He is Risen!

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don't know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.

Prayer for a New Bishop

Lord God,
from age to age you appoint
Shepherds to lead your Church.
Grant to our Diocese a Shepherd
after your own heart:
courageous, faithful,
and a humble servant.
May his witness to true holiness
inspire us to conform our lives
to the Gospel,
to seek our nourishment
in the power of the Sacraments,
and to become ever more your Holy Church.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer to Mary, the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.

Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son,
we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

Volunteering at the Catheral & St. John Vianney School

The United States Conference of Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People mandates that every diocese implement Safe Environment programs for all children, parents, and adults. Requirements for the Dioceses as well as information and forms can be found on our new Volunteer Page.

Relics at the Cathedral

You may have noticed the presence of two gold vessles placed under the statues of the Blessed Vigin Mary and child Jesus and St. Catharine of Siena in the sancturay of the Cathedral. These are relics, or holy objects of religious veneration, which may vary from the bones of a saint to an object which was touched a martyr during his or her lifetime. Each relic is housed in a distinctive container referred to as a reliquary.

Relic of the True Cross

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Relic of St. Catharine

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Beneath the statue of St. Catharine (right side of sanctuary as you face the tabernacle) is a relic of St. Catharine of Siena. A relic of the True Cross of Christ is located beneath the statue of the Blessed Vigin holding the Child Jesus.

Former Pastor Msgr. Baker commented, "relics remind us of the holiness of the lives of the saints and brings to mind their heroic sacrifice in living the faith. The relics remind us of the link we all continue to have with the entire communion of saints, especially as we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Relics also helps us turn to the intercession of the saints for all our needs."

"As attested to in Scripture, relics are instruments of divine power. The bones of the Prophet Elisha brought a dead man to life (2 Kgs. 13:20-21). A woman was cured of a hemorrhage by touching the hem of Christ’s cloak (Matt. 9:20-22) and the sick were healed when Peter’s shadow passed over them (Acts 5:14-16). Handkerchiefs and aprons of St. Paul cured the sick and drove out demons (Acts 19:11-12)," Msgr. Baker added.

The Siena Society

The Siena Society has been established to build long-term financial stability for our parish or St. John Vianney Regional School; and to encourage, support and celebrate gifts that ensure that our parish remains vital and vibrant for those who come after us. Click here to learn more about this important program.