In this edition:

Liturgy, Community, & Ongoing Events

• Join us in person or via livestream for the 2026 Mass of Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate
• New encyclical on AI: Leo XIV describes a path forward by Father Louis J. Cameli in Chicago Catholic
• New Online Exhibit: Papal Visits to St. Matthew's Cathedral
• A Note from Monsignor Jameson on ParishSOFT eGiving
• Be the Light: The 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal

Faith Formation

• The unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God: The Letter to the Ephesians
• Baptism Prep Class
• The Mystics
• Meditation Group on Sundays
• Save the Date for the Annual Cathedral Weekend Retreat!
• Mystical Word

Hispanic Ministry

• Grupo de Oración
• Misa de despedida del obispo Evelio Menjivar
• La clase de bautismo en español

Social Justice

• DuPont Prayer Witness
• Stand with Our Unhoused Neighbors during America250
• Catholic Social Thought in the News
• Catholic Social Teaching Fellowship Series
• Summer ESL Classes
• Feast of Mercy
• Creation Care Corner

Music Ministry

• Schola Cantorum and Summer Choir

Cathedral Young Adults

• Sunday Meeting
• CYA Happy Hour
• CYA Book Club

Join us in person or via livestream for the 2026 Mass of Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate

His Eminence, Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington will serve as Principal Celebrant and Homilist for this Mass on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10am at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

An Ordination is a sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop and is enabled to minister in Christ’s name and that of the Church. A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. A transitional deacon is a seminarian en route to the priesthood.


All the faithful are invited to attend this event to celebrate this Ordination, or watch the livestream here!

New encyclical on AI: Leo XIV describes a path forward by Father Louis J. Cameli in Chicago Catholic

Here, Fr. Cameli offers background reflections for the encyclical that might help to situate it and underscore some of its important directions. We will be adding his reflections to the eLetter over the next few weeks, though you may read the entire article here.

Being human

Of course, the arrival of AI prompts the Holy Father to offer his teaching, but the encyclical is fundamentally about our humanity. I detected three fundamental questions embedded in the text: Who are we? What has been entrusted to us? Where should we go?

The question of who we are is the question of our identity. Drawing from our tradition of faith and reason, Pope Leo affirms that we are created good by God, but also marked and affected by sinful brokenness and, in the end, redeemed in Christ. There is, in other words, a complexity about who we are — good, but wounded and redeemed in the Lord.

This same complexity marks the products of our imagination and work, including AI. Along with many technologies, AI can do good. At the same time, through misuse or misdirection, it can generate destructive effects. When we take our right responsibility, AI can lead us to graced opportunities.

The second major question of what has been entrusted to us centers on our purpose and responsibility. From the very beginning of the Bible, in the first chapter of Genesis, God entrusts creation to the human family. Our created human intelligence, the very intelligence that has developed AI, is entrusted to us for our stewardship.

Pope Leo highlights very well how each age must claim and reclaim, sometimes in new ways, what the Lord has given his human family. Our age is no exception. In this moment, we are grappling with what is in our hands and what is our responsibility.

All this leads to the third question of direction: Where should we go? What decisions do we need to make? As Pope Leo outlines it, we face a stark choice. Will we, independent of God, build a new Tower of Babel? Or will we seize this moment to build the city of God? “Magnifica Humanitas” offers a way build the city of God in the entirely new context given to us by AI.

Read the encyclical here.

New Online Exhibit: Papal Visits to St. Matthew's Cathedral

A new online exhibit is now available, highlighting the history and significance of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. It features key moments connected to papal visits to the Cathedral and to Washington, D.C., including those of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis—whose 2015 visit coincided with his address to Congress, which is also available to view through a link in the exhibit.

We invite you to view the exhibit online and learn more about the Cathedral’s role in the life of the Church in Washington HERE.

A Note from Monsignor Jameson on ParishSOFT eGiving

As summer begins, many of us look forward to time with family, travel, and a change in routine. Even in these busy months, our faith remains at the heart of all we do, and the mission of our parish continues each day through worship, ministry, outreach, and service to those in need.

This summer, I invite you to make stewardship part of your plans by signing up for eGiving through our parish's partnership with ParishSOFT. It is a simple and secure way to continue supporting the life of our parish, helping ministries grow, programs continue, and outreach remain strong no matter the season.

Consistent giving helps our parish plan confidently and sustain the services that support our community all summer long. Even if vacations or changing schedules keep you away from Mass, your faithful support through eGiving ensures our parish can continue serving others and allows your generosity to remain an active expression of your faith.

You can sign up anytime by completing the secure online enrollment form here, or by calling ParishSOFT at 866-930-4774 to speak with someone directly.

If you are already enrolled in the ParishSOFT eGiving program, thank you! It has proven to be the most effective way for our parish to receive gifts and sustain our mission.

Thank you for being a part of the Cathedral Parish and for helping us share the gifts of Christ this season.

In his name,

Be the Light: The 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal

We have been asked prayerfully to consider making a gift to the 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal. Please complete or take a commitment form from the Cathedral (they are in the pews and placed in the back) or make your gift at give.adw.org. Visit appeal.adw.org to learn more about how the Annual Catholic Services Appeal benefits our parish and serves people in need throughout our community. It is our goal that every parish family will participate this year. All gifts will be credited towards our parish goal. Thank you in advance for your generous response to the 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal.

The unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God:
The Letter to the Ephesians

Join a series of classes on the Letter to the Ephesians.

Jesus tells us that eternal life is knowing God. How can any of us say we know God? Do you know God? And, do we know God like we know our loved ones? Knowing God is much more than our normal ways of knowing. We know by our senses, by reason, and by experience. Scripture holds out a deeper reality: knowing by identity. It involves God lavishing the divine love upon us. It is Divine Knowledge and gratuitous grace, and it is the message of the Letter to the Ephesians.

We will reflect on the Letter to the Ephesians chapter by chapter. Each class will have a lecture combined with dynamic conversation. Come experience the liberating grace of Christ!

Tuesday evenings: June 16/23/30 7pm – 8:30pm in the East Conference Room. For more information, email the Director of Faith Formation, L.J. Milone here.

Baptism Prep Class

The baptism prep class is held on the first Thursday of the month from 7pm to 8:30pm on Zoom. Registration for the class is required. A registration link for the class is sent upon the completion of the main baptism application/registration, which is a link given by the priest.

The next class will be on July 2, 2026.

Learn more about baptism classes here.

The Mystics: An Intentional Community

A mystic is someone who prays and experiences God deeply. Then, they share their experience. The Church has a rich history of mystics inviting us to know God and so be free and happy. Join a small intentional community that meets to experience the Christian mystical tradition. We will learn how to be mystics in our daily lives through silent prayer, readings and lectures on the mystics, sharing, a meal, and time for solitude and reflection.

We meet every second Saturday of the month. Spiritual practice, study, and community will form the heart of these meetings. Join if you want to grow closer to God, be a part of a dynamic spiritual community, and learn more about the mystical tradition.

The next meeting is on Saturday, June 13, from 9am to 2pm, in the East Conference Room.

For more information, email L.J. Milone here.

Meditation Group

Are you looking for a way to explore or deepen your relationship with God? Come to the Meditation Group. You will discover a centuries-old prayer method that consists of simply sitting in silence with God - beyond thoughts, words, and emotions - and opening our mind, heart and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery.

If you are new, you will learn the basics of Centering Prayer, a Christian contemplative practice first described in The Cloud of Unknowing, written in the latter half of the 14th Century. It calls one to abandon all thinking and to surrender to God within.

It is a very personal prayer practice but is often practiced in groups. It opens one to God's infinite love and power to heal, and opens the door to other related prayer practices around forgiveness, and dealing with painful situations and emotions.

Meeting Times:

Sundays, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM on Zoom

See the cathedral website for the Zoom link HERE, or email L.J. Milone here for the link.

Save the Date for the Annual Cathedral Weekend Retreat!

Register by clicking here.

Mystical Word

A weekly reflection based on the Sunday Gospel reading, written by L.J. Milone, Director of Faith Formation at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Read this week's reflection HERE.

DuPont Prayer Witness

Join us in an hour of prayer and witness for mothers and babies at risk of abortion violence in DC! Every first Saturday of the month at 10:30am we will gather outside the Cathedral and walk together to DuPont Clinic for an hour of prayer. We’ll head to For Five Coffee for fellowship after. DuPont Clinic is only a 6 minute walk from the Cathedral, and they are aborting babies through 32 weeks. These parents need our prayers, and these children deserve our solidarity!

Stand with Our Unhoused Neighbors during America250

Our unhoused neighbors are living in fear and uncertainty this summer. But you can do something to help. Because of the federal activity around America250 events, we anticipate more attacks on people who are living on the streets. Do you remember last summer when the federal surge began? During the encampment sweeps that ensued, many lost their scant possessions, including documents such as ID. Worse, many people lost touch with links to healthcare, community, and other lifelines. 

Join the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) and an ad hoc group of service providers and advocates in faith communities who are joining together to address the impending crisis for those who are unhoused. 

You and your community can make a difference by contributing one or all of the following:

• DONATE MONEY HERE (below the donation amount, select “Partnership to end homelessness” and leave a comment that this is for community protection)
• PROVIDE SPACE FOR A VARIETY OF NEEDS
• VOLUNTEER
• ADVOCATE

For more information, complete our form here or email Celeste here, Holy Redeemer parishioner and WIN leader.

Start today by signing the petition at this link. We are asking that the DC government reduce the barriers to IDs so that people can access services and spaces necessary for their survival.

Catholic Social Thought in the News

Pope Leo XIV's AI encyclical extends invitation, challenge

"AI, with all its positive contributions, is totally reliant upon what has already been produced by genuine human knowledge, intellect and wisdom. AI can only imitate human intelligence—it cannot replace human attributes such as emotion, and values like mercy, compassion and forgiveness."

"To best understand this newest papal encyclical, we must ask: "What makes a person genuinely human?" This begins to put into perspective what is required for serving humanity well with technology that advances true relationships, justice and peace."

