Sunday, July 26, 2015

Pastor's Corner, July 26, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Laudato Si’ is an urgent appeal from our Holy Father. In the introduction Pope Francis says that he desires a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet” (14) and that he wishes to draw from the best scientific research and then consider certain moral principles which can give us a coherent approach to be good stewards of creation.
In the first chapter of the encyclical the Pope explains what is happening to our common home. Note that this section is simply a summary of what can be observed and also what some say come from scientific research. It is not an exhaustive exposition of the situation nor is this section meant to settle the questions involved. Some people of good will may in fact disagree with the Pope about his description. He is not claiming to be an expert or to be presenting doctrinal principles which are infallible. I believe the Pope simply wants to engage all mankind to reflect on his summary of the situation and begin to see some of the problems we need to face.
At the heart of the problem is what Pope Francis calls “rapidification.” He observes that “the speed with which human activity has developed contrasts with the naturally slow pace of biological evolution” (18). Herein lies a problem and a challenge. We have developed so quickly technologically yet creation has not kept pace. In some sense we have gotten “ahead” of creation and often used and abused creation. Now, the consequences of our rapid advance and behavior have begun to harm us.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Pastor's Corner, July 19, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ did not come out of a papal vacuum. What I mean is that the papacy has spoken often on the issue of creation, especially since the Second Vatican Council. The Holy Father points out that Pope Paul VI, Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict have written and spoken on ecological matters in a variety of ways over the last several decades. They have commented on the potential “ecological catastrophe,” the need for “authentic social and moral progress” as we advance scientifically and technologically, and that the environment has been gravely damaged by our irresponsible behavior (cf. 4-6). These concerns have been echoed by our brothers and sisters in the orthodox churches for many years.
I think this brief historical perspective is important. Pope Francis is not some renegade pope proclaiming new doctrines. His thought is a continuation of reflections from a variety of magisterial and church documents and this encyclical should be seen within that framework. 
A great inspiration behind the new encyclical is the person and teaching of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis calls his patron saint “the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology” (10). For him, “creation was a sister united to him by bonds of affection” (11).
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Pastor's Corner, July 12, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Pope Francis recently published a new encyclical letter entitled Laudato Si’ (“Praise be to You”). The title comes from the famous canticle of St. Francis of Assisi in which he reminds us that creation is our common home and that she is “like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us” (1).
Many news outlets said that the encyclical was all about global warming. This is far from the truth. Essentially, the Holy Father speaks to us about our duty to be a good steward of creation. Certainly climate change is an important topic and Pope Francis speaks clearly about it. However, there is so much more to the encyclical than a particular political point of view or solution to a social problem. In the next several weeks I would like to explore some of the major themes of this encyclical. I hope it will be a catalyst for you to read the letter and discover the deeply biblical doctrines of this new social encyclical.
Pope Francis outlines the reason for Laudato Si’ in the second paragraph, “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her” (2).
As we go through the encyclical we may find ourselves making an examination of conscience with regard to our use and/or abuse of the great gift of creation. I think the Pope wants that to happen so that we become better stewards of His gifts.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Pastor's Corner, July 5, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On this Fourth of July weekend we love to watch the fireworks and are moved by the sight of the American flag. Love for our country is not foreign to our life as Christians. As a matter of fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “the love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity” (2239).
The love of country should compel us to be involved in society and the political process. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia writes in his book Render Unto Caesar, “I’ve grown increasingly tired of the church and her people being told to be quiet on public issues that urgently concern us. Worse, Catholics themselves too often stay silent out of a misguided sense of good manners.”
Archbishop Chaput concludes that “if we really believe God exists, that belief will inevitably color our personal and public behavior: our actions, our choice, and our decisions. It will also subtly frame our civic language and institutions.”
At times we all hear people complain about the direction our country is taking or they complain about this politician or that decision. If we truly love God and our country, we will not remain silent but get involved so as to make a better future.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Pastor's Corner, June 28, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we conclude the month of June – a month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – it is important for us to reflect on the love of Christ which we clearly see and experience in this devotion.
The modern devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus traces back to the private revelations of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th Century. Pope Pius XI, referring to these apparitions, said, “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.”
We are desperately in need of Christ’s love and mercy. His Heart speaks eloquently of both. Pope Francis once said, “Popular piety highly prizes symbols, and the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy – but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is a real symbol, which represents the center, the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed forth.”
The aim of this devotion is to allow Our Lord to reign over our hearts by prompting us to recognize our sins and turn us back to Our Savior, especially through the Sacrament of His Sacred Heart – confession. Then we can find in Christ our love and joy.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Friday, June 26, 2015

