Holy Family
CATHEDRAL NEWS
March 2012
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Volume 17 Issue 7
Dear Parishioners of Holy Family: Lent is upon us and hopefully we are consciously entering the desert with the Lord to deal with our “wild beasts” to quote my First Sunday of Lent homily. During that homily I referred to the three great Lenten practices: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. I said that we fast from food to encourage us to fast from sin, pray more diligently to become more deeply aware of God’s love for us, and give alms as a way of sharing ourselves to open us to more adequately share the love of God for us. These three practices are truly ancient and venerable and attest to their effectiveness by their continued use. I wholeheartedly encourage all of you to use these great acts of penance as you address your own “wild beasts” whatever they may be. A true celebration of Easter is only possible if we truly search our hearts and souls for a great availability to the wondrous grace of God. Have a good and happy Lent, Sincerely in the Holy Family,
Msgr. Gregory A. Gier, Rector
PHOTO: CATHY NELSON
Identification Statement: The Cathedral News Issue 1 March 2012 (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
Notes from the Knightstand BY MARTIN REIDY
Soon there comes the Sale yet so little now to offer so we hope for more to put coins into our coffers! Alas! Alas! Indeed it is that donations for the garage sale have been, as of this writing, meager and with circa three weeks until the big event we are concerned. The annual garage sale has been an important source of funds for the many charitable endeavors of Cathedral, Club, and Council alike so we pray that our readers search once again those closets, cupboards, and cabinets for salable items. Remember also that your hoard of “has-beens” can be personally delivered to Heiring Hall
THE ANNUNCIATION BY BOTTICELLI
from Saturday the 17th through Wednesday the 21st but sooner than
Lent is upon us - have you made a
in her eye and tone of her voice was
later as the ladies need to sort and
Lenten resolution yet? There is yet
threat enough of dire consequences!)
price each item. Mardi Gras hits the
time - and time is money!
They were penny banks but, hey, a
Heiring Hall scene this week so more about its success or failure next month. Me are hoping that it is a revenue raiser rather
So, how about a Lenten bank to
penny was money in those days! So,
support Outreach - that perennial
just think what a $1.00/day could do
dollar drainer? I am sure that those of you who attended a
for Outreach by Holy Week. Too much? How about 25¢ per day?
than a dollar depleter
parochial grade school
Other Council activities are, of
so we have our fingers
in the 1940s thru the
course, the Pancake/Sausage Feast
crossed and ro-
50s recall those lit-
on the 25th- the date was moved UP
sarys thumbing!
tle cardboard
one week due to the garage sale ac-
No final word on the “Change For Life” yet as it is still in progress so hope for a report also next month. And let us not forget that
banks the nuns gave to one and all with explicit instructions to NOT return it other than full on the Tuesday before Easter. (The look
cumulata on the 18th, the monthly dinner at the homeless dinner which is eating our lunch (it is expensive to fee 120 persons!), and clearing (Continued on page 4)
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
Notes from the Knightstand (Continued from page 3)
the brush at Clear Creek Monastery come the 3rd which may have occurred by the time of this missive.
Class Members
The important feast of the month, other than St. Pat's of course(!), is the Feast of the Annunciation which has a bit of interesting history in that for nearly a thousand years it was also New Year's Day! For a 1,000+ years it had been celebrated on March 1st but in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar moved it to January 1st. to coincide with the consular year as
KARIN ALYEA SHAWN ALYEA
the elected Consuls were inducted into their office on that day. Christianity always considered this date/celebration to be pagan and abolished it at the Council of Tours in 567. Now, because Christianity celebrated the Birth of Christ on Dec. 25th since 336 A.D. (remember Pope Julius?), or more succinctly, since his “reception” occurred on December 25th, His “conception” had to occur on March 25th.
