Holy Family
CATHEDRAL NEWS
December 2011
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Volume 17 Issue 4
DETAIL FROM A WINDOW IN THE CATHEDRAL’S CHAPEL OF PEACE
CHRISTMAS EVE:
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Confessions
5:00 p.m. Mass
5:00 p.m. Children’s Mass 7:30 p.m. Vigil Mass with Motet Choir
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1
11:00 p.m. Christmas Carols
8:00 a.m. Mass
12:00 Midnight Mass with Full Choir
10:00 a.m. Mass 12:00 p.m. Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY:
5:00 p.m. Mass
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25 8:00 a.m. Mass
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus,
10:00 a.m. Mass with Motet Choir
Mary, and Joseph is the patronal feast of
12:00 p.m. Mass with Motet Choir
both Holy Family parish and the Diocese of
[No 5:00 p.m. Mass]
Tulsa. This year it is celebrated on Friday, December 30.
Identification Statement: The Cathedral News Issue 1 December 2011 (USPS 022-729) is published 10 x per year (monthly, except for June and July) by Holy Family Cathedral at 122 W 8th St., Tulsa OK 74119-1402. Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CATHEDRAL NEWS, PO BOX 3204, Tulsa, OK 74101-3204. 2
Dear Parishioners of Holy Family Cathedral: The coming of Advent brings us a new Liturgical Year and a new Roman Missal for our prayer. Last Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, we introduced the new translation and survived very well I think. No matter how long you practice something like this, the actually praying of it brings surprises and unexpected moments. I certainly was caught off guard a few times during the weekend Masses. Actually my bifocals ended up being my biggest problem. Thank you for your great effort in making this as comfortable as possible. In a few weeks we will all be adjusted and flowing as comfortably as before. Like anything else in life, some of the new approaches I find really very beautiful and some not so much so. All in all however, I do think it is an improvement and certainly a higher form of literature. The Lord be with you.
Photo: Cathy Nelson
Advent is also one of our most active seasons. Our annual clothing drive for the needy is one of the most successful ventures of our year. It is a great way to bring the year to a close. If we have found ourselves preoccupied with self and a little narrow in our generosity, this clothing drive gives us a great opportunity to be generous as our God is generous to us. Christmas will be here before we publish again so I take this opportunity to wish all of you a joyous and holy Christmas Season. As you know by now, I love Christmas and all that it entails. You will notice this year that we will not have the great Christmas trees in the sanctuary. The collections for these last few months simply do not justify their cost. May you have a Blessed and Holy Advent and truly be prepared to welcome the great and wondrous Incarnate Word of God. Sincerely in the Holy Family,
Msgr. Gregory A. Gier Rector
Cathedral News deadlines: Please submit articles and announcements to the Cathedral News by the 15th of the month. Email mikemalcom@gmail.com or send your article to Mike Malcom at the parish office. 3
The Catechumenate Begins for RCIA Inquirers BY THE
RCIA inquirers attended the Rite
rows each Sunday at the 10:00 Mass
direction in their behavior, and our
of Acceptance on November 20 at
for these catechumens, candidates
prayers will ensure their success in
the 10 a.m. Mass when they be-
and their families and sponsors.
their studies.
came part of our Christian commu-
They are visible to the congregation,
nity as catechumens or candidates
and have a clear view of the pro-
(those already baptized.) These peo-
ceedings at Mass so they can be-
dinner on December 14 which will
ple are taking the first steps to be-
come familiar with it. We will con-
be a great opportunity for them to
coming Catholic and are eager to get
tinue this each Sunday at the 10 am
share their lives with each other
to know us and find their place in
Mass until they enter the Church at
and with the sponsors, clergy and
our congregation.
Easter. Not all of them attend at 10,
RCIA lay team. We are looking for-
but we expect as many as possible to
ward to a beautiful celebration of
do so. Our example will give them
Advent and Christmas.