Laudato Si'

Pope Francis' new encyclical on the stewardship of creation, Laudato Si' ("Praise be to you"), has garnished a lot of attention these past few days. I'm still trying to read its 180 pages. But if you are looking for a insightful analysis of the theological source of the Pope's view of creation and man's place in it, just read the following article by Fr. Robert Barron: 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

PA Municipal Convention

I had the privilege of opening the Pennsylvania Municipal Convention with an invocation this morning at the PPL Center in downtown Allentown. This annual meeting of mayors, city council members, and municipality officials promotes the work of local governments around the State of Pennsylvania. I had an opportunity to get a selfie with Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, and NFL Hall of Famer and former Allentown resident, Andre Reed. 

The kindness of the Mayor's Office to have me give the invocation just reiterates the importance of collaboration between civil and religious leaders. As Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium, "No one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without influence on societal and national life" (183). 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Pastor's Corner, June 21, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy and blessed Father’s Day to all our fathers!
At the beginning of the year Pope Francis spoke of the importance of fatherhood. He observed that today “one has reached the point of claiming that our society is a ‘society without fathers’… the absent father figure in the life of little ones and young people causes gaps and wounds that may even be very serious.”
In answer to this tendency, the Pope says, “The first need, then, is precisely this: that a father be present in the family. That he be close to his wife, to share everything, joy and sorrow, hope and hardship. And that he be close to his children as they growThe Church, our mother, is committed to supporting with all her strength the good and generous presence of fathers in families.”
There is an attempt in our society to redefine marriage which would eliminate the essential quality of marriage as a relationship of complementary sexes and thus make marriage “genderless.” Marriage is unique for the reason of binding both mother and father to their own children in an exclusive and permanent bond of love. Marriage assures that children grow up with their mother and father. We need both and we thank our fathers for all they mean to us.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Pastor's Corner, June 14, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As many of you already know, Bishop Barres has decided to ADD to the number of clergy serving the Cathedral Parish by assigning a new Assistant Pastor – Fr. Jared Zambelli. We are very excited to welcome this newly ordained priest to our spiritual family and we look forward to his service among us.
Fr. Zambelli is 26 years old and the son of Vincent and Crystal Zambelli of Walnutport. He is a graduate of Notre Dame High School, Easton. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and master’s degrees in Divinity and Theology. He was a member of St. Nicholas Parish in Walnutport. This past year, as a transitional deacon, Fr. Zambelli served at St. Thomas More parish. He was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 6 along with Fr. Brendan Laroche.
Fr. Zambelli begins his assignment on Tuesday, June 23. On the following weekend, June 27 and 28, we will welcome Fr. Zambelli to our parish after all the weekend Masses. Please join us at this reception.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Pastor's Corner, June 7, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Just yesterday “Deacon” Brendon Laroche became “Father” Brendon Laroche by way of the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration at the Rite of Ordination celebrated by Bishop Barres here at the Cathedral.
Today Father Laroche will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving and be the main celebrant for the first time. It is providential that he does so on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). 
Saint John Paul II once wrote, “There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist” (Gift and Mystery, pp.77-78). There is an essential and integral bond between priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. Priests are born from the Eucharist and they give birth to the Eucharist. 
The great Pope John Paul succinctly summarizes the Church faith on this intimate connection when he writes, “The ordained ministry, which may never be reduced to its merely functional aspect since it belongs on the level of ‘being’, enables the priest to act in persona Christi and culminates in the moment when he consecrates the bread and wine, repeating the actions and words of Jesus during the Last Supper” (Letter to Priests for Holy Thursday, 2004, 2). 
May Saint John Paul II intercede for Fr. Laroche and all priests. 
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Pastor's Corner, May 31, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As the weather get warmer there is a tendency to begin dressing more “informally” for Mass. Sometimes I see people come to church dressed in ways that would be more appropriate at Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom. Please don’t misunderstand me. I want many people to come to Mass. But the way we dress should not be a distraction to others and it should reflect where we are and what we are doing.
Let’s get one thing straight – God loves us no matter how we are dressed. However, we dress well for Mass not because we want God to love us more but because we love him. Dressing nicely and modestly shows the depth of our love for Him.
Think to yourself, if I’m going to visit someone very important (God), who loves me deeply (He gave His life for me), and I am participating in an act of divine worship and will receive God in Holy Communion, how should I dress? Our Sunday attire should be different than what we normally wear at home or on the soccer field or on the beach because what we do in Church is more sacred and more important.
Isn’t coming to church more important than going down the shore? Doesn’t Our Lord deserve a little respect? Is not His house a sacred place in which we encounter our brothers and sister in the faith? Is not church the place where we do something so beautiful and holy that we could not but wear special clothing that reflects what we are doing and the love we have for God?
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Am I ashamed of the Gospel?

