Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle   
Washington, D.C.
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My dear parishioners,
During this time of the year, we are reminded of our many blessings. As a parish family, we will gather on Thanksgiving Day, November 28 at 10am for a bilingual (English and Spanish) celebration of the Eucharist—the greatest act of thanksgiving for Christians. 
We are challenged by the words of Psalm 116, “ What return can I make to the Lord for all that he gives to me?  I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.” Let us together take the cup of salvation offered at such great cost, making just return to Him of our very selves! Reach deep! The offertory collection on Thanksgiving Day will benefit the many Social Justice & Community Service Ministries at St. Matthew’s.
Seeing the Hopeful Signs
As the first Sunday of Advent quickly approaches, I pray that during the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas you will be free from discouragement and assured that Jesus is always by your side, showering you with deep and lasting hope . I want to share the following reflection with you. 

A soldier hiding in a cave prayed that he would be saved. A spider weaved a web over the cave opening. As the enemy approached, searching the caves, they skipped his cave, thinking, because of the web, that no one had entered it in quite a while.

Given the challenges and circumstances constantly surrounding us—violence and abuse; war; oppression of the poor; suffering because of natural disasters; selfishness and carelessness in marriages, families, workplaces, and parishes—our first response may be that it is unrealistic to pray a prayer that is as trusting as the soldier’s. . . .

God comes in compassion. ‘You are not alone. I am with you. I am Emmanuel. Nothing is impossible with me.’

Do we do our part? Do we look around and see the hopeful signs in the world? Rather than dwelling on and perpetuating negativity, do we recognize the good that is happening? How are we planting peace and good in place of evil? What are we doing to bring kindness and compassion wherever we are?  
 —Sr. Janet Schaeffler, O. P., Wondrous Days of Hope: Everyday Reflection,
Practices, and Prayers (23rd Publications)
Helping St. Matthew’s to Give Hope & Help
You, our parishioners, are the key to fulfilling St. Matthew’s mission of bringing life to Jesus’ command to love one another. Help us to share Christ’s love with the hundreds of people who come through our doors.  Your gifts are the lifeline! May I ask you to consider a special gift to St. Matthew’s this Christmas? You may mail your Christmas offering to the rectory or drop it in the offertory collection. You also may make your donation online at www.stmatthewscathedral.org . (Choose Make a Gift on the website front page, then choose Donate  under Make a One-Time Gift . After providing your address and credit card information, click Review Donation and Continue . Choose Comments and in the window, type “Christmas.”) You also may make a Christmas offering via Faith Direct ( www.faithdirect.net ; Church Code: DC284). I assure you that you will be remembered at our Masses during the Christmas season. Thank you so much. Muchas gracias.
Adopt-a-Family: A Special Way to Give Back
The Cathedral will sponsor its very successful Adopt-a-Family Christmas program again this year. We will help 72 families in need, the residents of four homes of the L’Arche Greater Washington community, youth from DC General family shelter, and approximately 100 adults from our Homeless Ministry. All will receive gifts through this communal effort in which members of our parish community and local businesses are invited to “adopt” a family or individual in need. Call Fr. John Benson or Norma Canedo at the rectory office or check our website front page.
Partake With Us!
Our Advent and Christmas brochure lists the schedule of liturgies and other events at your Cathedral parish during these holy seasons. Highlights are below.  

  • Saturday, December 7, 10am - 2:30pm – “God’s Great Promise Fulfilled in Christ Jesus and Fully Realized in the Future,” Advent Day of Recollection in the Great Hall of the Rectory, Deacon Edward McCormack. View the flier
  • Monday, December 9 – Masses for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 5:30pm (not a Holy Day of Obligation in 2019), regular weekday Mass schedule, with Archbishop Wilton Gregory celebrating the 12:10pm Mass. Read more
  • Sunday, December 15 at 7:30pm – Lessons and Carols, an Evening Service of Reflections on the Coming of Christ, featuring the Schola Cantorum and Festival Singers, followed by Christmas caroling, sweets, eggnog and wassail in the Great Hall of the Rectory. Read more 
  • Tuesday, December 17 at 12:10pm – Advent Communal Penance Service, Come Home for Christmas, with many priests, including confessors in multiple languages, including Spanish. Read more
  • Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve – Vigil Mass at 4:30pm (Msgr. Jameson, celebrant) with a musical prelude at 4:00pm; Solemn Mass of Christmas at 10pm (Archbishop Wilton Gregory, celebrant) (tickets NOT required) with a Christmas Prelude at 9:15pm Read more
  • Wednesday, December 25, Christmas Day – Masses at 8:30, 10 and 11:30am, and 1pm (Spanish) Read more

Did you know that you may purchase Christmas cards featuring the Cathedral’s Crèche (in boxed sets of 10 with envelopes) in the rectory? For delivery by mail, contact Gloria Harrington at [email protected] .

Christmas Flowers and Decorating
Our Cathedral always looks beautiful for the Christmas season! If you would like to get into the spirit by helping to decorate it a couple of days before Christmas, please check the bulletin in early December . Your financial help also is needed to help defray the cost of the flowers, plants and trees. You may mail your Christmas flower offering to the rectory, drop it in the offertory collection. You also may donate online at www.stmatthewscathedral.org/support or via Faith Direct at www.faithdirect.net .  Together, we can make the Cathedral splendid with beauty this Christmas!

May the Lord Jesus bless you as we enter Advent and prepare for Christmas. I will continue to remember you in my prayers each day. May the birth of Christ be a time of great hope and blessings for you.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson
Rector, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
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