SS Peter and Paul Cathedral

09/08/2026

“As Eden was the Paradise of Creation, Mary is the Paradise of the Incarnation, and in her as a Garden were celebrated the first nuptials of God and man.” -- Fulton Sheen

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day, SSPPC! Today, we celebrate the dignity of work--and work for its protection amidst artificial intelligence and increased automation. To help, let's take a look at Pope Leo XIV's encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, and what it says about preserving the dignity of work in the age of AI.
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Also, just a note that there is no daily Mass today.

09/06/2026

We live in an age of cancel culture: people sharing someone else's perceived faults in public with the goal of removing them from their position. Cancel culture isn't an attempt to bring someone to the truth; it's an attempt to remove them because they are considered an obstacle.
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As Jesus makes clear in today's Gospel, "cancel culture" is not the way of Christians. This doesn't mean there aren't times when we shouldn't go public with someone's wrongdoings. But this comes only after we have first spoken with them privately, and then within our Church.
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Why does Jesus insist on first bringing up someone's sin against you one-on-one? Because the goal isn't punishment or removal; it's reconciliation.
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Let's follow Christ's lead, SSPPC family, and seek to reconcile with those who've wronged us--not cancel them.
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**Please note, the parish office will be closed tomorrow, and there will be no daily Mass, in observance of Labor Day.**

09/06/2026

Mass for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 6.

SS. Peter & Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis

09/05/2026

It's World Beard Day! And what better way to celebrate than taking a look at what Sacred Scripture has to say about facial hair?
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In the Bible, beards are a sign of dignity and maturity. In fact, Jewish priests were instructed to let their facial hair grow.
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"They shall not shave their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor lacerate their bodies." -- Leviticus 21:5
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And the Psalms reference beards in connection with the priesthood and blessing.
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"Like precious ointment on the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, upon the collar of his robes." -- Psalm 133:2
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Shaving one's beard could be an expression of shame or lamentation. After the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, Jeremiah noted the following:
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"Everyone has shaved his beard, torn his garments, and gashed himself..." -- Jeremiah 41:5
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The Bible doesn't explicitly say that Jesus had a beard, but it was the norm among Jewish men in the 1st century. Nonetheless, the New Testament shifts the focus away from external appearance to what's on the inside.
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"Your adornment should not be an external one...but rather the hidden character of the heart." -- 1 Peter 3:3-4
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So should Catholic men have beards today? It's increasingly more common. But while it can be a symbol of wisdom and maturity, one's character and virtue are truly what count.
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Now that you're an expert on the Bible and beards, make sure to let Fr. James know what you've learned!

09/04/2026

September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. And the Catholic Church in the United States has a lot to celebrate when it comes to our Hispanic community! About 36% of Catholics in the U.S. are Hispanic, a number that rises to a whopping 60% when we consider Catholics under the age of 18!
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Here at SSPPC, we are grateful for the contributions and presence of all of our parishioners with roots in the Spanish-speaking world, and we encourage you to start making plans to celebrate today!

09/03/2026

Hey SSPPC, ever wonder how "Gregorian Chant," the unaccompanied, monophonic singing of sacred songs in Latin, got its name? Well, the style was formalized and promoted by St. Gregory the Great, a 7th-century pope whose feast day we celebrate today.
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Gregorian Chant isn't outdated--in fact, Pope Leo XIV is promoting its usage throughout the Church. Read the accompanying article to learn more about this style of sacred music and how you can "sing with the Pope." Learn more here: https://www.ncregister.com/features/lets-sing-with-the-pope-gregorian-chant

09/02/2026

SSPPC, let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.

09/01/2026

September always has so much in store, but this year it's even better: Fulton Sheen, the great American archbishop and evangelist, will be beatified on Sep. 24!
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See what else is going on in the Church this month in this video, and make sure to join us at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral for Mass: Sunday at 10:00 a.m..

08/31/2026

🎶 The first rehearsal of the Cathedral Choir is tonight from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The choir rehearses weekly on Mondays (no rehearsal Labor Day) and sings on alternate Sundays from September-May. New members are welcome in all voice parts, but tenors are especially needed. If you are interested, come to the first rehearsal tonight and see what it is all about!