PathToHoliness

I haven’t been contributing much here lately but I have been making it to Mass most every day on the road. Like last week in Washington, DC.

I attended at the Cathedral of St. Matthews. This is a beautiful church very near the Capitol.

Established in 1840, St. Matthew’s originally was located at 15th and H Streets, NW. Construction of the present church began in 1893 under the direction of Monsignor Thomas Sim Lee. The first Mass was celebrated on June 2, 1895. The church was dedicated in 1913 and designated a cathedral in 1939 when the Archdiocese of Washington was established.

The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, which honors the patron saint of civil servants, plays a major role in the Catholic life of the nation’s capital. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Washington.

You can purchase a book about the restoration of the Cathedral called, “A Landmark Restored.” The book contains 31 pages of historical information and beautiful photographs of the Cathedral’s restoration process.

The Podcast and New Media Expo is taking place in Ontario, CA. This group, including two priests, are podcasters who are exhibiting in the trade show.

They’re promoting sqpn.com, “The Best in Catholic Podcasting.”

SQPN (Star Quest Production Network) is a multimedia organization specializing in the production of audio and video programs faithful to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Its mission is to respond to the Church’s call to use the media for religious information, for evangelization and catechesis and for formation and education¹.

I was able to make it to Mass this morning at St. Secondo D’Asti, a very small church near my hotel.

I can’t remember when I’ve seen a Mass with the priest facing the altar and then communion given out at the rail which is still in place.

It was very nice.

They also have confession before Mass even though it’s at 6:30am.

This is the side altar at the St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati, OH. It was a short walk from my hotel while I was in town.

I got to attend daily Mass there for a couple days recently. You can go on a virtual tour of the Cathedral here.

I get to be home for a whole week this week and attending my own parish church which will be nice. This Labor Day weekend is providing an opportunity to get caught up on some things and spend some time with family.

Traveling a lot is certainly not as glamorous as some people would like to believe. For one thing, it makes it more difficult to go to daily Mass although I do fairly well. When you’re attending an event, especially a convention and trade show I find that most people are focused on business and daily devotions aren’t given much thought. That’s why I think it’s especially important to make sure to attend to them. Missing part of a breakfast or seminar is a small price to pay to spend some time with our Lord in church.

I sure seem to be getting to go to Mass at a lot of Cathedrals lately. Today it was at home at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, MO.

Last week it was here at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, MN. I wound up at a hotel right across the highway from it. This picture was on my way to 7:30am Mass one day last week. It’s a beautiful church and reminds me of many I’ve visited in Rome.

I’ll be on the road again this week and featuring a church or two I’m sure. The challenge is finding the time to post but I’ll get more done I promise.

While I was in Louisville, KY last week I got to attend Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption.

This is a beautiful Church although they only had chairs inside and a whole section didn’t have kneelers.

Maybe they’re getting new pews?

This road tripping sure allows me an opportunity to see some great churches.

This one is on the national register of historic places.

They have a wonderful organ and I guess a good choir too.

You can listen to the “Cantate Domino” by the Cathedral Choir using this link.

Here’s where I got to attend daily Mass this week while I was in Denver attending the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. It’s Holy Ghost Church and is being run by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.

It’s in the shadow of a big office building off 19th street and about a 10 minute walk from the hotel I was staying in. After Mass they have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with the rosary led by the priest who is on his knees in front of the Altar. Very nice. I wish more churches would do this. It’s only about 20 minutes but time well spent.

I use Mass Times frequently when I’m traveling. It’s always been a great tool. I can’t imagine how they keep it up to date. Just this morning I was using it and notice this letter seeking financial support. I recommend helping them out.

May the Dear Lord bless all of you for your support. Mass Times Trust has switched from a seasonal campaign to a two days a week campaign. First of all please keep us in your prayers.

Please join us and help us so that we can work together and pray together and entrust this new evangelization to the Virgin Mary that as Pope Benedict says, “… She may teach us to love Jesus ever more, in constant meditation of His Word and adoration of His Eucharistic presence, and help us …discover the ‘precious pearl’ of the Eucharist, which gives true and full meaning to life.”

God Bless!
MassTimes.org
Director of Development

This week I got to attend Mass at St. Agnes in Springfield, IL.

Unfortunately this Springfield town wasn’t chosen to have the first public viewing of the Simpsons movie. I’m not really sure most people cared though. But the media sure fixated on it.

We had a very nice Mass yesterday on the feast day of St. Benedict and the priest was kind enough to take time to hear confession for me too.

Although I can’t say that traveling a lot is the most glamorous thing to do I really appreciate the opportunities to visit so many different churches. I can’t tell you how many times I’m sure my guardian angel has helped me find them even when I’ve given up.

I know Chelsea is posting each day about the Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

This is the statue of her in the Carmelite chapel where the novena is held each evening during Mass.

I’ve only been able to attend one evening so far due to travel.

As Chelsea said in an earlier post, the nuns like to decorate with flowers and you can see some of them below the statue here.

Last week I stayed in Oklahoma City for a few days and had the pleasure of attending week day Mass at St. Francis of Assisi.

It’s a beautiful church and situated with the Rosary Catholic School.

Inside the church and building next door where they have the chapel for weekday Mass you’ll find some beautiful stained glass windows.

They’ve got pictures of them on their website as well as a virtual tour.

This is my third year covering the Indianapolis 500 and Fr. Phil DeRea here is still saying Mass as I’m sure he’s done long before I started coming.

Here at the media center he says two Masses on Sunday morning for media and staff.

I understand that he also celebrates Mass at a private hospitality suite as well for one of the League’s main sponsors/teams.

It’s refreshing to see people who have to work on Sunday take time out to make sure they make it to Mass and I appreciate the fact that they allow it to take place.

You can find out more about the IRL Ministry on their website.

When I was in Chicago recently I attended Mass at St. Joan of Arc church in Lisle.

It looks like a brand new church and although I kind of like a more traditional backdrop to the altar they had this stained glass window.

The picture doesn’t do it justice. It is beautiful and something that makes spending time meditating near the Blessed Sacrament more enjoyable.

I just returned from a business trip to Hamar, Norway. While there we got to visit the remains of the Cathedral that was destroyed during the reformation.

I recorded the whole presentation which includes the telling of the story of the Cathedral and some folk music. It’s over a half hour long but fascinating.

Listen to the story of the Hamar Cathedral here: Story of Hamar Cathedral (35 min MP3)

I’ve been on a posting drought here over the last month or so. My blogging travel schedule has been unbelievable. But I have been keeping up with Mass as often as possible like the Little Flower Church in Reno, NV.

I’m back on the road this week and hoping to find time to post here. There’s a lot I’d like to post but only so much time in a day. I’m not giving up on it.

Sunday Mass today was in St. George Church in Tinley Park, IL.

We’ll be here for one more night before moving on in the morning.

I have no idea where I’ll be for Mass next.