Professor Robert George of Princeton University gave a prophetic speech at last year's National Prayer Breakfast on May 13, 2014 entitled "Ashamed of the Gospel?". Among the challenging yet inspiring remarks are:

"The days of socially acceptable Christianity are over... Powerful forces and currents in our society press us to be ashamed of the Gospel—ashamed of the good, ashamed of our faith’s teachings on the sanctity of human life in all stages and conditions, ashamed of our faith’s teachings on marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife. These forces insist that the Church’s teachings are out of date, retrograde, insensitive, uncompassionate, illiberal, bigoted—even hateful... To be a witness to the Gospel today is to make oneself a marked man or woman...These teachings are not the whole Gospel—Christianity requires much more than their affirmation. But they are integral to the Gospel—they are not optional or dispensable. To be an authentic witness to the Gospel is to proclaim these truths among the rest."

If you would like to read the text, go to: 


If you would like to see the video of his remarks, go to:

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Pastor's Corner, May 24, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I am pleased to tell you that our parish welcomes two new deacons who have been assigned to the Cathedral parish by Bishop Barres. Since today is the Solemnity of Pentecost, we can invoke the Holy Spirit to come down upon these two men and help them be great instruments of His power among the People of God.
Deacon David Anthony, a transitional deacon (God willing he will be ordained a priest next year) who was ordained on May 16, is 26 years old. He is originally from Bethlehem and is the son of Michael and Susan Anthony. Deacon Anthony is a graduate of Liberty High School and attended Lehigh University and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, before entering the seminary. He is a member of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish.
Deacon Isidro Gonzalez, a permanent deacon like Deacon Hassler and Deacon Snyder, is 49 years old. Along with 46 other men, he was ordained a permanent deacon by Bishop Barres on April 25. He and his wife Zylkia are from Bethlehem and have been parishioners of Holy Infancy Parish, Bethlehem. Deacon Gonzalez is the father of two and grandfather of two. He is a bank assistant vice president for Wells Fargo in Reading, PA.
We whole-heartedly welcome them to our parish and I am sure we will all be well served by their ministry among us.
In Christ,

