40 Days of Prayer

Dear Cathedral Parish Family,

As a way for us to come together in faith, prayer, and action during a very stressful and divisive time in our Church and Nation, we will be doing a Lenten Rewind called: “40 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Penance for Peace, Unity and Healing”  beginning on September 23rd and Concluding on November 3rd. If you are good at math, you will realize that there are more than 40 days in that time period. That is because we are human and we may need a break at some point during this time.  I pray that this will be a blessing for our parish and school family and help us to be a witness to the wider community of our desire to bring our faith to a confusing and troubling time.  This is not intended to be partisan in any way, but rather to give us an opportunity to unite in our common identity as children of a loving Father.

 

Patron Saints

Our Patron Saints during this timeframe will be St. Josephine Bahkita and St. Francis of Assisi. We have made prayer cards with these saints on them and the Prayer of Saint Francis on the back.

Penitential Deeds or Practices

We will be encouraging everyone to consider taking on a penance during this time. (ex. fasting from television news, giving up social media, serving the needy, learning more about one of these saints, reading the Daily Mass readings, praying part or all of the Liturgy of the Hours, fasting or abstaining one day each week, etc.)

Going to Confession and Communion

Even though the Sunday obligation to attend Mass has been removed, for now, we will be encouraging everyone to try to go to confession at least once during the 40 days and to try to receive communion at least once a week during the 40 days.

Kick-Off September 23rd

We will begin on September 23rd with Masses at 6:30 am, 8:05 am, Noon, 6 pm, and 7:30 pm in Spanish. All Masses will be live-streamed. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the Cathedral from 9 am-7 pm except during the times for Mass. Confessions will be available for the school community in the Cathedral from 9 am-Noon on the 23rd. Confessions will be available for the parish community from 3 pm-7 pm, and each Saturday from 8:30 am-9:30 am as well as each Wednesday from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm.

Stations of the Cross

Each Friday beginning September 25th we will celebrate the Stations of the Cross in English at 6 pm and in Spanish at 7 pm. These will also be live-streamed for those who wish to participate from home.

Litany of the Most Sacred Heart and the Holy Rosary

We will continue to pray the Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus after all 8:05 am Masses, and we will pray the Holy Rosary after each Noon Mass.

Focus on our Patron Saints

On September 27th, we will focus our attention on St. Josephine Bahkita as one who encourages us to work against racism, prejudice, hatred, and oppression. There will be a movie on the life of St. Josephine Bahkita through Ignatian Press that we will show in the Cathedral Hall at 6:00 pm.

The Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi is October 4th, and on October 4th, we will focus on St. Francis as one who teaches us how to forgive and how to be a builder of peace. Ignatius Press also has a good movie on St. Francis that will be shown in the Cathedral Hall at 6:00 pm.

The Sacrament of Healing

Because we are also praying for healing during this time (both spiritual and physical), we will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick after all of the Masses on October 18th, which is the Feast of St. Luke who was also a physician.  In order to receive the sacrament, Canon law states that anyone who is in some danger of death from an illness or from old age can receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Likewise, should the person’s condition worsen, the sacrament may be repeated (cf. CIC, can. 1004). If there is any doubt as to the seriousness of the illness or condition, the sacrament is to be received (cf. CIC, can. 1005). The Catechism of the Catholic Church adds that it is also appropriate to receive the sacrament prior to surgery (cf. CCC, 1515).

All Saints

Sunday, November 1st, is the Solemnity of All Saints, and we will have the normal Sunday Mass schedule. It is a great opportunity in person or via Livestream to join in worship and seek the intercession of all of the saints for our Church and Nation.

All Souls

Monday, November 2nd, is the celebration of All Souls Day, and we will have Mass at 6:30 am, 8:05 am, Noon, 6 pm, and 7:30 pm in Spanish.  This is a great day to remember our dead and to pray for the repose of their souls.

November 3rd Election Day

The Cathedral will be open following the 8:05 am and Noon Mass for exposition and Adoration until 7 pm.

I look forward to taking this spiritual journey with you, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will come to us and renew us.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

In Christ,

Fr. David

Very Rev. David A. Boettner, V.G.
Rector- Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Vicar General- Diocese of Knoxville