CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

In the City and Diocese of Albany

Established 1848 • Corner of Eagle Street and Madison Avenue (at the Empire State Plaza), Albany

Mission Statement We, the worshipping community of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, rooted in the Gospel and the

celebration of the Eucharist, seek to make known God’s love in the world through serving one another, sharing our faith and welcoming all.

Schedule of Liturgical Celebrations

The Holy Eucharist (Mass)

The Lord’s Day:

(anticipated Mass) 5:15 p.m. on Saturday

9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday

Weekdays: Monday-Wednesday-Friday 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday 7:15 a.m.

Holy Days: Please check the bulletin and website.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Saturday: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

...and other times by appointment

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

Call the church office to make arrangements for appointment and instructions.

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Couples should contact the parish office six to eight months in

advance of the proposed marriage.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

If you are anticipating surgery, please contact the parish office.

Religious Education

To register, and for information, call: 518-463-4447, ext. 4

Parish Food Pantry

93 Park Avenue; Basement, Entrance at north side of building

Food and personal care items collected on the last Sunday of the month.

Food distributed Monday-Friday, l0:00a.m.- 12:00p.m.

Pastoral Visits

At home or in the hospital, please call the parish office.

Tours of the Cathedral are available by appointment; please contact the

Rectory Office for information and/or to schedule a tour.

The Most Reverend Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D. Bishop of Albany

The Very Reverend David R. LeFort, S.T.L., V.G., Rector

The Reverend John Tallman, Parochial Vicar

The Reverend Paul Mijas, Parochial Vicar

Timothy Kosto, II, Deacon

In residence

The Most Reverend Howard J. Hubbard, D.D.

Bishop Emeritus

Religious Education and Faith Formation

Dr. Thomas Fowler

Cathedral Social Services—Food Pantry

Mr. Mark Ciavardoni

Director of Music and Organist

Dr. Brian F. Gurley

Development, Public Relations & Events

Mr. Thomas M. Prindle

Parish Secretary

Ms. Pilar Dell

Liturgical Coordinator

Dr. Melissa Martínez

Parish Bookkeeper

Mrs. Kathy Zorian

Facilities Manager

Mr. David Ucci, M.B.A

Rectory and Cathedral Offices

125 Eagle Street

Albany, New York 12202-1718

Phone: 518-463-4447

Fax: 518-514-1441

Email: CICAlban@rcda.org

www.cathedralic.com

Follow us on facebook: https:://www.facebook.com/albanycathedral

Religious Education Office Phone: 518-463-4447 ext. 4

Email: FFCICa@rcda.org

Church Music Office Phone: 518-463-4447 ext. 5

Email: brian.gurley@rcda.org

Social Services—Food Pantry Office

93 Park Avenue (basement office)

Phone: 518-463-2279

Email: ciavardm@rcda.org

CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ALBANY

2

The Cathedral is in

need of help for

ironing of our sa-

cred linens.

If you are able to

volunteer a couple

of hours a week

please contact

Melissa Martinez

at 518-463-4447.

First Reading:

This passage depicts a servant whom God

called to strengthen the weary. Like many prophets, he encounters rejection, insults, and violence. Confident that God will ulti-

mately vindicate him, the servant sets his face “like flint” in endurance. Although this

song comes from the time of the Babylonian Exile, it gave the early Church a way of speaking about Christ’s suffering. The Serv-

ant Songs are not direct predictions about Jesus but a means for his followers to un-derstand his suffering and death.

Second Reading:

This early creedal hymn, which Paul quotes, provides Christians with a frame-work for

understanding the life, death, and exalta-tion of Jesus Christ. Like Isiah's prophet, Jesus is seen as God’s servant—one who did

not regard being made in God’s image as something about which to boast. Rather, Je-

sus chose the path of self-emptying as the way to remain faithful to his calling. “He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the

point of death, even death on a cross. Be-cause of this, God greatly exalted him.” The

early Christians who sang this hymn knew that the agony and disgrace of Jesus’ Cruci-fixion were to be understood only in light of

his vindication by God through the Resur-rection. For Paul this creed is all one needs to know about Jesus’ life. Paul, however, is

not only concerned that the Philippians in-tellectually know this passionate way, but

he also wants them, and us, to know it in our hearts. We are to be imitators of the passionate Christ just as Paul is.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

