The Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena in Allentown has a Holy Door of Mercy which you can walk through to obtain the Plenary Indulgence offered for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy! There are conditions required to obtain an indulgence. Click the link above to learn more about indulgences.
Bishop's Annual Appeal
Dear Friends,
As part of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy announced by Pope Francis for 2016, the Holy Father has challenged the entire church to offer more evident signs of God’s presence in the world. With your help, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is one way that we can meet that challenge and Open the Door to Mercy.
Through the Appeal, you make it possible for Catholic schools, parish communities, Catholic Charities, and clergy to provide a wide range of services and ministries throughout Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties. Quite simply, you make it possible to answer Pope Francis’s special call during this Jubilee Year to “go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God.”
This year, our goal is to raise $5 million for children, families, men, and women across the Diocese of Allentown. Nearly 95 cents out of every dollar raised by the Bishop’s Annual Appeal will go to health and human services, senior citizens, classroom education, local clergy, and parish-based activities. Your gifts will make a difference in your own community and across the Diocese.
Thank you in advance for your dedication to the Church’s mission of mercy. May our Lord bless you and all those who will look to us for help this year. In the words of Pope Francis, “May we all be open to God’s divine mercy, and readily and generously share it with our brothers and sisters.”
I will keep you and your families in my Masses and prayers.
Sincerely in Christ, Most Reverend John O. Barres, D. D.
Bishop of Allentown
How can we show others the mercy of God? We say that God is compassionate, but we ignore the poor. We say that God loves us and has mercy on us, but we hold grudges against our friends. Our actions need to authentically reflect God's mercy. Click below to explore the different ways that you can live out that mercy every day!
The practice of a jubilee year has ancient roots in the Jewish tradition and evidence for it can be found in the Old Testament (for example, see Leviticus 25). The jubilee year was called every fifty years and was a time for forgiveness. It stood as a reminder of God's providence and mercy. The dedication of a year for this emphasis provided the community with a time to come back into right relationship with one another and with God. As the practice of the jubilee year was adopted into the Catholic Church, these themes of mercy, forgiveness, and solidarity continued.
A Prayer for Mercy by Rev, Bernard J. Ezaki, M.Div., M.A.
Father Ezaki has composed a beautiful prayer for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. You can find copies of a prayer card at the end of each pew in Church. Please take one and share the prayer with friends, family, and all the faithful you know. It is a fitting way to pray during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Almighty and everlasting God, you do not will that a single sinner should perish, and so you gave the world your Son Jesus, who is Mercy Itself. Make me a mirror of Divine Mercy. Through prayer, the Sacraments, and works of charity, grant me the grace to seek your forgiveness, even as I forgive others. Inspire me to offer my sufferings in union with the Passion of Jesus, and thereby share in the redemption of the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirirt, on God, forever, and ever.
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 Click image for larger view
Relic of St. Catharine Click image for larger view
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.
Cathedral Church
200 Block of North 18th Street
Allentown, PA 18104
Parking available across from Church Link to map for directions
Cathedral Rectory
1825 W Turner Street
Allentown, PA 18104
Office phone: 610-433-6461 Link to map for directions
Cathedral Parish Vision Statement
To be a place where the faithful can gather together for the
Sunday celebration of the Eucharist, to teach Christ’s saving doctrine, and to practice the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love. (cf. CCC, 2179)
Mass Schedule
Sunday
7:30, 9:00, 10:30 AM, 12:00 Noon
Saturday
8:00 AM, 4:15 PM (4:15 Mass fulfills Sunday obligation)
Weekdays
Monday-Friday 6:30 & 8:00AM
Holy Days
Consult Bulletin for schedule
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Mon-Fri
15 minutes before each Mass
Saturday
3:15 to 4:00 PM
Holy Days
Consult Bulletin
Sacrament of Baptism
First Sunday of every month. Preparatory class Thursday evening before.
Sacrament of Matrimony
Engaged couples should meet with their parish priest as soon as they become engaged. The diocesan marriage preparation program should be completed at least six months prior to the wedding date. Weddings are at 11 AM and 1:30 PM on Saturdays only.
Parish Registration
Catholics living in the Cathedral Church parish boundaries should be registered in the parish. Registration is required for the administration of the Sacraments, attendance at St. John Vianney Regional School and the Cathedral PREP program, and for the issuance of certificates for Baptism and Confirmation.
Please call the rectory office to make an appointment with one of the priests to register in the parish.
As part of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy announced by Pope Francis for 2016, the Holy Father has challenged the entire church to offer more evident signs of God’s presence in the world. With your help, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is one way that we can meet that challenge and Open the Door to Mercy.