We have begun reserving several 4
RCIA MINISTRY TEAM
We are planning an RCIA potluck
Notes from the Knightstand BY MARTIN REIDY
Once again the bells to ring as Christmas carols the children sing! As we wait a Child to lay in His crib come Christmas Day The Christmastide will soon be upon us - that wondrous fortnight 'twixt Christmas Eve and Epiphany when we welcome once again Christ into the world! Meanwhile, preparations of great urgency and fanfare are afoot making ready soul and sanctuary to receive their Lord come Christmas Day. Advent, that interim of expectation between honoring God on Thanksgiving Day to receiving God in Christ on Christmas Day, sends the messenger to inform us: “He is coming! He is coming! So, be of good cheer for He is coming!� And so it is that Christ is come! Yes, the Christmastide will soon
many mince meat pies topped with
The Council extends to each of
be upon us- - that most joyous of
the figurine of the Christ Child on a
you a sincere desire that you have a
times. Meanwhile, holly wreaths
table laden with spices and fruits
blessed and happy Christmas and
adorn the gates of castle and keep
awaiting the Christmas pilgrim
our gift to you, should you so wish to
with mistletoe over every lintel and
seeking their Bethlehem. Yes, it is
attend, is the violinist at the 8 a.m.
portal. Carols echo down the musty
Christmas and the Round Table in-
Mass come Christmas Day. PAX!
halls as embers of a charring Yule
vites all who wish to come to the
Log glow in the open hearth. Steam-
Feast celebrating the Birth of Christ
ing tankards of wassail crowd the
Who is come to redeem the world! 5
Christmas Customs: What We Do and Why We Do It BY
Have you ever wondered as to why you
MARTIN REIDY
three for your further appreciation of
Ages by advocating its display over that
hang a holly wreath on your front door,
these Christmas customs and enjoyment
of mistletoe for its unsavory reputation
suspend mistletoe over a portal, or cele-
of the Christmas season.
associated with both Mediterranean and
brate Christmas in December? Well, these are just a few of the Christmas holiday
6
Celtic/Nordic fertility cults. The Church So let me begin with the holly. Holly is
promoted the holly wreath as symbolic of
traditions that have their roots deep in our
dioecious meaning that it is male and fe-
the crown of thorns due to its prickly
collective past. Our primary holidays of
male. The female produces the berries but
leaves and red berries symbolic of the
Christmas and Easter, and to an extent
will only become red from milky white in
blood of Christ. Not the least was its cir-
Halloween, are comprised of a syncretism
the near presence of the male – which can
cular shape reflective of the perfect sym-
of myths and legends which originated
occasionally be found on the same bush.
bol as a circle has no beginning or end –
with our unsophisticated ancestors to ex-
Holly tea is an ancient folk remedy for
which the Church did not originate but
plain the world as they knew it, the mean-
ailments such as gout, dizziness, kidney
used to good purpose. So, deck your hall
ing of life – sort of a Deus ex mundi ap-
and urinary conditions. Oddly, though it
with boughs of holly and hang a wreath
proach to rationalizing their world. As
is medicinal, the berries are poisonous to
upon your door but when it comes to mis-
these ancient peoples interacted with one
humans. Holly branches were given as
tletoe, leave it forever more!
another in wars and migrations a homog-
gifts by the Romans to one another during
enization of cultures occurred which in-
the Saturnalia and was also shaped into a
cluded without saying their truths which
wreath to protect the domicile from light-
brought you to this lowly state turned and
are our myths and legends. Thus it is that
ning, evil curses, and witchcraft. Thus it
spurned by holy fate? Mistletoe is a semi-
one tradition may have several or at least
was hung at the entry as well as inside the
parasitical shrub common to many trees -
various explanation as to why we do it
home. Another oddity is that Nordic cul-
mainly the oak - and is considered sacred
today. It is not possible to discuss the
tures employed it for the same reasons
in the Germanic cultures which contrib-
myriad customs or even the many legends
though there is no ready evidence of cul-
uted to its mythical legends on high and
and reasons reflective of a few in this
tural interaction by which one would have
its eventual downfall from grace. It was
short essay. However, it is possible to “hit
taken the custom from the other. The
considered by such cultures to be a result
the highlights,” if you please, of two or
Church got into the act during the Middle
Alas! Alas! Poor mistletoe! What
(Continued on page 7)
Upcoming Events The Cathedral Women’s Club
entrance bulletin board. Contact
selling two-year calendar/planners.