Gospel: From Jesus’ Last supper with his disciples to his final breath on the Cross, the picture of Je-sus in Luke’s Gospel is of one who is a servant faithful to God in the face of evil. The power of darkness, which left Jesus after the temptations “until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13), now re-turns to attack Jesus. Yet throughout the story we encounter Jesus’ deep compassion as he ex-periences Judas’ betrayal, his arrest by armed soldiers, Peter’s denial, his followers’ abandon-ment, his opponents’ mockery, and the crowd's vilification. When one of the slaves in the arrest-ing party has his ear cut off, Jesus heals him. When he is shuttled back and forth from San-

hedrin to Herod to Pilate, his faithful obedience to the demands of the moment does not waiver. When one of the criminals being crucified with him asks to be remembered, Jesus offers him the blessing of paradise. Never does he betray his understanding of himself as “one who serves,” whose life is being “given” and “poured out” for his disciples. The cry of the soldier at the Cross, “ Certainly this man was innocent,” completes the picture of Jesus’ innocence in the midst of evil. While his murder was a political act that satisfied military and religious leaders whose authority he challenged, Jesus’ revolu-tionary work for God’s reign had just begun.

Join the Cathedral Parish Family for the Cathedral Brunch Hosted by Father LeFort Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Wolferts Roost Country Club 12:30 - 12:45 p.m. - Bloody Mary's & Mimosas 12:45 p.m. - Extensive Buffet Flyers can be found at the doors of the church.

PALM SUNDAY PASSION OF THE LORD

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“Re-Igniting Our Faith Campaign: Cathedral Parish,

part 2”

Over the last few weekends, we’ve been sharing infor-

mation about the upcoming “Re-Igniting Our Faith Cam-

paign”, a diocesan-wide initiative which seeks to grow

each of our parishes into vibrant communities of disci-

ples serving Our Lord well into the future. Last week-

end, we learned about the desire to expand our ministries

of outreach. This weekend let’s consider a few other

goals we have here at the Cathedral for our growth into

the future.

Many are already aware that we have begun to renovate

and re-purpose our former convent (adjacent to Bishop

Maginn High School), not only to provide a full environ-

ment in which men might enter initial formation for di-

ocesan priesthood by establishing “St. Isaac Jogues

House of Formation and Pre-Seminary”, but also to

partner with parishioners in various current and antici-

pated ministries. While this new residence will be a di-

ocesan program, it will benefit our parish in several

ways: the diocesan lease will generate $60,000 in annual

income for our parish; the residents would be intimately

involved in our earlier-mentioned “Street Ministry”

along with parishioners; they will seek to supplement the

staffing needs of the high school; and our liturgical min-

istries will be supplemented by their presence and ser-

vice. Moreover, from this endeavor, we will be acquiring

at least three new meeting spaces there for our parish’s

use.

A further goal for “Re-Igniting Our Faith” is to provide a

practical, visible ‘welcome’ for those who visit our

neighborhood. Currently, there is no designation on the

exterior of the Cathedral identifying it. We intend to de-

sign, construct and install a traditionally-styled marker

(sign) outside the North Tower to identify the church,

further extending invitation and welcome to the city and

the diocese to join with us.

Many find the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be a com-

forting experience which re-ignites faithful lives. We

intend to foster such an aide by acquiring, retrofitting

and installing a traditional confessional inside the Ca-

thedral, to offer penitents greater privacy and reverence

for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the gift of mercy

it offers. Our hope is to reclaim a confessional that is no

longer in use, one that would fit appropriately into our

Cathedral.

Hopefully these reflections over the last three weeks

have given readers a better sense of our overall goal: to

re-ignite the gift of faith within each one of us, so that—

in turn—we might reach out to others and share our gift

of faith in Jesus Christ, thus growing the blessing of our

Church well into the future. For more information,

please visit re-ignitingourfaith.org.

