Pastor’s Corner

I. Ministry of Hospitality: for those who could not make our Hospitality Ministry formation in September, we are having a “make up” session on Wednesday, October 19, at 6:00pm in the Vaughan Community Center. We are combining the Ministries of Usher and Greeter into the one Ministry of Hospitality. Can you think of anything more important than for Cathedral parishioners to welcome visitors and parishioners to Eucharist, our central form of worship! Please make every effort to be present!

II. Haiti Could Use Our Help: The damage in the U.S. from Hurricane Matthew pales in comparison to the aftermath ravaged in Haiti. Already the poorest country in the southern hemisphere, this Hurricane killed almost 500 people and wreaked havoc on what little the Haitian people have. The following three low overhead organizations, I would recommend for your financial consideration: Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org), Global Outreach, Haiti (www.globaloutreachhaiti.com), and Saint Luke Foundation for Haiti (www.stlukehaiti.org).

III. How Should A Catholic Vote? I don’t ever remember a presidential campaign being so negative, emotional, embarrassing, disappointing. Yet, it is the duty of every Catholic to place any informed vote. In order to help us sort through the maze of information, our United States bishops have given us the document called, faithful citizenship, www.faithfulcitizenship.org.  Dr. Stuart Squires will highlight this document for us on October 20, 7:00pm at Brescia University, Science Hall. Everyone is welcome!

IV. Domestic Violence: did you know that one in four women experience to domestic violence in their lifetime? Since October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it is a good time to learn more about how we can help those caught in this web of violence. The USCCB toolkit includes suggested prayers, useful information, resources of the faithful, social media posts, and more:
www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-family/marriage/domestic-violence.

V. World Mission Sunday: next weekend Catholics celebrate that we are a universal Church and our mission is not just local. World Mission Sunday theme this year is “Mercy Changes the World.”  Pope Frances invites the entire Church to support the young mission dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe, where priests, religious and lay leaders serve some of the poorest of the poor. Please keep the missions in your prayers and be generous in next week’s collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

VI. Theology on Tap is back! Please join in this series on Wednesday evenings, 6:00PM at Fetta Pizza and Spirits on Saint Ann Street. Social hour is from 6 to 7 and the presentation begins at 7:00PM.