In this edition:

Liturgy, Community, & Ongoing Events

• Update Your Online Giving Webpage Bookmark
• Fr. Joe's Selection
• Cathedral Book Club
• New Online Exhibit: Papal Visits to St. Matthew's Cathedral
• ParishSOFT eGiving

Faith Formation

• Baptism Prep Class
• The Mystics
• Meditation Group on Sundays
• Mystical Word

Hispanic Ministry

• Grupo de Oración

Social Justice

• Catholic Social Thought in the News
• Back-to-School Drive / Campaña de Regreso a Clases
• Come to St. Matthew's Blood Drive
• Creation Care Corner

Music Ministry

• Schola Cantorum and Summer Choir

Cathedral Young Adults

• Sunday Meeting
• CYA Happy Hour
• CYA Book Club

Update Your Online Giving Webpage Bookmark

If you use a saved bookmark or favorite to access our online giving page, please take a moment to update it with our new ParishSOFT Giving link: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/FD-284.

If you've been using our previous Faith Direct link, don't worry—your donations are still reaching us. The old link automatically redirects to our new ParishSOFT Giving page, so no gifts have been missed.

Updating your bookmark will make it easier to access our current giving page directly in the future. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of our parish!

Fr. Joe's Selection

on the Transfiguration by Anastasius of Sinai

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father. ” Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.

These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express. Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and–I speak boldly–it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.



Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.

Image: Transfiguration by Raphael.

Cathedral Book Club

The next book for discussion is RELIGION AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, ed. by Yuval Levin, et al. It offers a good background for the decisions leading up to the Revolution and July 4.

The book is part of a series of AEI (American Enterprise Institute). Each of the 5 essays are informative and provides a different approach, so it will be good to determine which we preferred.

The discussion will be held on Thursday, July 30, from 7pm to 8:15pm in the West Conference Room.

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.

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 August 6, 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, August 8, from 9am to 2pm, in the North 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.

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.

Catholic Social Thought in the News

Pope Leo: May we not forget those who suffer and die due to war

"From the entrance of the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, where he is spending a period of rest—with only a few public events and the Sunday Angelus prayer—the Pope once again turned his concern and thoughts to the many conflicts still affecting the world."

"We continue to follow with concern the events unfolding in various countries torn apart by war and violence. Let us not forget those who are suffering and dying because of these conflicts, and let us add our constant prayers to the generous efforts for peace." (Pope Leo XIV)

 —Alessandro Di Bussolo, Vatican News, July 19, 2026

Back-to-School Drive / Campaña de Regreso a Clases

Help a Child Start the School Year with Confidence! The Social Justice and Community Service Committee invites you to support our annual Back-to-School Drive. Monetary donations will be collected after all Masses on the weekends of August 1/2 and August 8/9. Volunteers will be available at the Cathedral's main entrance after each Mass to receive your donations. Your contribution will help us purchase backpacks and school supplies for children and families in need before the start of the school year

To give: donate a Walmart gift card in any denomination (recommended value: $25 or more), or make a secure online donation through this link.

Every gift, regardless of the amount, helps a child begin the school year with confidence, dignity, and hope. Thank you for your generosity and for helping our students start the school year with hope and confidence.

but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." — Matthew 19:14

For additional information, please contact the Social Justice Office at

wescobar@stmatthewscathedral.org

¡Ayude a un niño a comenzar el año escolar con confianza! El Comité de Justicia Social y Servicio Comunitario le invita a apoyar nuestra Campaña Anual de Regreso a Clases. Se recibirán donaciones monetarias después de todas las Misas durante los fines de semana del 1/2 y del 8/9 de agosto. Voluntarios estarán ubicados en la entrada principal de la Catedral después de cada Misa para recibir sus donaciones. Su contribución nos permitirá comprar mochilas y útiles escolares para niños y familias necesitadas antes del inicio del nuevo año escolar.

Ayudar: donando una tarjeta de regalo de Walmart por cualquier cantidad (se recomienda un valor de $25 o más), o realizando una donación segura en línea visitando el enlace.

Cada donación, sin importar la cantidad, ayuda a que un niño comience el año escolar con confianza, dignidad y esperanza. Gracias por su generosidad y por ayudar a nuestros estudiantes a comenzar el nuevo año escolar con esperanza y confianza.



"Pero Jesús dijo: «Dejen que los niños vengan a mí y no se lo impidan, porque de los que son como ellos es el Reino de los Cielos.»" — Mateo 19:14

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con la Oficina de Justicia Social al wescobar@stmatthewscathedral.org.

Schola Cantorum and a Summer Choir

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

We have formed 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, August 2, after the 5:30pm Mass, join us in the North Conference Room.

CYA Happy Hour

Tuesday, August 4,  CYA will be having its bi-weekly happy hour at 6:30pm at Aslin Beer Company on 14th Street (to be changed to Zorba’s cafe in DuPont in case of rain — please check our Instagram page, @stmattscya, for updates).

CYA Book Club

Join the CYA Book Club to discuss The Paradiso by Dante, Tuesday, August 25, at 7pm in the West Conference Room (accessible through the alley on the western side of the Cathedral), 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!