Please pray for our sick; Jeffrey Abraham, Robert Buell, Shirley Anderson, Lucy Apisa, Stephen Beattie, Carol Bruce, Grace Isabelle Caruso, Carmella Cervera, Mary Faith Colvin, Patricia Contti, Theresa Cooney, Sr., Gertrude Cosenke, RSCJ, Marc Daniels, John Dare, Jr., Denise Degasparis, Michael Dolan, Ann Doherty, JoAnn DeLucia, Diane Fontanelli, Janette Fusco, Bernice Girma, Karen Goral, Carol Greenshields, Jean Gutbrodt, Bryan Han-ley, Jacqueline Heisler, Kelly Hemming, Ken-neth Hockeson; Douglas Hoffeler, Dorothy Jor-dan, Reny Jose, Bill Keane, Amy Keegan, James

Laung, Donald Law, Gayle Leonard, Rebecca Leno, Therese Lenz, Diane Lo Prete, Maria Mar-chio, Marie-Ann Melenfant, John McGrath, Mary Grace Meneses Sr., Maria Mercurio, CSJ, Stephanie Merenda, Diane Mueller, James Mur-phy, Mary Murphy, Shane O’Donnell, Josephine Pitcherale, Marcia Pedone, Catherine Rappazzo, Mark Roman, Matthew Rosato, Megan Ruth-man, Elaine Spoor, Adam Ventura, Sebastian Vicencio, Richard Warner, Raphael Warner , Rosa Maria Santos

Stewardship Treasure

The Collection for Sunday April 7th,2019 was $3,104.97 The Second Collection was

$983.00. Thank you for all you have given to the Cathedral.

There will be No Faith For-mation Sunday April 21st and Sunday April 28th.

Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the

Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps

Christians in the Holy Land. Your support helps the

church minister in parishes, provide Catholic

schools and offer religious education. It also helps to

preserve the sacred shrines.

The wars, unrest and instability have been especially

hard on Christians. In these times of crisis, the Pon-

tifical Good Friday Collection provides humanitarian

aid to refugees.

When you contribute to the Pontifical Good Friday

Collection, you become an instrument of peace and

join with Catholics around the world in solidarity

with the Church in the Holy Land.

4A

April 14,2019

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

PALM SUNDAY, April 14th,2019 Saturday Vigil Mass 5:15 pm Sunday Masses, 9:00 am., 11:00 am., Bishop Scharfenberger And 5:00 p.m. Monday, 12:15 pm Mass Tuesday, 7:15 am Mass Wednesday, 12:15pm Mass

TRIDUUM

Holy Thursday, April 18th Mass of the Lord’s Supper 5:30pm

Bishop Scharfenberger 10:00 pm Night Prayer

Good Friday, April 19th, Stations of the Cross 3:00pm Passion of the Lord,5:30pm

Bishop Scharfenberger

Holy Saturday, April 20th Blessing of Easter Foods,3:00pm

Solemn Vigil of Easter,8:00pm Bishop Scharfenberger

Easter Sunday, April 21st

Easter Sunday Masses 9:00 am, Fr. LeFort

11:00 am, Bishop Scharfenberger 5:00pm, Fr. Mijas

LENT 2019

4B

April 14,2019

Meetings and Mass Intentions for the week of

April 14, 2019 – April 21, 2019

Sunday April 14th

11:00am Joseph and Ruth Petro

Tuesday April 16th

12:00pm AA Meeting (Rectory)

Wednesday April 17th

12:15 pm Mary Murphy (Living)

Thursday & Friday- Office & Food Pantry Closed

Sunday April 21st

11:00 am Rosario Calabrese

21st Annual Golf Outing To Preserve Al-

bany’s Historic Cathedral Of The Immacu-

late Conception

Monday, June 17, 2019

Wolferts Roost Country Club Albany, NY

Heart Of A Priest

The incorrupt heart of Saint Jean Vianney is visit-ing the Diocese of Albany on Friday April 26th, from 12 Noon to 7 pm here at the Cathedral. En-trusted to the Knights of Columbus by the Shrine or Ars, France, this relic is on a national tour in the U.S. Join us in venerating this patron Saint of parish priests, whose holiness and integrity are a model for clergy and laity alike.