I have been serving here at the Cathedral as wedding coordinator and business manager for a little over seven months. I consider myself so very fortunate to have been blessed with this opportunity, and I want to take to share some of my experiences and the blessings that I have gained. I attend mass daily, receive the Lord in the Eucharist, and walk to my desk to start my work day. What a beautiful gift it is to be here and have this perk of working and worshiping under the same roof. God is good!
Morning mass at the Cathedral, Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM, is never really crowded, but always rewarding. The priest, most often our rector, Fr. J.J., delivers a beautiful homily. Many times, I feel as if the words the priest speaks are authored by the Holy Spirit and written especially for my ears. It is often the same people who worship at morning mass, and I have grown to know them and cherish the opportunity of worshiping together. I welcome all who are able to come worship at daily mass. Perhaps you may hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you too.
At Sunday mass, I am beginning to recognize faces and learn some names. What a beautiful community we have here, and how fortunate we are to be everyone’s second parish. Last Sunday at mass, I met a group who called themselves the “Roamin’ Catholics.” Once a month they attend a different Detroit church, and I was fortunate enough to meet them and show them around the Cathedral. We engaged in a rich discussion regarding the beauty of our Catholic faith and the challenges that are put in our path from people who do not understand our Catholic traditions. The people we work with, our neighbors, and sometimes our friends and family are challenging our beliefs. In many ways we live in a secular world. This is evident in the trend of more and more people getting married in a secular ceremony.
But as wedding coordinator, I meet many couples who are embracing their faith and choosing to experience the sacrament of matrimony. I know that the grace that is received in the sacrament of matrimony will enrich them. Matrimony is the only sacrament where lay people – the bride and groom – are the ministers of the sacrament. The preparation for the sacrament postures the bride and groom to truly understand each other and the beauty of marriage. It is not arduous, but it is enriching.
In that tomorrow is the feast of St. Valentine, I encourage people who are contemplating marriage to celebrate it as the sacrament of matrimony. I encourage us all to rejoice in the gift of grace that we receive through the sacraments. Please pray for all our couples who have celebrated the sacrament of matrimony or will be celebrating it here at the Cathedral.
See you in church!
Chris Jaskowiec