• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Search
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Bulletins
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Apostolic Center of Arts and Culture

  •  
  • Join Us!
    • Welcome!
    • Becoming Catholic/OCIA
    • Become a Member
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Holy Orders
    • Anointing
    • Funerals
  • Parish Life
    • Staff
    • Office Hours
    • Ministries
      • Altar Server Schedule
    • Fellowships
    • The Rescue Project
    • Alpha
    • Bible Study
    • Room Use Policy
    • Event Checklist
    • Have a Good Idea?
  • Tours
    • Statue and Relic Pilgrimage
    • Group Tours
    • History
    • Our Stained Glass
    • Other Neat Tour Stuff
    • Virtual Tours
      • Go Inside the Cathedral
      • Get a Bird’s-eye View
  • Weddings
    • Process
    • Marriage Prep
    • Documents
    • FAQs
    • Choosing Your Music
    • Liturgy Planning
      • Nuptial Mass Planning Form
      • Sacrament of Matrimony Planning Form
  • Music
    • Cathedral Cultural Series
    • Support CCS
    • Organs
    • Schola
    • Archdiocesan Chorus
    • Parish Choir
    • Cathedral Choir Academy (Children)
  • Candles
    • Candle Lighting
    • Prayer Requests
  • Grotto Fund
  • Apartments
  • Times · Location
  • Events
  • News · Notes
  • Donate
  • All Articles
  • Arts & Culture
    • Statue and Relic Pilgrimage
    • The A.C.C.
    • Art for God’s Sake
Home All Articles Staff Articles Deacon on Duty – From a Distance

Deacon on Duty – From a Distance

April 1, 2020 by Deacon Mike Van Dyke

This being my first Lent and Holy Week since ordination I figured they would be ones I would remember for the rest of my life.  That they will be memorable is an understatement, though certainly not for the reasons I imagined.  Unless something changes between the bulletin press deadline and Palm Sunday, I will likely be watching the Holy Week liturgies being livestreamed like so many others, wishing I could be there, like so many others.

Speaking of livestreaming, last Sunday Juanita and I joined nearly 5,000 others “participating” in our “new” noon Mass celebrated by Archbishop Vigneron!  Watching is bittersweet on many levels.  On a personal level, one that broaches the sin of pride, watching, rather than serving at the altar, at the side of our archbishop and Fr. J.J., is heart wrenching.  There is an inner sense that I should be there fulfilling the duties proper to the deacon.  But I also must remember my vow of obedience when I was ordained.

On a parish level and archdiocese level, watching is bittersweet knowing the Cathedral is all but empty during the livestreamed Mass.  Yet there is something wonderful happening as evidenced by those nearly 5,000 others who were watching the Mass last Sunday.  Seeing that number made me think of Jesus teaching then feeding the 5,000 with the few loaves and fishes (cf Mk 6:34-44).  It showed our hunger for the Word, for the Eucharist, for Jesus to feed us as well.  And if I could fast-forward to the end of the pandemic, it made me wonder how filled our churches and the Cathedral might be once the restrictions are lifted?

Our Father and his Son took one of the most despicable symbols of evil and hatred, the executioner’s cross, and turned it into a sign of love and reconciliation.  If we remain open to the Holy Spirit, imagine the good He can do with us as we wait out this pandemic!  In the meantime, please know you are all in my prayers and I can’t wait to see you soon.

In the Peace of Christ,

Deacon Mike

 

Primary Sidebar

Cathedral Mass Times

Our current Mass schedule is:

Sundays: 11 AM in person and livestreamed.

All* Other Days: 8 AM in person and livestreamed.

Typically, non-Sunday Holy Day Masses are held at 8 AM. Any additional Masses will be listed under Upcoming Events.

Exposition on First Fridays and Second Thursdays after 8 AM Mass.

*High holy days and ordinations will cause exceptions.

Cathedral Hours

Current office hours are:

Sunday:  office closed

Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: office closed

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Recent Articles

  • Holy Week / Easter Hours
  • G.K. Chesterton and Friends
  • Deacon on Duty – Holy Souls
  • From the Archbishop – Part Two
  • Jottings from Fr. J.J. – How Are We Doing?

Footer

Search this Website

More Information

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Connect With Us

  9844 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202
  (313) 865-6300
 cathedral@aod.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Get Our Newsletter

You may unsubscribe at any time.

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
9844 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(313) 865-6300


© 2023 · Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament · All Rights Reserved

Designed by 1955 Design