Holy Family
CATHEDRAL NEWS October 2012
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Volume 18 Issue 3
Pope Benedict declares a Year of Faith Bishop to celebrate Opening Mass: October 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral
Dear Parishioners, This past August marked a brand new experience for me in my life: being a new priest. My life is full of new experiences right now, but one of them was that for the first time in twenty-nine years, I did not go “back-to-school.” I watched as family, friends, and our students here at Holy Family all made the annual transition from summer leisure back to productive scholarship. But I was relieved that I was done with school; no more learning, no more classrooms, no more exams, and especially, no more papers! Or so I thought... Here I sit writing this article, learning every day just how little seven and half years of seminary prepared me for the numerous tests and challenges that come with being a young priest. To be honest, I am not surprised by this, but shouldn’t graduating from school for (possibly?) the last time bring some respite from the perpetual quest for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom? Experience has led me to discover that the answer to this question is a resounding “No!” The conclusion may be obvious, but this lesson needs to be applied to our spiritual lives too. Certainly there is the homily every Sunday that is supposed to help us understand the Scriptures and apply their lessons to our lives, but is that all the maintenance we need to be good Christians? St. Peter says in his first letter, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope...” (1Pet. 3:15). Anyone who has received the sacrament of Confirmation shares in the Apostolic Mission of the Church to “...make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] commanded...” (Mt. 28: 19-20). This obligation to evangelize prompted Blessed Pope John Paul II to call for a “New Evangelization” in 1983, not only to those who have never heard the Gospel, but also a reinvigoration of the Christian witness of the faithful who come to Mass every Sunday. But how de we engage this call to spark the fire of the New Evangelization? Pope Benedict XVI has given us an opportunity, in part, by dedicating the next year to be a Year of Faith. A whole year meant to focus the Church on rediscovering, deepening, and growing our Catholic faith. Because, just as I learned in my experience of being done with school; we may have graduated from Religious Ed classes, but we never really graduate from learning about our faith. And this is a responsibility we all share, not just the deacons and priests, not just the RE teachers, all of us! So what can we do to cooperate with the grace of this Year of Faith and respond to the Holy Father’s Call? The Diocese has been planning several events and opportunities, and there will be information about them coming to you on a regular basis, but here are a few highlights:
Identification Statement: The Cathedral News Issue 3 October 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
• Let the games begin! On October 11, 2012, every parish in the diocese will be simultaneously celebrating an opening Mass of the Year of Faith at 7:00 p.m. Bishop Slattery will celebrate the Cathedral’s Mass, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism. • Extra, extra... The diocese will also be providing each parish with free Catechisms for those who need one in order that each of us may study the basic truths of our faith. • I Believe!!! The Holy Father has asked all Catholics to pray the Nicene Creed every day for the next year since that is the most fundamental synopsis of our faith and then you can learn more about what each phrase means by studying it with your Catechism. • A touch of Class? If a dynamic and interactive environment is more your style, consider coming to Deacon Mattox’s Bible Study on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm, or perhaps get a refresher overview by attending RCIA classes on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm. There are also courses available through the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) on a regular basis. And next Spring I hope to begin showing Fr. Robert Baron’s Catholicism series once a week with a facilitated discussion. With so many opportunities, and even more than are listed here, can we afford not to take advantage of the grace that comes from this invitation? Blessed John Paul II adopted as the motto for the Third Millennium the summons our Lord made to Simon-Peter: “Put out into the deep...” (Lk. 5:4). If like St. Peter, we trust in our Lord’s call and respond, we too will garner wonderful things! Sincerely, Rev. John Grant See page 7 for more information about the Year of Faith.
Cathedral News deadlines: Please submit articles and announcements to the Cathedral News by the 15th of the preceding month. Email mikemalcom@gmail.com or send your article to Mike Malcom at the parish office. 3
Notes from the Knightstand BY MARTIN REIDY
B.D. TIDMORE (FRONT ROW, SECOND FROM LEFT) AND JON CONRO (FRONT ROW, FIFTH) STAND WITH THEIR BROTHER CANDIDATES.
Men in white
mained and we cannot think of two more
known collectively as the homeless. Our
come give your hand
worthy Knights standing for “truth and in-
first action at our first Council meeting
for the Truth
tegrity” than B.D. Tidmore and Jon Conro.
some twenty years ago was to appropri-
by which you stand!
The Council applauds them both and
ate $50/mo. for a weekly feeding project
For by your oath
wishes them well as they commence their
at a time when such persons merely con-
and what be sewn
quest for the Holy Grail of Ordination as
gregated in a parking lot in all kinds of
from this time on
Permanent Deacons as several years of
weather behind a commercial strip at
you will be known!
strenuous study and thoughtful reflection
Brady and Denver. We were not the insti-
await them.
gators but participants with loosely de-
Well now, the momentous news com-
October 7th is the Feast of the Holy
fined group of fellow Catholics of all
ing out of September is the acceptance of
Rosary - which happens to be on Sunday
races, gender and age known as the
Knights B.D. Tidmore and Jon Conro as
this year - and promotion of the Rosary is
“Brady Bunch.” This evolved over the
Candidates into the Permanent Diaconate
one of the four stated principles of the
years into a monthly feeding program
program following the successful com-
Knights of Columbus, the other three be-
Similarly instituted as to “people make-
pletion of their respective Aspirancy Year
ing fraternity, support of clergy, and con-
up” by providing a complete dinner once a
of Formation on the 16th in the Cathedral
cern for the suffering-be they the poor,
month at the Day Center for the Homeless
by Bishop Slattery.
