Mercy Sunday: Door Ministry & CRS Rice Bowl

As we explore what the Eucharistic Revival looks like in our local church, The Diocese of Winona-Rochester, we, here at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, explore how we live out “being sent” from the Eucharist to be and reveal Christ to others.

The Good - In the early days of Christianity, it was the moral goodness of Christ's followers that brought many to belief. Mercy Sundays are opportunities during Lent for St. John’s to highlight social ministries in which we already participate and invite you to be involved as the hands and feet of Christ.

Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist expresses ourselves as “A Welcoming Catholic community” through greeting in time and space, through the corporal works of mercy, hospitality, and relationships of caring. From the Eucharist, we become enlivened by the Spirit, upholding life and life choices.

Door Ministry – Since the early times, when people found themselves in need they turned to the church. “The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise” -United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB). The Corporal Works of Mercy are duties we serve on behalf of the Church. The Co-Cathedral of St. John’s has, through your faithful contribution, served the needs of people through our Door Ministry for many years and thousands of visits. This is only possible though your generosity to our St John Charity/Door Ministry collection. The movement of your heart and through your participation in this way we serve our neighbors is blessed, a sign of hospitality and caring. Your generosity to this ministry collection March 5/6 serves the hope of many!

ADVOCACY - Our action, as citizens, is a voice for justice and those who are most vulnerable.

– Housing: Increase funding for emergency shelter and low-income housing. 80 of Minnesota’s 87 counties lack necessary emergency shelter beds. The need continues to rise. Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) supports significant bonding to create emergency shelter. JRLC advocates for a substantial investment in affordable housing as part of our bonding bill, and through other revenue streams.

- Sacred Communities/Tiny House Legislation: The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) supports exploring numerous options to address the homeless crisis in our state. Minnesota law does not currently allow tiny houses as permanent housing unless they have running water with a bathroom and kitchen. Some faith communities want to create small, tiny house communities with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities, with each unit having a compostable toilet. The JRLC supports a very limited change in Minnesota law to allow places of worship or non-profits to allow these sacred communities. Find your legislators: https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/

CRS Rice Bowl Week 1 CRS Rice Bowl - God invites us to slow down in the silence and look for him around us—in nature and in people who need us most.

We are used to going fast—sometimes without even knowing where we are going. But we think we should be in a hurry. When we go from one activity to the next with such speed, sometimes we forget about our relationship with God. We might even stop paying attention to the beautiful world we live in and the people with whom we share this planet—our common home.

During Lent, we have an opportunity to slow down. Through the three Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we grow closer to God and gain a better understanding of how our actions are impacting the lives of our sisters and brothers near and far.

This year, the CRS Rice Bowl Stories of Hope take us to Honduras, Kenya and the Philippines, where we’ll learn how people are overcoming the causes of hunger and adapting to climate change. As you journey with us during Lent, remember that through prayer, God invites us to slow down in the silence and look for him around us—in nature and in people who need us most. Our fasting is an act of solidarity with people who are hungry—and it helps us feel a small part of what they are living day by day. It is in this spirit that our almsgiving is an act of love for God and neighbor. Through giving, there is no limit to what we can achieve together to serve people impacted by climate.

Pray about our role in changing the climate and how it affects others. Fast from something that contributes to climate change. What will you give to our partner CRS rice Bowl to help our neighbors around the world as they find resilient ways to deal with the effects of climate change? Donate https://mobilizecrs.donordrive.com/team/CoCathedralSJE