TOSHA CALKINS MATT CROW
The result of all of this date changing, since culture takes a while to catch up with christening, is that New Year‘s Day was celebrated for many years on Dec 25th, Jan.1st, March 1st, and March 25th! However, March 25th took hold eventually until William the Conqueror, who was crowned King of England on Dec. 25th,1066, decreed that New Year‘s Day would revert back to Jan.1st - which
JENNIFER HALL MELODY HURLEY
lasted about as long as did William for on his death, or thereabouts, March 25th became New Year‘s Day until another Pope, Gregory XIII, put the NYD back to Jan.1st in 1582. Of course, there are always a few who never got the word or grumbled that the Pope was getting a little too big for his Tiara as England did not change until 1752, and Russia until 19171
BRYAN JODOIN JEFF JOHNSON
However, I am sure that should you wish to celebrate New Year‘s Day this March 25th no one will wish you ill - a little odd, maybe, but not (mentally) ill! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, or more correctly Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig to one and all! 4
CHARLES VAN GILDER BRANDON WARNER
Catechumens and Candidates Pull it All Together BY THE
RCIA MINISTRY TEAM
On February 19th, at the 10 a.m. Mass, our parish celebrated the Rite of Sending in preparation for the Rite of Election on February 26. The Rite of Sending is our parish members’ official approval of the catechumens and candidates. We accept them, watch them sign the “Book of the Elect” and send them to meet the Bishop. He will accept our approval at the Rite of Election and encourage them to engage in the following weeks of Lent with prayer and deep commitment. All parishes of the diocese have this same process, and each of these groups will meet with the Bishop on either the 26th or on March 4th in the afternoon. Here is part of the Rite of Sending as it applies to catechumens, the unbaptized: Reverend Father, these catechumens are beginning their final period of preparation and purification leading to their initiation. They have found strength in God’s grace and support in our community’s prayers and example. Now they ask that they be recognized for the progress they have made in their spiritual formation and that they receive the assurance of our blessing and prayers as they go forth to the Rite of Election celebrated Sunday afternoon, February 26, 2012 by Bishop Slattery. This is part of the Rite as it applies to the baptized candidates: My dear friends, these candidates, already one with us by reason of their baptism in Christ, have asked to be able to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Those who know them have judged them to be sincere in their desire. During the period of their catechetical formation, they have listened to the Word of Christ and endeavored to follow His commands more perfectly; they have shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters in this community and joined with them in prayer. And so I announce to all of you here that our community supports these candidates in their desire. Therefore, I ask their sponsors to state their opinion once again, so that all of you may hear…. This section is followed by the celebrant asking the entire congregation to express approval of the candidates. We have a large group of RCIA “graduates” from previous years who have become foundation members and leaders of our parish and parish organizations. They entered in understanding that the faith is precious and must be lived daily. They know that our church requires its members to be active and involved in its work. Their faith has grown and it continues to inspire all our members to holiness. 5
Schedule for Fridays of Lent:
Upcoming Events The Council of Catholic Women present a Day of Prayer and Reflection
• • • • • •
5:05 5:35 6:00 6:45 7:00 7:45
Mass Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Lenten Dinner Benediction Stations of the Cross Lenten Movie Series (sponsored by the Knights of Columbus)
for all women of the diocese. Msgr. Dennis Dorney, the special guest speaker, will give a talk on Stewardship: A Disciple’s Challenge. The event is at St. Cecilia’s Church, 1304 North Dorothy, Claremore on Thursday, March 15 from 10:00 to 2:00. Registration is at 9:00 a.m. Cost for the day is $10 and includes lunch. RSVP to Gloria Baker, 918-446-0611, by March 11.
The Madonna House Tea & Fashion Show is Saturday, April 21, 2012! Please mark your calendars. Catholic Charities needs committee members to help plan the Madonna House Tea & Fashion Show at the Renaissance Hotel at 9 am. If you would like to
Holy Family Cathedral School is now enrolling for the 20122013 school year. We are now in open enrollment and expect most classes to be full. If you are interested in taking a tour of the school or just looking for information please contact Principal Jay Luetkemeyer at jay.luetkemeyer@myhfcs.org or call (918) 582-0422.
help with plans before the event or just the day of the event, contact Lindsay Hughes at 918.508.7115 or lhughes@catholiccharitiestulsa.org
Bible Study Deacon Jerry Mattox’s weekly Bible Study is focusing on Exodus and Church History. It is
The Cathedral Women’s Club is collecting items for our annual Garage Sale. It will be held in March of 2012. Contact Ann Owen, 918-7489419, or Helga Gorman, 918–6360860 to arrange pickup.
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open to all parishioners and meets at 7:00 p.m. every Thursday in the Halpine Room.
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Holy Family Cathedral P.O. Box 3204 Tulsa, OK 74101-3204
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