CATHEDRAL OF THE

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

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.

Established 1848

125 Eagle Street Albany, New York 12202-1718 Telephone: 518-463-4447 Email: CICAlban@rcda.org Website: www.cathedralic.com

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

Very Reverend David R. LeFort, S.T.L., V.G. Rector Reverend John Tallman, Parochial Vicar

Reverend Paul Mijas, Parochial Vicar Mr. Timothy J. Kosto, II, Deacon

Schedule of Liturgical Celebrations The Holy Eucharist (Mass) The Lord’s Day: Saturday 5:15 p.m. (anticipated Mass) Sunday’s 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 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: Monday-Wednesday-Friday 11:30 a.m. Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and other times by appointment

CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ALBANY

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The Cathedral will be open daily for Prayer

Monday– Friday 6:00 am-6:00 pm Saturday– 9:00 am - 7:00pm Sunday– 7:00 am-7:00pm

The Following events have been Canceled

Cathedral Brunch– If you have mailed in

your payment already please contact Pilar at 518-463-4447 or email at cicalban@rcda.org Rosary Walk

Stations of the Cross– Booklets will be available in the church if you wish to pray the stations privately

Cathedral Choir(All Rehearsals and Masses) Faith Formation classes

A.A Meetings

Chrism Mass

Food Pantry

Due to safety and health concerns related to

the Covid-19 virus the food pantry until Monday April 13th.

The Gospel gives us Matthew’s “Passion nar-

rative,” which begins with the betrayal of

Judas and concludes with the laying of Je-

sus in the guarded tomb. Like each of the

four evangelist in their account of the Pas-

sion, Matthew preserves much of the oral

and written tradition passed on to him. This

has led scholars to speculate that the Pas-

sion narrative was part of the earliest keryg-

ma (or proclamation of Gospel teachings) by

the first generation of Christians, since it

appears to have solidified into a fixed writ-

ten form rather quickly. While Matthew pro-

vides some additional details (such as the

suicide of Judas, and the guard at Jesus’

tomb) none of these details change the basic

sequence of events as reported by all the

evangelists. As the other evangelists, Mat-

thew saw the agony of Jesus’ arrest, interro-

gation, and death as part of the fulfillment

of Old Testament prophesies; for example,

Judas’ thirty pieces of silver for betraying

Jesus and Peter’s denial of Jesus, both

prophesied by Zechariah.

Every Palm Sunday we hear proclaimed the

same reading from Paul’s Letter to the Phi-

lippians. Scholars believe this text predates

Paul himself and that it was likely a hymn

sung in the liturgies of the earliest Chris-

tians. We can learn an important lesson

about Jesus’ suffering and death from this

first generation of Christians: Because of Je-

sus’ “obedience to the point of death, even

death on a cross…., at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend...and every tongue

confess that Jesus Christ if Lord”.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Follow the Cathedral of the Immaculate

Conception and the Albany Diocese on Facebook

for updates!

Palm Sunday

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As more Catholics around the world find

themselves unable to receive the Eucharist due to the coronavirus pandemic, this past

week Pope Francis provided an example of a spiritual communion prayer that can be said

from home. We sug-

gest that your focus your attention on this or another pic-

ture of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacra-

ment and offer this prayer in union with so many others

around the world. You and your family

might also pray the Rosary.

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive

You into my soul. Since I cannot at this mo-ment receive You sacramentally, come at

least spiritually into my heart ... I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be

separated from You,” Prayed by Pope Francis in his televised daily

Mass from his residence in Vatican City

rcda.org/coronavirus/resources Faith at

Home page includes links to livestreamed

Mass, daily Scripture readings, saints of the

day, and suggestions for creating a sacred

space at home:

Please pray for our sick; Fr. William Pape, Fr.