Msgr. Baker

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Pastor's Corner, May 17, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
There is good news about vocations to the priesthood. According to a recent survey by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research, the number of anticipated new priests in 2015 will be 595: a potential 25% jump over last year’s priestly ordinations and confirmation that the trend shows new ordinations have been rising overall since 2005.
Interestingly the study found that regular prayer and devotion to the Eucharist were key aspects of most men before they entered seminary: 70% had regularly prayed the Rosary, and 70% joined in Eucharistic adoration before they entered the seminary.
This good news does not reach replacement levels, however. Even though the Catholic population in the US continues to grow, the number of active priests continues to drop an average 1% per year due to priests hitting retirement age.
Yesterday, two young men were ordained to the diaconate for the Diocese of Allentown. On the first Saturday of June Deacon Laroche and his classmate will be ordained to the priesthood. Please pray for more vocations to the priesthood.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Pastor's Corner, May 10, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Today, on Mother’s Day, we each give thanks to God for our mothers and for all that they have done for us and meant to us for so many years.
We should also remember that we have a spiritual mother who is with God in heaven and to whom we are also grateful. Her name is Mary.
She is our mother because of the critical role she played in the Incarnation. God the Father chose her to be the mother of His Son and she responded with a whole-hearted fiat (“let it be done”). Her vocation as the mother of the Savior makes her, by grace, the mother of those whom God saves – us.
Mary is sometimes called the “medriatrix of all graces.” St. Louis de Montfort explains, “God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas or maria. He gathered all his grace together and called it Mary or Maria. The great God has a treasury or storehouse full of riches in which he has enclosed all that is beautiful, resplendent, rare, and precious, even his own Son” (True Devotion, 23).
The month of May is dedicated to Our Mother in the order of grace. May we give her thanks for all she has done for us and meant to us for so many years.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Friday, May 8, 2015

Prayer for Year of Mercy

Pope Francis has penned a special prayer for the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy which begins December 8.  Here it is:

L
ord Jesus Christ,
you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,
and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.
Show us your face and we will be saved.
Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;
the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things;
made Peter weep after his betrayal,
and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.
Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:
“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,
of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:
let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.
You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness
in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error:
let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing,
so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,
and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,
and restore sight to the blind.  

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy,
you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen. 

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Pastor's Corner, May 3, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On April 28, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, along with three other cases that will decide the fate of state laws that define marriage as a union of one man and one woman.
The US Bishops Conference filed an amicus brief for the case saying, “Given both the unique capacity for reproduction and the unique value of homes with a mother and father, it is reasonable and just for a state to treat the union of one man and one woman as having a public value that is absent from other intimate, interpersonal relationships… No other institution joins together persons with the natural ability to have children, to assure that any such children are properly cared for by their own parents.”
Maintaining the God-given definition of marriage between a man and a woman should be of great interest for civil government. Again, the US Bishop Conference brief says, “It bears emphasizing that a government preference for husband-wife unions as the optimal environment in which to raise children is a judgment about marriage as the only institution that serves to connect children with their father and mother together in a stable home.” Every child has one biological mother and one biological father, and the child is most likely to do well when both parents are in the home.
This position is not based on bigotry. “It is not a judgment about the dignity or worth of any person, married or not,” the Bishops say. It is not about discrimination but about definition – the definition of marriage.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Pastor's Corner, April 26, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On April 29, the day the universal Church celebrates the feast of St. Catharine of Siena, we will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral Church. In our church, this day is celebrated as a solemnity, the highest form of liturgical celebration.
We are blessed to be not only a parish but also a Cathedral, meaning that our church has the privilege to serve the Diocese of Allentown as the “seat” of the bishop and the Church from which he exercises his triple mission of governing, teaching and sanctifying the entire diocese in the name of Christ and as the chief shepherd of the local Church.
The Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops speaks of the importance of the Cathedral Church. It says, “It is here that diocesan life finds its fullest expression and it is here that the most sublime and sacred act of the Bishop’s munus sanctificandi [sanctifying function] is accomplished” (155).
The Cathedral is considered the “mother” church of all the other churches in the diocese. Thus, the Cathedral is a reminder to everyone of the “catholicity” of the Church of Christ insofar as it serves as a sign of the union that all priests, religious, and laity have with the bishop of the Diocese.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Pastor's Corner, April 19, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Last week Pope Francis announced that starting December 8, 2015 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) and ending on November 20, 2016 (Solemnity of Christ the King) the universal Church will celebrate an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
The Holy Father outlined three main reasons for such a special year: “A year in which to be touched by the Lord Jesus and to be transformed by his mercy, so that we may become witnesses to mercy.”
With the Papal Bull Misericordiae Vultus (“The Face of Mercy”) Pope Francis provides us with a beautiful summary of the biblical revelation about the mercy of God, tracing this aspect of divine love throughout the history of Israel and culminating in the ministry, passion and death of Jesus Christ. As the Pope points out, “the signs he [Jesus] works, especially in the face of sinners, the poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering, are all meant to teach mercy. Everything in him speaks of mercy” (8).
Our prayer for this year is that the Church and all her members will be living beacons of mercy, giving testimony to the mercy that is ours in Christ Jesus. As Pope Francis puts it, “May she never tire of extending mercy, and be ever patient in offering compassion and comfort” (25).
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Pastor's Corner, April 12, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
In the year 2000 St. John Paul II declared, “It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’”
What is the “whole message” that comes from the word of God this Sunday? St. John Paul II explained that the message of mercy comes “from the lips of the risen Christ, who bears the great message of Divine Mercy and entrusts its ministry to the Apostles in the Upper Room: ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you. … Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (Jn 20:21-23).
The events of Holy Week have opened the flood gates of Divine Mercy. We are now at peace with God and we have access to the mercy which flows from Christ’s pierced heart, especially through the Sacrament of Mercy given to the Church on Easter Sunday night when Christ gave His apostles the power to forgive sins in His name.
I hope you might be able to join us at 3 pm this afternoon for Exposition, the praying of the Divine Mercy chaplet and Benediction. Confessions will be available beginning at 2 pm. Now is the time to receive the whole message of Divine Mercy.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Pastor's Corner, April 5, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Happy Easter everyone! Our joy this day is that Jesus has risen as he said and that by the power of the Holy Spirit Christ shares this new life with us.
What do we mean when we profess that we believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ?
The Catechism has a lot to say about the matter. First, we cannot interpret Christ’s resurrection “outside the physical order” (CCC, 643). Also, the “risen body in which he [Jesus] appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears the traces of his Passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills” (CCC, 645).
Jesus truly rose, not simply in the faith of the believers, but physically from the death. At the same time, the event of the resurrection is something new in human history and revealing a new dimension of reality.
The Catechism teaches, “Christ’s Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with the raisings from the dead that he had performed before Easter… These actions were miraculous events, but the persons miraculously raised returned by Jesus’ power to ordinary earthly life. At some particular moment they would die again. Christ’s Resurrection is essentially different. In his risen body he passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space” (CCC, 646).
May this resurrected life, unconquerable by death, be yours.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Holy Week Schedule

