Fr. Evelio Menjivar - Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

June 23, 2012

June 23, 2013

My dear parishioners,

Please join me, Fr. Hurley, our deacons and the Cathedral staff as we prepare to say a grateful farewell to two beloved priests--Fr. Evelio Menjivar, Parochial Vicar, who joined us in 2009, and Fr. Mark Knestout, in residence since 2007. Effective July 10, Fr. Evelio will be Parish Administrator of Our Lady Queen of the Americas in Washington, DC, and Fr. Mark will be Pastor of St. Bartholomew's in Bethesda.

~ Fr. Evelio Menjivar ~

Fr. Evelio has been an energetic and openhearted Parochial Vicar. In addition to faithfully bringing the Eucharist, Reconciliation and the other sacraments to our parish family, he has led our Ministerio Hispano in Sunday worship, special liturgies, sacramental and prayer life, and in the celebration of many moments in everyday parish life. He has served as the clergy leader of St. Matthew's Social Justice & Community Services Ministry, working many hours with our homeless friends and visitors and with others in need, and participating in advocacy efforts on a range of social justice issues. Fr. Evelio has also been very at home in the rectory kitchen, taking joy in sharing his homemade specialties with his brother priests, the staff and the parish.

Fr. Evelio has always gone beyond the call of duty. I will remember especially one Saturday afternoon when we found water pouring into the Baptistry during a rainstorm. He ran to his room, changed his clothes, grabbed a ladder, and outside the Cathedral he went! Clearing the gutter, he stopped the deluge into the Baptistry--just one example of how he would roll up his sleeves and ask "What can I do?" or "Do you need someone for that Mass?" or "I'll be happy to take Cardinal Gracias to the airport." Energetic, dedicated, truly committed to the Gospel message of justice for ALL. He has been a GREAT Parochial Vicar. We will all truly miss him.

~ Fr. Mark Knestout ~

It was such a joy when I learned six years ago that Fr. Mark was coming to St. Matthew's. I had known him and his family since 1971 when I was an associate at St. Pius X in Bowie. You have known Fr. Mark as a regular Mass celebrant on weekday mornings as well as at the Vigil and Sunday celebrations, including our 10am Latin Mass. He has been a friend to many here at St. Matthew's as well as a trusted confessor and spiritual director. Fr. Mark has brought great reverence and energy to organizing episcopal liturgies at the Cathedral,

one of his many duties as Director of the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of Washington. His work was often behind the scenes, with hours of rehearsals in preparation for major liturgical celebrations. I was proud to have him as a successor at the Office of Worship. Even with his responsibilities at the diocese and to Cardinal Wuerl, Fr. Mark has made time to joyfully participate in and celebrate with us so many special parish events. I have thoroughly enjoyed Fr. Mark's friendship, and we will all miss his calm, steady presence, as well as his bicycling stories!

~ Prayers for Fr. Evelio, Fr. Mark and Fr. Rafael ~

Our thanks, prayers and best wishes go with both Fr. Evelio and Fr. Mark. We want them to know that they will always be in our thoughts and prayers, and of course, that they are always welcome among us here at St. Matthew's.

Also with gratitude, we look forward to welcoming Fr. Rafael Barbieri de Carvalho, who will be our new Parochial Vicar. Fr. Barbieri, who is from Brazil, was ordained to the Priesthood this June 15 by Cardinal Donald Wuerl and celebrated his first Mass the next day at St. Michael the Archangel in Silver Spring, MD. Before entering the seminary, Fr. Rafael played in a rock band, received a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management from Centro Universitario de Maua in Brazil, and then served as a missionary catechist. We will be finding out much more about him, and he about us, as he serves our parish community.

On his first Sunday at St. Matthew's, July 14, Fr. Rafael will celebrate the 11:30am Mass and the 1pm Spanish Mass. Please take an opportunity to introduce yourself and give Fr. Rafael a warm welcome.

Msgr. Jameson

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