News - January 2020 RSS Feed

Members of the Cathedral of St. Joseph’s Vietnamese community celebrated the Vietnamese New Year last weekend with a Mass and activities at St. John Vianney Church and hall in South Burlington. The Vietnamese Choir, led by Loc Nguyen, sang at Mass, and then enjoyed music, dance, and food in the parish hall. Photos courtesy of Loc Nyugen. Click on the title to see more photos.

Next week on Super Bowl weekend, February 1 and 2 the Cathedral religious education students again will collect non-perishable food and money before and after the Saturday 4:00PM and the Sunday 10:00AM Mass. Donations from this “Souper Bowl” will benefit the North End Food Pantry. If you want to bring a check, please write it to the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Thank you for your contributions for our hungry neighbors as we prepare for our food and fun-filled football celebrations.

Monday, the 3rd of February, 6th, 7th and 8th graders are invited to attend our 10th annual High School for a Day (HS4D) program! Participants choose from a variety of specially-created programs designed to familiarize them with Rice faculty and extracurricular offerings. Program options include performances by the Rice Chorus and Jazz Ensemble, Geometry Origami, science experiments, a community service craft project, and a mini pep rally. Space is limited for this popular program. Register by Tuesday, January 28 at www.rmhsvt.org or by calling Katie Chapa at 862-6521 ext. 2246.

This period in the Church’s year begins the Monday after the Sunday feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It’s called “ordinary” from the Latin word Ordo meaning “order”, because the weeks are numbered in sequential 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.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the donations placed within the Christmas Angel who sits at the very edge of the Manger scene here at the Cathedral of St. Joseph?  I would like to share one of the blessings which came from that Christmas Angel. Several months ago, we began working with a Joseph’s House visitor who was homeless, living in a local shelter.  This person desperately wanted to work and get off the street. We have built a relationship and the Lord has blessed the help we were able to give. Through hard work and determination, this person has recently found a job, left the shelter and made arrangements for more stable, temporary housing.  One of the greatest challenges this visitor finds to moving forward is transportation; the new job is in Burlington and the temporary housing is in Shelburne. Often without the availability of a Bus Pass, the trip to work is on foot. Through the generous Christmas donations, held so secretly by the Christmas Angel, I was able to purchase a monthly Bus Pass for the above visitor, enabling this person to continue the journey forward!  With your help and generosity, lives are being changed. ----- Lori Daudelin

Converse Home, a Senior Living Facility on lower Church Street in Burlington, is looking for a volunteer who would be willing to go there on Monday mornings each week to lead their residents in praying the Rosary. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact the Parish Office, and we will put you in contact with the Converse Home representative. Thank you for your kind consideration.

The Parish office will be closed Monday January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Beginning January 7, 2020, the Parish Office hours will be altered while Dorothy Barewicz is recuperating from knee replacement surgery. The office will be open from 9 AM to Noon, Monday through Friday. It will be closed in the afternoon. However, if you need to reach Fr. Harlow, or someone in the Parish Office, please leave a message with the answering service and your call will be returned. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Saturday, January 18, 2020, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Location: St. Augustine - Montpelier Join us for Mass at St. Augustine in Montpelier. Following Mass Vermont Right to Life will sponsor a prayerful walk to the Statehouse with a program to follow inside.