HOLY WEEK 2015

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of Holy Week before morning Masses and
Holy Thursday:    3:15 to 4:00 P.M.
Good Friday:         4:30 to 5:30 P.M.
Holy Saturday:     10:30 to 11:30 A.M.

MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 29
PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
Saturday: 4:15 P.M.
Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 A.M., 12:15 P.M.
(10:30 A.M. Mass - Bishop Barres, Celebrant,
Pontifical Mass with Blessing of Palms and Procession)

Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31:
Masses at 6:30 and 8:00 A.M.

Wednesday, April 1:
Mass at 6:30 A.M.
10:30 A.M. - MASS OF THE OILS
(Bishop Barres, Celebrant, with the priests of the Diocese.
All are invited to join the Bishop and the Priests at this Mass)

HOLY THURSDAY, April 2:
10:00 A.M. - Morning Prayer
7:00 P.M. - MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
(Bishop Barres, Celebrant. Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
will follow immediately after Mass until 11:00 P.M.)
10:45 P.M. - Night Prayer

GOOD FRIDAY, April 3:
10:00 A.M. - Morning Prayer
3:00 P.M. - COMMEMORATION OF THE LORD'S PASSION
(Bishop Barres, Celebrant, with the priests of the Cathedral concelebrating)
7:00 P.M. - Stations and Veneration of the Cross.

HOLY SATURDAY, April 4:
10:00 A.M. - Morning Prayer
12 Noon - Blessing of Easter Food in the Church
8:00 P.M. – SOLEMN EASTER VIGIL MASS
(Bishop Barres, Celebrant, with the priests of the Cathedral concelebrating.)
N.B.: There will be NO 4:15 P.M. Mass)

EASTER SUNDAY, April 5:
Masses:
7:30 A.M. in Church
9:00 A.M. in Church (This Mass will be a special liturgy with
Blessing of Children and Easter Baskets)
9:00 A.M. in Parish Activity Center
10:30 A.M. in Church
10:30 A.M. in Parish Activity Center
12:00 Noon in Church

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, April 12:
2:00 P.M. - Confession
3:00 P.M. - Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Devotions

Monday, March 23, 2015

Why cover the crosses and statues?

