Special Mass at Washington cathedral offers support to federal workers

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- A special Mass for federal workers and civil servants celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington offered a message of solidarity and hope amid ongoing employment uncertainties.

Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, the cathedral's rector and the principal celebrant, opened the March 20 Mass by acknowledging the challenges many workers face and reminding them of their inherent dignity and worth in God's eyes.

"We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. We have come together today in solidarity," Msgr. Jameson said. "We know many in our midst are hurting. There are deep wounds among us, and today we show we are one with so many who have been let go from their jobs, and with so many more who are at their desks but scared to death."

The special Mass, attended by government employees and their families, provided a space for prayer and reflection on the impact of recent workforce changes. Several attendees expressed concerns about job stability and the well-being of their colleagues.

These remarks come amid federal workforce reductions initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, established by President Donald Trump in January, with Elon Musk appointed to lead the initiative. According to reporting by CBS News, DOGE's mandate is to reduce federal spending by up to $2 trillion and improve operational efficiency across federal agencies.

To achieve these goals, DOGE has implemented significant layoffs throughout the federal workforce. For example, Forbes and NPR report that the Department of Education plans to cut nearly 50% -- more than 1,300 positions, and according to AP News and other sources, the Environmental Protection Agency may reduce its workforce by 65% and the Department of Veterans Affairs has already dismissed more than 1,000 employees.

In interviews before the Mass, people reflected on how the federal workforce reductions are impacting workers.

Dion Shears, a parishioner at St. Matthew's Cathedral, shared that her daughter, who works in cybersecurity, has been deeply affected by recent policy changes.

"Every day, she sees people becoming more and more stressed," Shears told the Catholic Standard, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Washington. "People are worried if they'll even have a job tomorrow. The way this is being handled is cruel."

John Capozzi, a parishioner at St. Matthew's Cathedral who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs, described how the changes have already led to layoffs.

"I've lost five people so far, including a data scientist and a nurse practitioner who was also an active-duty military spouse," he said. "They were told they were being let go for poor performance, but they've been reinstated on administrative leave -- which is usually a step toward termination."

Justin Del Rosario, an employee at the Department of Defense who regularly attends Masses at St. Matthew's Cathedral and whose home parish is Holy Trinity in Georgetown, emphasized the long-term consequences of instability in federal employment.

"This is a long-term disaster waiting to happen," he said. "People no longer have stability," he added. "They don't believe this is a long-term opportunity. It's not an opportunity for a long-term investment in their careers. This current situation is designed to make people miserable."

Robert Torres, who works for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., described the uncertainty surrounding his job.

"I send in my five bullet points every Monday, but the waiting is stressful," he said. "People have lost their sense of stability, their sense of mission. Our job is to make sure banks are secure, but how can we focus when we don't even know if we'll have work next week?"

The Gospel reading at the Mass from Luke 16:19-31 recounted the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, in which a wealthy man ignored the suffering of a poor man lying at his door. In his homily, Father Isaac Sagastume, a parochial vicar at the cathedral, reflected on the significance of the passage, urging those gathered to recognize the struggles of those around them.

"The key phrase is ‘lying at the door,'" Father Sagastume said. "Lazarus was there every single day. The rich man saw him but chose not to act. Today, Lazarus is the 65-year-old man ready to retire but now struggling. He is the 27-year-old woman who risked everything to work here but now has to return home. He is the young DACA recipient who left Texas to follow their dreams but now faces an uncertain future."

Father Sagastume emphasized that indifference was the greatest sin of the rich man in the Gospel. "The inability to turn his head, even for a split second, defined his fate," he said. "This gospel calls us back to pray for our neighbors, to pray for those feeling anxious about the precariousness of their situation."

He also noted that Lazarus was the only person named in the parable, which he said carried deep meaning. "Luke gives Lazarus a name because he placed his entire trust in the Lord," Father Sagastume said. "When man loses his compass, he loses who he is. But hope does not disappoint. The world may fail us, but God's mercy does not."

In closing, Msgr. Jameson reminded those present of their inherent dignity. "Brothers and sisters, every one of us is sacred," he said. "Every one of us is beloved by our Lord God. Remember as you go -- you are very special. The Lord has blessed you, and that can't be taken away. Always remember -- you are a truly dignified human being."

The Catholic cathedral in the nation's capital is named for St. Matthew, the apostle and evangelist who was a tax collector and who is the patron saint of government workers.