Christmas meeting is December 1
Mike Malcom at 918-810-0652 or the
They are wallet size: 4” x 7” and cost
at Escargot’s following the 12:05
Diocesan Youth Office at 918-307-
$2. Contact Gloria, 918-446-0611.
Mass. Bring your appetite and a
4940, 918-307-4939 or
small unwrapped toy for the Chil-
youth.office@dioceseoftulsa.org
dren’s Shelter.. Contact Ann Owen,
The Catholic Business & Professional Women welcomes guests to their Mon-
918-748-9419. Catered lunch is $10
Solemn Vespers: On the last Sunday
day, December 5 meeting at Michael
per person.
of each month, Bishop Slattery gath-
Fusco’s restaurant, 9912 Riverside
ers the people of the diocese together
Parkway. Gather at 6:00; seating at
Deacon Jerry Mattox’s weekly Bible
to celebrate solemn Vespers at the
6:30. Deacon Joe Guzman will present
Study is focusing on Exodus and
Cathedral. With psalms, readings and
Jewish Roots of the Eucharist. Cost is
Church History. It is open to all pa-
prayers taken from the Scriptures,
$22.00. RSVP to Cheryl LaFortune
rishioners and meets at 7:00 p.m.
solemn Vespers are sung in the con-
prior to the date at lafortu-
every Thursday in the Halpine
text of Eucharistic Adoration. Benedic-
nate@mac.com or 918-645-6090.
Room.
tion closes the service. Booklets are provided. Update: The Vespers ser-
The Cathedral Women’s Club is col-
The Diocesan Catholic Youth
vice that would have taken place
lecting items for our annual Garage
Conference is December 10, 2011,
on Christmas Day has been moved
Sale. It will be held in March of
10am-9pm, at Cascia Hall School.
to January 1.
2012. Contact Ann Owen, 918-7489419, or Helga Gorman, 918–636-
Cost is $35. Scholarships available through the parish. Pick up registra-
The Council of Catholic Women
tion forms at the Cathedral’s south
and the Cathedral Women’s Club is
(Continued from page 6)
and the common folk retained its use.
of the interaction of the gods via lightning with the earth via a sacred tree. As the
0860 to arrange pickup.
Church was always uncomfortable with any dance as folk dances recalled ancient
Let’s wrap this up with a dance. What
times when dancing was a natural expres-
shrub exhibited no visible means of life –
could be more innocent? Well, a lot or so
sion of the earth-time-season cycle and
no soil or root system – it was deemed to
it seems. Carols were once just that: cir-
entailed movements deemed seemingly, if
be a divine gift to mankind as a talisman
cular dances originating from the lore of
not outright lewd, by a culture looking
to avert lightning, evil, and disease. It was
the common folk. They predate the
now more to heaven than to the earth for
also considered to be a symbol of peace
Church but were performed in the
answers to eternal questions of existence.
beneath which truces were obtained,
churches until, again, the Church sensed
agreements honored, and betrothals sol-
that this dancing led not toward but away
So, worry not that you are enjoining
emnized. It was the Romans who often
from the Lord! So out they went into the
heathen or pagan practices and customs
sealed such with a cheeky kiss and from
streets! Folk songs were gradually added.
this Christmas when you hang that wreath
which our custom of kissing under the
A leader would sing a stanza and the oth-
or steal a kiss beneath the mistletoe. Re-
mistletoe is believed to be derived. Unfor-
ers responded with a chorus. It was the
member the words of Pope Saint Gregory
tunately, it also had a nefarious associa-
“waits” of watchmen of later Middle
who wrote in 597, “Adopt practices to the
tion with the bacchanalian orgies of Rome
Ages who would call out the hour and
praise of God!” Just remember: modera-
– all of which caused the Church to cast a
“all’s well” and add a line or two of song
tion in all things!
caustic eye as to its use. So, out it went
during the Christmas season that caroling
from the Church but old habits die hard
developed as we know it today. The
Merry Christmas! 7
Holy Family Cathedral P.O. Box 3204 Tulsa, OK 74101-3204
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