In the Cathedral, from the Fifth Sunday of Lent until the Easter Triduum, we continue the custom of covering the crosses and statues with a purple cloth. It has been a universal custom in the Latin Church since at least the 17th Century and, even though it is no longer mandatory, it is still a permitted and praiseworthy practice. 
For the Fifth Sunday of Lent the Roman Missal says, "In the Diocese of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil."

But why do we do it?

History of the custom
The custom finds is origin in the 9th Century. In Germany Christians put a large cloth in front of the altar from the beginning of Lent. The cloth hid the entire altar from the view of the faithful and was not removed until the reading of the Passion on Wednesday of Holy Week when the phrase "the veil of the temple was rent in two." Eventually this custom was extended to crosses and statues. Later, in the 17th Century, this custom became universal and was limited to the "Passiontide" which began on the Sunday before Palm Sunday which was then called "Passion Sunday" and is now the 5th Sunday of Lent.
It is interesting to note that before the Second Vatican Council the Gospel that was read on "Passion Sunday" (now the 5th Sunday of Lent) was from St. John, chapter 8. The last verse of that Gospel passage says, "So they took up stone to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple." In other words, Jesus hid himself from the Jewish authorities and is now hidden from the world as He prepares for His impending passion and death. 

The suffering of Christ "veils" His divinity
The nearness of the hour of Christ's suffering causes the Church to veil His image and those of His saints as a way to mystically enter into the humiliation of Christ and how His divinity is about to be hidden from view or "veiled" in order to bring about our salvation. On the Cross we struggle to "see" that this is God who suffers and dies for us. The veiling represents how Christ has veiled or "hid" His divinity by humbling becoming man and taking on human suffering. 

The suffering of Christ "veils" His humanity
He has also "veiled" His humanity in the sense that the depth of the cruelty against Him was so severe that His humanity was dramatically disfigured. In a prophecy about the suffering of the Messiah Psalm 21: 7 says, "I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people." On the Cross even the humanity of Christ was disfigured and veiled. His face and His entire body was distorted by the many blows, scourges and nails that Jesus was scarcely recognizable, even in His humanity. 

The Cross "veils" its victorious meaning
As Christians, we know that the Cross of Christ is a sign of God's victory over death. We even have a feast called the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. But as we approach Holy Week and veil the Cross, we express how difficult it is without faith in the Resurrection to "see" this victory. The Cross' true meaning is "veiled" from the eyes of those who do not believe in Christ who is truly human and truly divine and has died and rose for our salvation. At first sight, the Cross does not seem to be a sign of victory but only of humiliation and death. 






