Dear Friends in Christ, Happy sixth Sunday of Easter! Did you know that we are still celebrating Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus, and the empty tomb?!? If you can remember back six weeks ago, on Easter Sunday, Fr. Mahon challenged us to say (only if we believed it) “I see and I believe” in response…
Reflections
In the late 1970s, there were few outside of Poland who were aware of the private revelations given by our Lord to a young Polish nun, Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, in the 1930s. Jesus had revealed to her that God wanted to give humanity one last opportunity to take advantage of His mercy before the…
Experiencing Holy Week: Retreat, Reflect, Remember
Holy Week is the culmination of our faith. Read about how one parishioner experiences the celebration of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Bringing Holy Week Home: How You can Enhance Your Liturgical Experience
Beginning on Palm Sunday, Holy Week is a time of beautiful liturgy and tradition in our Catholic faith. Since Covid, though, we have put some traditions on hold. But that should not dampen your participation in the liturgy! This brief article is a resource for wherever you are at to really dive into the sacred…
With each passing day, a new storm rises up, and I easily focus on the sorrow of war, the frustration of never having enough time, the impatience with myself for once again slipping on that Lenten resolution. Where can I find hope in this mess that is life?
The Community of Sharing a Meal
Sharing a meal with others is a great way to build community and feed the hungry. Read an excerpt of one family’s meal ministry experience.
On the first day of Lent, as ashes are being rubbed on my forehead, I’m traditionally reminded that I am dust, and to dust I shall return. These words come straight from the mouth of God to Adam after he and Eve sinned, lost the grace that they were born with, and introduced death into…
The Church, works of art and their artists have been inseparably intertwined since the early days of Christianity. Art in all its forms was only, truly able to flourish fully and freely following the declaration of freedom for Christians through the Edict of Roman Emperor Constantine in 313 AD. Painting, sculpture, architecture, music, poetry, as…
The Presentation of Our Lord: The Light of the World in the Darkness of Winter
On February 2nd, the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, we celebrated the Presentation of Our Lord. This narrative is found only in the Gospel of Luke and since neither Luke, nor any of the apostles or evangelists, were present at this event, the likely source of the account is the Virgin…
Dear People of Hope, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy” (Luke 21:34). We hear this in today’s Gospel reading. I must admit I’m feeling a bit drowsy after Thanksgiving celebrations, house guests, and now, all the sights and sounds of Christmas preparations (including toy magazines with lots of items circled and scattered all…
God's Invitation to Gratitude
God’s Invitation to Gratitude Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Co-Cathedral, I am thankful for mornings. For me, the morning is probably one of the biggest tests of my day- I am one of those multiple alarms every five minutes kind of people. I don’t like to be awake when it is dark outside. But…
Witness of Belonging
Mary Vlazny reflects on the gospel and how God calls us to serve while sharing opportunities to serve in the community.
It all changed when I said: “Yes!”
Witness of Belonging for September 26th
Parishioners and Guests, I am now and always have been an optimist. I see sparks of good in everyone, forgive expeditiously, and rarely take anything personally. If I am so optimistic, why then do I often wonder if my positivity will eventually run out? The world is so loud, it’s getting louder, and society is…
St. Joseph: A Friend and Model for Us All
By: Melissa Schmid
“Did you know that St. Joseph has over 20 titles that represent his heroic virtues? Before I prayed the Litany to St. Joseph, I had no idea he had so many titles. In fact, I knew very little of this humble saint.”
Reflection on the Dignity of Each Human Life
By: Julia Brown Ferrero
Many people have profoundly enriched my life experience, and contributed to shape me as a Catholic, a daughter, a wife, and now a mother. I would like to introduce you to a few of them, whose witnesses greatly developed my understanding and appreciation for human life.
Turning Your Ear to Christ: Entering into Lectio Divina
Turning Your Ear to Christ: Entering into Lectio Divina
When we search Scripture for what God is saying to us, we need to do so slowly, deliberately, and go in for the long haul.
Understanding the context of COVID-19 and decisions made at the Co-Cathedral.
The Presentation of Our Lord: The Light of the World in the Darkness of Winter
Terese contemplated Mary’s heart at the Presentation to gain understanding of her own joy and sacrifice in the handing over to God her daughter, Kate (now Sister Agnes Pia of the Holy Eucharist)…dwelling on the words, “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
By Pope Francis
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering, and burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We fly to your protection, O Holy…
The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it.
“The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it.” An article from the National Catholic Reporter.
Repenting of Ecological sin and cultivating ecological virtues
Lenten Reflections: Repenting of Ecological sin and cultivation ecological virtues.
A Prayer for the Australian Bush Fires
Veni, Creator Spiritus!
Veni, Creator Spiritus! Heal the land. Heal our hearts. Make us new again.
Seeds of Wisdom in South Sudan
My Friends of Seeds of Wisdom in South Sudan, I was blessed to travel to Uganda…
Religion and Language Arts Teacher
In today’s polarizing social and political climate, it is easy for children in our world to hear only non-stop bickering.
Mayo Clinic Chaplain
In this opportunity that I am allowed to write another article with you…
Parishioners
We started attending the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist ever since we moved to Rochester about 6 years ago.
Director of Social Action
Advent, the prelude to The Greatest Story Ever Told! Many of us are old enough to remember…
We Are One Body in Christ
“For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ–and individually parts of one another.“ ~Romans 12: 4-5 “… ‘Peace, justice and the preservation of creation are three absolutely interconnected themes, which cannot be separated and treated…
Director of Social Action
Have you ever sat by the side of the road with a flat tire? Maybe with kids in the car? What…
“Possibly our more life-giving, healing aspect is listening to people’s stories and offering a moment of refreshment.”
Parishioners
The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is a special place; a place of reflection, comfort, inspiration…
Parishioner
When Pope John Paul II was “in his prime,” how did liberal Christians view him? That question was…
Recognition and Respect for All
Respect for All “The human environment and the natural environment are deteriorating together, and this deterioration of the planet weighs upon the most vulnerable of its people. The impact of climate change affects, first and foremost, those who live in poverty in every corner of the globe. Our obligation to use the earth’s goods responsibly…
Listening and Interpreting Nature and God’s Messages
The history of the universe and nature is being told to us by the stars, by the Earth, by the uprising and elevation of the mountains, by the animals, the woods and jungles, and by the rivers. Our task is to know how to listen and interpret the messages that are sent to us. The…
Everything is Connected
“[W]hen our hearts are authentically open to universal communion, [a] sense of fraternity excludes nothing and no one. It follows that our indifference or cruelty towards fellow creatures of this world sooner or later affects the treatment we mete out to other human beings. We have only one heart, and the same wretchedness which leads…
Parishioner
“I don’t understand why everyone isn’t clamoring to be in the choir!” Peg asks this question as she realizes how much…
The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist welcomes internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Simon Toparovsky
The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist welcomes internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Simon Toparovsky to Rochester to celebrate the installation of his latest sculptures here at the Co-Cathedral. We share excerpts from the news release offered to media by his publicist, Beth Laski, prior to his visit. “Using his narrative skills as a visual poet,…