF FIRST RESPONDERS

September 21-28, 2021

Chanted Chaplet Of St. Michael

Sacred Heart Cathedral, 8 PM

September 29, 2021 - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

Sacred Heart Cathedral, 7 PM

Cub Scouts

Cub Corner

On September 15th, Cub Scout Pack 68 will be beginning our 73rd year of serving the young men of our parish and neighborhood. We have activities for boys from kindergarten to 5th grade and meet on Wednesday nights in the Cathedral hall from 6:30-8:00 pm. If you have any questions, please call me at 703-7634.

John Fien, Cub Master

LIVE STREAMED MASSES FROM THE CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY

The weekly live streamed Mass will be :

9:15 AM – Sunday

“ALL ARE WELCOME” to attend in person

Seating with NO SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED and MASK WEARING IS OPTIONAL

(An area will be provided for Social Distanced, Mask Required seating)

We continue to make adjustments to our worship space as we receive guidance from the CDC, New York State and the Diocese of Rochester.

Masses and Prayer Services which are live streamed (and/or recorded) on Facebook and Youtube are available on our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/CathedralCommunity) and on our YouTube channel. Click on the links below to view Live Streams for Masses and Services as they occur, and recorded versions after each.

YouTube Live Streams and Recordings

Facebook Live Streams and Recordings

Green Team

Choose Life by Choosing to Care for Creation

A JOINT MESSAGE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CREATION

Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England wrote a joint statement calling for Christians and all people of good will to change their ways. In a short statement they issue a prophetic call saying, "We must decide what kind of world we want to leave to future generations. God mandates: ‘Choose life, so that you and your children might live’ (Dt 30:19). We must choose to live differently; we must choose life."

To read the joint statement, please see the Green Team tab in the Menu above. (Go to the Green Team tab under the "Ministries" tab. then under the "Outreach Ministries" tab.

ONLINE GIVING OPTIONS

Regular Collection

Online Giving to the Cathedral Community

Please click on the link above for Regular Sunday Online Giving Options at the Cathedral Community!

Second Collections

Campaign for Human Development (Fund Ending October 15, 2021)

The Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary (Fund Ending September 30, 2021)

Joseph's Place (Fund Ending December 31, 2021)

Penny Fund (Fund Ending December 31, 2021)

Catholic Courier (Fund Ending December 31, 2021)

School Support (Fund Ending December 31, 2021)

Fuel Fund (Fund Ending December 31, 2021)

Please click on the link above for the Second Collection Online Giving Options at the Cathedral Community!

Thank you for your generosity!

MASK WEARING UPDATE

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MASS ATTENDANCE

Seating with NO SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED and MASK OPTIONAL is now available

(An area will be provided for Social Distanced, Mask Required seating as well)

We continue to make adjustments to our worship space as we receive guidance from the CDC, New York State and the Diocese of Rochester.

We thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation.

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.

Cathedral Library and Cafe

Cathedral Library and Cafe Hours :

The Cathedral Library remains closed until further notice.

Pastoral Letter Against Racism

"As (United States) bishops, we unequivocally state that racism is a life issue. Accordingly, we will not cease to speak forcefully against and work toward ending racism." (Open Wide Our Hearts)

Please click here to view the Pastoral Letter AGAINST RACISM

Bishop Matano's Statement

Message from the Bishop

Letter to the Faithful from Bishop Matano regarding The Diocese of Rochester Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing,(September 14, 2020).

Message from Bishop Matano regarding Protecting our Children

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

Deadline for Bulletin and Church Announcements

Announcements and inserts/flyers for our weekly bulletin must be submitted to the Church Office by NOON on Monday. (Inserts and flyers must receive prior approval before submission). E-mail submissions must be sent to [email protected]

Please note : Articles may be edited due to space constraints & inserts/flyers must be approved by staff. Thank you for your consideration of these policies.

Sunday announcements must be submitted to the office by Thursday at NOON.