Sunday, March 22, 2015

Pastor's Corner, March 22, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On March 25 the Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. We celebrate the Incarnation of Our Savior in the womb of Mary following her “fiat” (“Let it be done”) to the message of the angel Gabriel that God the Father wished her to be the mother of His Son.
Some evidence suggests that this date was chosen not because it is exactly nine months prior to Christmas but rather that it was believed to be the date of the crucifixion. In Christian antiquity March 25 was considered to be the date of the creation of Adam and the date of the death of Christ. It was believed that the date of someone’s death was also the date of their conception and so March 25 became the day to celebrate the Incarnation of the Lord or, as we call it today, the Annunciation of the Lord.
No matter the reason for assigning the date, this feast is a powerful statement about the love of God and the dignity of each human life. In reflecting on the Incarnation, St. John Paul II says, “This saving event reveals to humanity not only the boundless love of God who ‘so loved the world that he gave his only Son’ (Jn 3:16), but also the incomparable value of every human person” (Evangelium Vitae, 2).
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Pastor's Corner, March 15, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This coming week we will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Today we consider the 7th and final joy and sorrow of St. Joseph.
St. Luke tells us that when Jesus was 12 years old the Holy Family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. When they left the Holy City, “the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2: 43). This is one of the worst nightmares of any parent. Joseph and Mary searched 3 days, first among their relatives and then they returned to Jerusalem. The sense of loss must have been particularly acute for Joseph.
But then St. Luke tells us, “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers” (Luke 2: 46). What joy for both Mary and Joseph! They had found their son.
Prayer: St. Joseph, by the bitter SORROW with which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed thy heart, and by the holy JOY which inundated thy soul in recovering thy Treasure on entering the Temple, we supplicate thee not to permit us to lose our Savior Jesus by sin. Yet, should this misfortune befall us, grant that we may share thy eagerness in seeking Him, and obtain for us the grace to find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass from this life to enjoy His presence in heaven, there to sing with thee His divine mercies forever.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Pastor's Corner, March 8, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we continue with these reflections on the 7 sorrows and 7 joys of St. Joseph, we now consider the sorrow Joseph felt as he returns from Egypt. St. Matthew tells us, “But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee” (Matthew 2: 22). Joseph was still trying to protect the Son of God from threats and difficulties.
Having decided to settle in Nazareth, St. Joseph began to experience the joys of family life with Mary and Jesus. After the Presentation in the Temple St. Luke tells us, “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2: 40). Imagine what joy and peace would have entered Joseph’s heart after those years in Egypt. At last he was home in Israel and could continue to provide for his family and, with Mary’s help, raise the Son of God.
Prayer: St. Joseph, by the SORROW of thy heart caused by the fear of the tyrant Archelaus and by the JOY in sharing the company of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, obtain for us, that disengaged from all fear, we may enjoy the peace of a good conscience and may live in security, in union with Jesus and Mary, experiencing the effect of thy salutary assistance at the hour of our death.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Pastor's Corner, March 1, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
It must have been difficult for St. Joseph to hear the angel tell him, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt” (Matthew 2: 13). This is considered to be the 5th sorrow of St. Joseph.
Jesus enters the world and immediately death appears on the horizon. There is a threat against his life and the Holy Family must leave the land of Israel and reverse the path taken by their ancestors and return to Egypt for safety. Joseph had to find work, a home and provide for his family in a foreign land. The cross marked his role as father from the very beginning.
The 5th joy of St. Joseph is the overthrow of the idols of Egypt. It was foreseen by Isaiah that the Lord would return to Egypt: “Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence” (Isaiah 19: 1). The Christ-child comes to turn the hearts of the Egyptians and all people from their idols to the worship of the one, true God.
Prayer: St. Joseph, by thy SORROW when told to fly into Egypt, and by thy JOY in seeing the idols overthrown at the arrival of the living God, grant that no idol of earthly affection may any longer occupy our hearts, but being like thee entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary, we may live and happily die for them alone.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Male and female He created them

Facebook has announced that it is letting its United States users to choose their gender among 58 options. Some of the options are: "transgender," "cisgender," "gender fluid," "intersex," “trans female,” “trans male,” “trans person,” “gender variant,” “gender questioning,” “bigender,” “androgynous,” “pangender,” “transsexual” and "neither." Facebook promises to work with leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups to come up with new categories.
So much for common sense and the all-important phrase, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1: 27).
Recently I read a fantastic article by Bill Maguire entitled “Gay” Catholics and an Adequate Anthropology (you can find it on the web at: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/3718/gay_catholics_and_an_adequate_anthropology.aspx). He succinctly and beautifully summarizes the Catholic world view on sexuality, gender and same-sex attraction:
“The central tenet of the traditional Catholic understanding of the human person and human sexuality is that man—male and female—is created in the image of God (imago Dei). As Creator, God made a decision that the human person should always and only exist as a man or a woman. Consequently there are not multiple genders, as LGBT gender theory asserts, but only two: male and female. Our gender (or sex) is determined by the sex of our body: a person with a male body is a man and can never be otherwise; a person with a female body is a woman and can never be otherwise. Thus, for example, when a person with a female body self-identifies as a man instead of a woman, this is not a sign that she is “transgender.” Rather, it is a sign that something has gone wrong with her psychosexual development. And the appropriate course of action for her is not to adopt a fictional gender, but to seek the healing of her psychosexual development so that she move towards accepting and embracing who she truly is: a woman. Moreover, according to the traditional Catholic teaching on sexuality there are not multiple sexualities, as LGBT gender theory asserts, but only two: male sexuality and female sexuality. Consequently, there are only two sexual orientations. The sexuality of a man is oriented towards—is designed by God for—nuptial union with a woman. The sexuality of a woman is oriented towards—is designed by God for—nuptial union with a man.”