"A region such as ours is full of tremendous energy around new technology, and that's something that can and should make us proud. Organizations like Microsoft have been in dialogue for years about how to ethically develop and use AI. Now, Pope Leo has extended that invitation of dialogue to the entire world. I hope individuals and companies alike are now willing to accept it."

 —Archbishop Paul Etienne, Seattle Times, May 25, 2026

Catholic Social Teaching Fellowship Series

“The parable [of the Good Samaritan] shows us how a community can be rebuilt by men and women who identify with the vulnerability of others, who reject the creation of a society of exclusion, and act instead as neighbors, lifting up and rehabilitating the fallen for the sake of the common good.” - Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 67

As part of our ongoing Catholic Social Teaching fellowship series, join us in the North Conference Room on Sunday, June 28 after the 11am Mass to discuss this and other Church teachings on Public Health and Mental Health with guest speaker Christian Bentley of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. All are welcome.

"La parábola [del buen samaritano] nos muestra con qué iniciativas se puede rehacer una comunidad a partir de hombres y mujeres que hacen propia la fragilidad de los demás, que no dejan que se erija una sociedad de exclusión, sino que se hacen prójimos y levantan y rehabilitan al caído, para que el bien sea común." - Papa Francisco, Fratelli Tutti, 67

¿Le interesa el tema? Como parte de nuestra serie de convivios sobre la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia, los invitamos a la sala de conferencias norte el domingo 28 de junio al mediodía para una charla y discusión sobre las enseñanzas de la iglesia sobre la salud pública y salud mental con el ponente invitado Christian Bentley de la Sociedad de San José del Sagrado Corazón. Sean todos bienvenidos! 

Summer ESL Classes

St. Matthew’s will continue our English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes for a 9 week Summer Semester. Classes began on Tuesday, June 2, and are held through Wednesday, July 29. All classes are held every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the St. Matthew’s Education Building at 1726 N St. NW, 20036. Language instruction will be provided at Level 1 (Beginner) through Level 4 (Advanced).

If you would like to register, fill out our online registration form HERE!

Interested in volunteering as a teacher, substitute, or tutor? Fill out our interest form HERE.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Anthony Arreaga.

San Mateo continuará ofreciendo nuestras clases de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) durante un semestre de verano de 9 semanas. Las clases comenzarán el martes 2 de junio y continuarán hasta el miércoles 29 de julio. Todas las clases se llevarán a cabo todos los martes y miércoles de 6:30pm a 8:30pm en el Edificio de Educación de San Mateo, ubicado en 1726 N St. NW, 20036. La instrucción del idioma se ofrecerá desde el Nivel 1 (Principiante) hasta el Nivel 4 (Avanzado).

Si desea inscribirse, complete nuestro formulario de inscripción en línea AQUÍ.

¿Le interesa ser voluntario como maestro, suplente o tutor? Complete nuestro formulario de interés AQUÍ.

 Si tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud, comuníquese con el Sr. Anthony Arreaga.

Feast of Mercy

On Sunday, June 14, from 12:30pm to 5pm, join the Social Justice Committee for its Feast of Mercy, an afternoon of food, fellowship, and hospitality for our neighbors who are homeless, hungry, or otherwise in need. This afternoon event brings the community together to prepare and serve a welcoming meal with dignity and care, with many ways to help. That includes:

• Prepare or donate a main dish, salad, dessert, fruit, bread, or other meal items
• Volunteer with setup, meal service, or cleanup
• Make a financial donation to support supplies, drinks, and guest care items

Click here for the volunteer and donation sign-up link.

Always God's Children

Always God's Children is the Cathedral ministry to persons who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and their friends and family members. The next meeting is on Sunday, June 14, at 3:30pm, in the West Conference Room.

Schola Cantorum and a Summer Choir

The Schola Cantorum, the Cathedral’s semi-professional choir will begin its summer hiatus June 14. It will resume September 20, for the feast of St Matthew the Apostle.

Assuming we have a good response, we plan to form a Summer Choir of auditioned volunteers who will sing occasionally throughout the summer, principally at the 11am Mass. If you have significant adult choral experience and would like to participate in the summer choir, please contact Tom Stehle here or call 202-587-5141 to set up an audition.

The Cathedral Young Adult ministry (C†YA) serves the community of Catholic adults ages 21 - 39 who live and work in DC, supporting them in the continued growth of their faith, discernment of their vocations, and development as stewards of the Church through opportunities for socializing, community service, and spiritual reflection.

Sundays with CYA

Sunday, June 14, after the 5:30pm Mass, join us in the North Conference Room.

CYA Happy Hour

Tuesday, June 23,  CYA will be having its bi-weekly happy hour (location TBD but to be announced in next week’s newsletter).

CYA Book Club

Join the CYA Book Club to discuss The Inferno by Dante, Tuesday, June 30, at 7pm in the West Conference Room, as part of our plan to read the whole Divine Comedy over the next 3 months.

Meet other Catholics, talk about the faith, and build friendships! C†YA uses a WhatsApp Community to plan future events, post updates, and stay in touch. Please follow the links for information about how to join and the latest details about upcoming events. You can follow C†YA on Instagram and Facebook for events and news from our community!