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Married couples who will be celebrating a milestone anniversary this year and were married in the Catholic Church are invited to the 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph Sunday, Feb. 5. Recognition of couples married 5, 10, 15, 20 … 50-plus years will follow the Mass. There will be a reception in the parish hall after Mass. Please contact Nicole Hamilton at 802-658-6110, ext. 1131 or [email protected] by Jan. 27 to register. Include the couple’s names, anniversary year (5, 10, 15, 20 … 50, 51 or more), Catholic parish married in, and the name of priest/deacon who officiated. Requests will be accepted through Jan. 27.

BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL 2022 PROGRESS REPORT: 2022 Cathedral Parish Goal of $42,750 BYPASSED!! Contributions/Pledges as of January 1, 2023 are $43,770.55 or 102% of Goal contributed or pledged. Balance to Goal: $0! All of our diocesan schools and several parishes received a total $ 1 million in grants from the diocese to address immediate capital needs. Many of these were immediate needs that had to be addressed to avoid additional damage and expense. You may still contribute to the 2022 Appeal. To learn more or make a gift online, visit: bishopsappearvt.org. and vermontcatholic.org/giveonline

This devotion grew popular after Our Lady of Fatima spoke of it during her appearances to the shepherd children in that small Portuguese town in 1917. The Blessed Mother asked us to perform these devotions as reparation for sins against her Immaculate Heart and for the conversion of Russia: go to Confession within eight days before the First Saturday; attend Mass and receive Holy Communion; pray five decades of the Rosary; meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes. The Mother of God promised her help at the penitent’s death if these promises were kept.

In the seventeenth century, Our Lord asked French nun, now Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, to honor His Sacred Heart on nine consecutive first Fridays, by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion. Jesus said, “I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."

Vermont Right to Life invites everyone to its last January Rally for Life and related events on Saturday, January 28. VRLC will no longer hold these same events to mark the anniversary of the approval of abortion in the United States by the Supreme Court, January 22, 1973, but may schedule events to celebrate the June, 2022 U.S. Supreme Court overturning of this decision. This year's events begin with a Rosary for Life at St. Augustine Church in Montpelier at 9:00 AM, followed by a Mass for Life at St. Augustine's at 9:30 AM. The Rally begins at 10:45 AM from the City Hall Parking Lot behind St. Augustine. From this point, the marchers proceed to the State House steps for a brief ceremony remembering the 63 million people aborted since the 1973 decision. Participants then are invited to a Deli Sandwich Buffet at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, where there will be featured speakers. The cost for the buffet is $20 (scholarships are available for students). Reservations are required for the luncheon. Please call VRLC at 802-229-4885 or email [email protected] for reservations. The Rally for Life is sponsored by the Vermont Right to Life Educational Trust Fund. A novena for the protection of human life begins Thursday, January 19 . Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. This link includes a signup to receive daily prayers by email or text, and leader resources (pdf of full novena, graphics and flyers for advertising, and bulletin and pulpit announcements): https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-forlife

At the Cathedral February 1, 11 AM

Join us on Sunday, January 22 for our monthly pancake breakfast! The breakfast will feature all of your favorites: bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, French toast and more. Coffee, juice, and real maple syrup will be included The cost is $ 10 per person and $ 25 per family of four. Breakfast will be served from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM in the Saint Joseph Parish Hall. Take-out containers will be available. Hope to see you there1

As you all know, on Saturday, December 17 as I was setting up for the 8:00 AM Mass, I tripped, fell, and broke my right arm. It is broken near the shoulder and so could not be set in a cast. It is slowly healing and I am seeing a physical therapist. Because of the location of the break, this will take some time. I am most grateful for all of the Christmas cards, gifts and wishes. I am especially thankful for all of the prayers and support that I am receiving as I recover. I look forward to the day when I can be back in the parish with all of you. In the meantime, please continue to pray for me and be assured of my prayers for you. - Msgr. Peter Routhier

