Cathedral News: December 2011

Page 1

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

8


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