Frank O’Connor, Betty Travis, Jeffrey Abra-ham, Robert Buell, Shirley Anderson, Lucy Apisa, Stephen Beattie, Carol Bruce, Grace Isa-belle Caruso, Carmella Cervera, Mary Faith Col-vin, Patricia Contti, Theresa Cooney, Marc Dan-iels, John Dare, Jr., Denise Degasparis, Michael Dolan, Ann Doherty, JoAnn DeLucia, Diane Fontanelli, Janette Fusco, Gus Franze, Bernice Girma, Carol Greenshields, Jean Gutbrodt, Bry-an Hanley, Jacqueline Heisler, Kelly Hemming, Kenneth Hockeson; Douglas Hoffeler, Alfred Iwanie, Dorothy Jordan, Reny Jose, Bill Keane,

Amy Keegan, James Laung,, Gayle Leonard, Re-becca Leno, Therese Lenz, , Ted Murawski, Ma-rie-Ann Melenfant, John McGrath, Mary Grace Meneses Sr., Maria Mercurio, CSJ, Stephanie Merenda, Diane Mueller, James Murphy, Mary Murphy, Shane O’Donnell, Josephine Pitcher-ale, Marcia Pedone, Catherine Rappazzo, Mark Roman, Megan Ruthman, Elaine Spoor, Adam Ventura, Sebastian Vicencio, Richard Warner, Raphael Warner Rosa Maria Santos

As Catholics, we are suddenly faced with

parish doors being locked and limited ac-cess to the sacraments. This can be very

disheartening. Now more than ever, we must hold fast to the great virtue of Hope. In the words of Pope St. John Paul II “Do

not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” We must open the doors of our hearts to Christ and trust in the Lord who

will give us everything we need.

In an effort to assist Catholics everywhere, Formed is giving free access to everyone for the next 40 days. Sign up today and get im-

mediate access to the best Catholic movies, faith formation videos, audio talks, and

great children’s videos. https://watch.formed.org/browse

Even in the midst of #COVID19, we can still be a light to those around us. Check

in with neighbors to see how they're do-ing...help keep a food pantry

stocked...call someone who is alone dur-ing this time...pray for one another.

The Cathedral offers on-line giving.

You can make your charitable donations

online. Just go to the Cathedral website at www.cathedralic.com. It is quick, easy and

secure! Thank you to all who demonstrate such generous care for our Cathedral parish.

4A

April 5, 2020

ALL MASSES CANCELED If you have a Mass Intention Scheduled during this time and would like it to be moved to a later date please contact Pilar at the Parish Office. Mass cards and prayer re-quest can still be made by phone or email. Phone: 518-463-4447 Email: cicalban@rcda.org FAITH FORMATION

Faith Formation meetings have been can-celled until further notice. Also, the original schedule for Sacraments of Initiation is no

longer in effect. They will be re-scheduled when things have settled down.

The Faith Formation team has begun provid-ing information to candidates and their fam-ilies for home study and will continue to do

so as needed. If you have any questions, etc. please feel free to contact me by email. I am considered

an at risk individual (getting old has its drawbacks) so I am working at home and

can be contacted through my personal email: tfowler1@verizon.net. Take care of yourselves and your children

and continue to pray for all who are affected by the virus.

Thomas Fowler

DRE/DYM

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April 5, 2020

BISHOP SCHARFENBERGER’S

LIVESTREAM HOLY WEEK

AND EASTER SCHEDULE

The following is a livestream schedule of liturgies for Bishop Edward B. Scharfen-berger of Albany for Holy Week, which marks the end of the Lenten season, and for Easter, which commemorates the Res-urrection of Jesus Christ. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the public is unable to attend these or any other Masses during this holy season. The livestream will be available on the dioce-san website: www.rcda.org/livestream and on the diocesan Facebook page. All of the services listed below will be livestreamed from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany: Sunday, April 5, 11 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass, Bishop presiding. Holy Thursday, April 9, 5:30 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Bishop presid-ing. Good Friday, April 10, 5:30 p.m. Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and

Death, Bishop presiding. Holy Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m. Solemn Vigil of Easter, Bishop presiding.

Easter Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m.

Easter Mass, Father David R. LeFort, rec-

tor of the cathedral, presiding.