Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: November 05, 2017
If you’re not busy this week on Tuesday evening, November 7, I have an idea for you and your family: come to the Cathedral for an hour of adoration! The diocesan Office of Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring a special holy hour of Eucharistic exposition beginning at 6:30 pm. The quiet time of adoration is always a profoundly important time of prayer, and the hour will end with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Oh, and you don’t have to be a “young adult” to come: everyone is invited to attend!
As I look at our Parish calendar each week, I always notice some other less-well-known but vital things that go on here and downtown. I think I’ll just mention this: “12-Step” programs that benefit persons whose lives are troubled by addictions. The program known as “Alcoholics Anonymous” famously helps alcoholics to remain sober and helps other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. There is also the “Al-Anon” program that helps spouses and other family-members, and friends of alcoholics, to cope with their situation, whether or not the alcoholic himself or herself admits any drinking problem or seeks help. Maybe this is something you don’t know: our Cathedral Parish and the other downtown churches provide referrals and even places for these groups to gather in a safe and, well, “anonymous” way to further their recovery, share their burdens, and get the help they need. Obviously, I can’t say a great deal more about this publicly, but I do urge everyone whose lives are touched by alcoholism or other addictions to seek help. In any church office, including our own, we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction!
On Friday of this week, our nation and state observe the “Veterans’ Day” holiday. Since most every downtown office and business will be closed, we won’t offer daily confessions and Mass that day, but especially in the midst of current events, do make sure you hold up in prayer those who have served and are serving in our country’s armed forces. Not every serviceman and woman has done something heroic, but each has been willing to do so, and that kind of dedication deserves our respect and God’s blessings.
Remember that here at the Cathedral we celebrate a special “Thanksgiving Vigil Mass.” This will be at 5 pm on Wednesday, November 22. Bring your bread and wine to this Mass! I will offer a special blessing over the bread and wine which you’ll be sharing as part of your family’s Thanksgiving feast the next day. (It also makes a nice display during that Mass, since we typically get all sorts of breads – and wines! – in all shapes and sizes!)
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Paul
