Cathedral Family,
This Sunday, September 14 th , is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. When this liturgical feast falls on a Sunday, it replaces the regular Sunday of Ordinary Time. The event commemorates that finding of the “True Cross” by St. Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. When she went to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage in the early fourth century, she discovered, with others, the hiding place that contained three crosses. They were purported to be the actual crosses of Jesus’ Crucifixion. It was not clear which one was Our Lord’s. However, a healing miracle was attributed to one of the crosses and it was then claimed, by legend, to be the actual cross of Jesus’ death.
This legend has come down to us through the centuries. Powerful healings have been attributed to touching relics of the true cross. (Fragments are found now virtually all over the world, due to pious veneration.) These events have strengthened the faith of believers. The point, however, is that Jesus’ death on the Cross is our salvation, whether we can touch a relic of the true cross or not. Devotion to the suffering and death of Jesus—meditating on his wounds---can be the moment of transformation for us. The very first preaching call, “The Kerygma”, was a proclamation of the events of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. This is the message that changes the world. Today our sophisticated world pushes this event to the sidelines and knocks it off the cliff---yet, the power of Jesus to change lives continually exists. There is more “seeking” for truth. We have nearly 50 people in various stages of coming into the Church—through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is very exciting to see the amount of inquiry of people—who have grown tired of the world---seeking the meaning of life in Christ. Please pray for them and our process here. If you have interest in helping people become Catholic, by walking with them as a catechist in the program, or as a sponsor who accompanies someone with spiritual friendship—please contact Tina Rossi, our Director of Evangelization, at the Parish Office.
You will be happy to know that our first Sunday Evening Mass at 5 pm was well attended. We had nearly 200 people attend! We truly hope this will become a mass where we can welcome many visitors, in addition to becoming a mass that our youth will attend as part of their religious formation sessions and youth ministry nights!
I am delighted to announce that Deacon Rick Fortune will become a member of our parish staff. He will be the Pastoral Associate for Ministries---forming and shaping our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, homebound and nursing home visitations, overseeing the developing Cathedral Commission for Justice and Charity, and guiding and assisting with Parish Impact Nights and Sunday Welcoming initiatives. We are very blessed with such a faithful, devoted deacon to serve the broad needs of our parish. He and his wife Evie have been parishioners here for many years. Please pray for Deacon Rick as he onboards to his full time work here on October 6, 2025.
Have a blessed week---and please spend time in the Eucharistic Chapel before the Lord---praying for the mission of the parish.
In Jesus,
Father Christy