I could not have expressed it better. 

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Pastor's Corner, February 22, 2015

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The 4th sorrow of St. Joseph comes from Luke 2: 34: “…and a sword will pierce through your own soul.” Simeon prophesied that Our Lady would suffer in a special way because of her Son. Because Joseph truly loved Mary he would have felt the sting of this prediction. We all know what is like to suffer because others are suffering and so St. Joseph felt great compassion whenever his wife suffered.
But then came the joy. A few verse after the Simeon prophecy, St. Luke tells us that Anna spoke of the Christ child “to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2: 38). St. Joseph once again realized that his sorrow was always overshadowed by the joy of what Jesus brings us – salvation. As we see at the end of Lent, the very suffering and death of Christ – the greatest sorrow of all – is the instrument of the joy that is eternal.
Prayer: St. Joseph, by the SORROW when the Lord declared that the soul of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow, and by thy JOY when holy Simeon added that the Divine Infant was to be the resurrection of many, obtain for us the grace to have compassion on the sorrows of Mary, and share in the salvation which Jesus brought to the earth.
In Christ,
Msgr. Baker

Monday, February 16, 2015

Fifty Shades of Sin

The movie "Fifty Shades of Grey" earned $81.7 million on Valentine's Day weekend.

Let me clearly state that I have not read the books or seen the movie, nor do I intend to do either. The movie contains scenes of fornication, sado-masochistic bondage, the exploitation and abuse of women, the degradation of human nature, lies, deceit, the abuse and distortion of true freedom, etc. It glorifies what mortifies God. To put it bluntly, I think it is sinful to watch the movie or read the books. 

But why have so many people - especially women - flocked to the theaters to see the movie?

Now don't get me wrong. It seems clear to me that part of the reason for the movie's popularity is the wide acceptance of pornography in our culture. People have become so desensitized to images which are an affront to holy purity, to the beauty of sexual intimacy and to the dignity of the human person, that "Fifty Shades of Grey" looks like Windows 95. 

However, is it possible that such a movie is so popular because people are longing but unable to obtain the real thing (true love and intimacy) that a counterfeit seems a great option to them?

When I lived in Rome there was a whole business carried out by illegal immigrants of selling "knock off" handbags. They had much of the designer look but were not the real thing. The purses were cheap and very popular. People wanted the real thing but couldn't get it so they settled for a distorted copy.

Many people long for attention, intimacy, selfless love and have a hard time finding it. Their hearts are made to love and be loved yet they settle for lust and being used. 

Women, ask yourselves: “Are my motives for seeing this movie pure? Does the movie present the kind of intimacy that is true, lasting and respects the dignity of the other person? Do I want my husband/boyfriend/son to be like Christian Grey? Do I agree that women should be sexually exploited even if they consent to it?” 

Men, ask yourselves: “Does this movie help me live purity of mind and heart? Would this movie truly inspire my son or daughter? Would I want them to learn from the movie how to interact with the opposite sex? Do I think it is morally acceptable to treat women like Christian does – as sexual objects for my own selfish pleasure?” 

EWTN had a very interesting and helpful discussion on the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCdm3PY2D1o 
Bishop Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, wrote how the movie helps pornography go mainstream: http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/02/porn-goes-mainstream 
Bishop Malone, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, wrote a letter to the Bishops of the United State about the film: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/upload/Malone-to-Bishops-Fifty-Shades-of-Grey-2-4-15.pdf

Do you family members and friends a great favor and save their souls by putting aside the desire to be "politically correct" and tell them: "Don't go to see the movie or read the books. They are ugly corruptions of the beauty of women, the goodness of human sexuality and in truth they saddened the heart of God. If you long for real intimacy, look for it in a relationship of real love."