Schedule for November 26-29, 2020
Thursday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Day
- 7:00 am Cathedral Open for Private Prayer and Devotion
- 9:00 am Thanksgiving Day Mass with Archbishop Rozanski - will also be livestreamed
- 2:00 pm Cathedral Closes
Friday, November 27
- 6:30 am Cathedral Open for Private Prayer and Devotion
- 7:00 am Mass
- 7:30 - 8:00 am Confessions
- 8:00 am Mass - will also be livestreamed
- 12:05 pm Mass
- 3:00 pm Rosary – Live-Stream
- 5:00 pm Cathedral Closes
Saturday, November 28
- 7:00 am Cathedral Open for Private Prayer and Devotion
- 8:00 am Mass - will also be livestreamed
- 10:00 am Visitation / 11:00 am Funeral Mass for Mark Johnson - will also be livestreamed
- 3:00 pm Rosary – Live-Stream
- 3:00 pm Baptisms
- 3:30 - 4:30 pm Holy Hour - concluding with Evening Prayer and Benediction
- 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Confessions
- 5:00 pm Mass
- 6:00 pm Cathedral Closes
Sunday - First Sunday of Advent
- 7:00 am Cathedral Open for Private Prayer and Devotion
- 8:00 am Mass - will also be livestreamed
- 9:00 am - 9:50 am Confessions
- 10:00 am Mass
- 11:00 am - 11:50 am Confessions
- 12:00 Noon Mass
- 5:00 pm Mass
- 6:00 pm Cathedral Closes
Dear Parishioners,
During this past week we celebrated Thanksgiving. Some of us were able to gather with our families, many of us were not. But in either case, the holiday still gave us pause to recall the many blessings that God has bestowed on us. While this celebration is a secular feast, it reminds us all of the importance of giving thanks to Our Heavenly Father for all He does for us, and to thank all those in our lives we take for granted. Saying our thanks indicates how important they are to us and confirms our love for them.
We have now entered into the Advent Season. It is, above all, a season of preparation by means of purification. The words of Saint John the Baptist, which express his mission in the world, uncover the meaning of our Advent observance: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” (Mt 3:3) Even as Saint John the Baptist prepared the way of our Lord’s coming into the world in time, so too we get ready to welcome our Lord more completely into our lives now, so that we may be ready to welcome Him finally and fully on the day of His coming in glory at the end of time.
How do we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord? Over the next four weeks, we will be spending much of our time decorating our homes, writing Christmas cards, and purchasing gifts for our loved ones. These are all things we do to prepare to celebrate Christmas day with great joy. To experience even greater joy, you and I must prepare ourselves. As we prepare our homes, so we prepare our souls.
To assist you in preparing for the coming of Our Lord during the Advent Season, the parish will be offering a small pamphlet entitled “Seven Daily Habits for Faithful Catholics”. It entails the following practices:
- 1.The Morning Offering
- 2.Fifteen Minutes of Silent Prayer
- 3.Receiving Holy Communion
- 4.Fifteen Minutes of Spiritual Reading
- 5.Pray the Angelus
- 6.Pray the Rosary
- 7.Examine your Conscience
The pamphlet will give a detailed explanation of all these, and please don’t think that if you don’t do all of them that you are not a faithful Catholic. These are immensely useful tools to assist you in growing deeper in your faith and closer in love with Jesus.
Monsignor Henry Breier
This Weekend's Pulpit Announcements
The Cathedral Basilica Advent Giving Tree is located in the west transept. By taking a red envelope from the tree and dropping it into Sunday’s offertory basket with your donation, you will help provide necessary items for Fr. Dempsey Charities and residents of both Bernard West Pine Nursing Home and St. Elizabeth Hall.
Next Saturday, December 5, we will welcome Archbishop Rozanski to the Cathedral for his first Advent Day of Recollection. Please refer to your bulletins for details.
The beautiful poinsettias and greenery that adorn our Cathedral are a special part of the celebration of Christmas at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. We invite all parishioners and visitors to share in the experience this year through a memorial or thanksgiving gift by purchasing one or more of the poinsettias decorating the Nativity Scene or the Baptismal Font. Order forms may be found in your bulletin, or you may call the rectory office for more information.
Finally, remember to make reservations for Mass at the Cathedral this Christmas. Please refer to your bulletins for a full schedule of Masses and instructions for registering.
Public Service Announcement
Wearing of Masks
Just a quick reminder that masks are to be worn at all times while in the Cathedral Basilica (except for the reception of Holy Communion). It is important that the mask covers both your nose and your mouth to prevent the spread of a virus.
Cathedral Inspired Christmas Cards
Because we need Christmas more than ever this year, the Friends of the Cathedral will be selling Cathedral-inspired Christmas cards at drastically reduced prices!
This year there are four Christmas card designs available for purchase (see examples below). The cost is $5 for 12 cards/envelopes. Please email cchapo@cathedralstl.org or call Chrissy at 314-373-8220 to order your cards. Shipping is available upon request or you may purchase/pick up the parish office during normal business hours. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Cathedral.
Don't miss out! The response to this offer has been outstanding,
so get your Cathedral Christmas Cards before they run out!
Christmas Memorial Poinsettias
The beautiful poinsettias and greenery that adorn our Cathedral are a special part of the celebration of Christmas at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
We invite all parishioners and visitors to share in the experience this year through a memorial or thanksgiving gift by purchasing one or more of the poinsettias decorating the Nativity Scene or the Baptismal Font. Memorial poinsettias are $10.00 each, and the names of the person(s) being honored will appear in the Christmas bulletin.
Order forms may be found in weekly bulletin, or you may call the rectory office at (314) 373-8202 for more information.