This period in the Church’s year begins the day after the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. It’s called “ordinary” because the weeks are numbered in order – 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. The priest’s vestments are green. Usually, at this same time, our church’s Christmas decorations come down and we all have returned to a regular home, work, and school schedule. Ordinary Time, however, is not at all plain and simple. On the contrary, week after week, we see all facets of Christ’s life, a change from celebrating and delving into one aspect, His birth, as we did at Christmas. What could be ordinary about exploring the full sweep of Christ’s works and teachings? The green of Ordinary Time, like the green of nature, also encourages us to grow and mature in our faith, and as the color of hope, to anticipate the gifts of God’s kingdom. In a few weeks, Ordinary Time gives way to Lent. We return to Ordinary time after Pentecost.

Saturday 8:00 AM Masses in the chapel will resume Saturday, January 21. For next Saturday, January 14, in Burlington, there is a Latin Mass at St. Anthony's Church at 7:15 AM. Check the St. Philip Neri Latin Mass Chaplaincy website where you will find the weekly Mass schedule in their online bulletin: latinmass.vermontcatholic.org

Confessions on Saturday afternoon will be available from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM while Monsignor Routhier is recovering.

Saint André’s feast day is January 6, this year the day after Epiphany. The date also is the anniversary of the saint’s death in 1937 in Saint-Laurent, Montreal at 91 years old. Saint André Bessette is distantly related to our Cathedral’s unofficial historian, John Fisher - a fifth cousin four times removed. Saint André may be your relative too. Click the link (name) above to read the full story.

Sign up for or sign in to FORMED, our Catholic media service, to watch documentaries on the late pontiff. See the Bulletin for simple, quick instructions for joining FORMED.

There is no 12:05 PM Mass Thursday, January 5. The 8:00 AM Saturday, January 7 Mass also is cancelled as well as 8:30 AM Confessions. Confessions will be heard at 2:00 PM next Saturday, January 7. Other local Masses Thursday, January 5 are: St. Mark, 9:00 AM; Christ the King, 8:30 AM, and St. Anthony, 5:30 PM (Latin, Low Mass). The Epiphany water will be blessed after the 5:30 PM Thursday Mass at St. Anthony.

The Solemnity Masses are Saturday, December 31 at 4:00 PM and Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM. The Saturday 8:00 AM Mass and 8:30 AM Confessions are cancelled as well as the 2:00 PM Confessions.

Click title above to see schedule

In my own name and that of Bishop Christopher Coyne and the staff of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, we wish you a most blessed Christmas and a Joyous and Blessed New Year! May this season be a time of great joy and peace for your families and friends. - Msgr. Peter A. Routhier, Rector

CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR MASS SCHEDULES Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Mass at 4:00 PM ****** Sunday, December 25 - Christmas Day Mass at 10:00 AM Mass***** Vietnamese Mass at Noon Christmas Day ****** Saturday, December 31 - New Year’s Masses****** Eve Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Mass at 4:00 PM ****** Saturday, December 31 - New Year’s Eve Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Mass at 4:00 PM***** Sunday, January 1 - New Year’s Day Mass at 10:00 AM

Sunday, December 18 – Fourth and Last Sunday of Advent. Our Advent wreath is complete today, with all four candles lit, just as the light of Christ is near to breaking in on us later this week when Christmas Day dawns. This week, Nature seems to observe this momentous change with the Winter Solstice, when daylight hours will begin to grow. As John the Baptist observed, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Our final preparations begin and excitement builds as we await the Savior’s birth.

Do to Msgr. Routhier's injury, the Penance Service Sunday afternoon at St Joseph’s is cancelled. Please go to St. Mark's Church on North Avenue for their service from 2 PM to 4 PM. You are invited to take a little time during this busy season of preparation to spend some time with the Lord preparing for His coming. Come and prepare your heart for the coming of the Lord at Christmas!