the downtrodden, come what may. As to
at Archer and Elwood. This continued for
the Rosary the Council leads the Rosary
several years until February, 2011 when
erally, "one who wore white" meaning that
In ancient Rome, a Candidate was, lit-
each Sunday in the Cathedral at 7:30 a.m.
the Council fell heir to this project in toto
in standing for office he represented
prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.
when the previous group comprised
“truth and integrity” by the color of his
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As to the suffering we have and have
mainly of parishioners from St. Augustine
toga. Though through the centuries the
had various undertakings but none more
and St. Monica parishes were unable to
colors have changed, the name has re-
consistent than the rejected/dejected
continue due to the consequences of age
and infirmity which awaits us all. The
donation by a parishioner so as to allow
make-up of the group had changed over
us to continue this program into 2012.
sufficient. Food costs, as I am sure you know, are
the years/but the aforementioned were
This funding allowed us to continue
scheduled to increase by 10% to 20% in
the base group for about the last ten to
until August of this year and we are now
2013 due to the severe drought of 2012.
fifteen years. Rather than leave the Day
operating on dwindling savings, i.e, pro-
We are aware of the many requests made
Center abruptly without a “dinner group�
ceeds from Pancake Breakfasts. Foresee-
of you via various "second collections"
the Council voted to continue to program
ing the eventual demise of this program
but we are hopeful that you will allow the
at least until the end of 2011 which would
Monsignor Gier has consented to allow
Council to continue this project in your
allow both for the Council to evaluate our
us to come before the parish on Sunday,
name and as members of Holy Family
financial position relative to this program
November 4th and by means of a second
Parish. We are also grateful to Monsignor
as the cost can easily be $100 to $200/
collection to hopefully continue this pro-
Gier for allowing the Council to come be-
month depending upon various factors.
ject into 2013 if not beyond. Our "skin in
fore you, as a Parish, with this request.
We serve dinner to approximately 120
the game" if you will is $500.00. Whatever
persons on the first Saturday of each
is collected will be publicly announced in
A fourth objective of the Knights of Co-
month and every dinner is a balanced
the bulletin and in this Newsletter and
lumbus is Pro-Life, and October is the
meal. No cooking is allowed on site at the
each month an accounting will be pre-
Month of Pro-Life. Currently, a compan-
Day Center so all food is prepared off-
sented as to amount of money spent,
ion project is underway - 4O Days of Life
site, usually in the Cathedral kitchen
food served, and money remaining. we
in the Garden of Hope at E. 32nd & S.
though not all, and taken and served at
not only buy all the food but also the sty-
Winston. If you cannot do an hour, stop
the Day Center. We cut every corner cost-
rofoam plates, napkins, and 5 gallons of
by and say a rosary - it all helps! The
wise that we can and manage to feed a
milk for breakfast on the following morn-
Council wishes you well this month and
person for about $1.00 excepting for
ing. (The milk noted is requested of all
ask that you remember that it is Pro-Life
Christmas and Easter when costs can be
dinner donors.) We do have former volun-
and not just Pro-Birth to which we are
as high as $3.00/person. It appeared that
teers donating food at various times -
called. Happy Halloween, everyone - and
the end would be last December when, by
and which we acknowledge and we are
don't forget Pancake Sunday on the 21st!
a fortuitous event, we were given a $1,000
grateful for their participation but it is not
Pax!
A final thought on this request is this:
40 Days for Life: Holy Family has been assigned to pray at the Garden of Hope on October 19 from Noon to Midnight. The Youth Group will meet at 6:00 p.m. to pray for an hour. The Knights of Columbus will pray during the later hours. Please plan to spend some time at the Garden of Hope. Visit 40daysforlife.com/tulsa for more information. 5
RCIA Sponsors Are Christian Companions BY THE RCIA MINISTRY TEAM
Each person who is a candidate for full communion has a sponsor who travels the path with him and provides an example of being Catholic. For those inquirers who will be baptized, their support sponsor is called a Godparent, serving the same purpose, but with a lifelong commitment. However, both sponsors and Godparents often become lifelong friends with the inquirers. These sponsors get to know their candidates, and become witnesses to the candidates’ moral character, faith and intention. They stand with their candidates at the Rites, providing support and introduction to the community. Sponsors are representatives of the Christian community, as they pray, worship and socialize in the parish. They also do apostolic work of justice and service. As a veteran of walking the pathway of being Catholic, the experience of their own journey serves to complement a candidate’s faith experience. Sponsor Qualities:
• Has a willingness to share faith, love, commitment and relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Knows the importance of having an active prayer life and is sensitive to many different ways of praying.
• Is welcoming and hospitable, an available, kind and active listener, empathetic and compassionate. He is trustworthy enough to keep private matters confidential.
• Keeps informed not only about parish life, but also what is happening in RCIA, the various events and liturgical rites, especially during Lenten season.
• Willing to challenge your candidate. For
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As a parish sponsor, you share in the mission of Jesus Christ. You are helping to bring others into communion with our loving God. Many of our inquirers have a
example, if the candidate has a lack of
friend who has been involved in their lives and qualifies as a sponsor, but several
commitment in attendance at Mass or
will need to have one or our parishioners volunteer to be that guide along the
RCIA sessions, the sponsor would kindly
spiritual journey. If you think you might be a good match for this work, please con-
ask about the situation and consult the
tact the sponsor coordinator Katie Sikorski, KSikorski14@yahoo.com or 918-408-
initiation coordinator or pastor.
6347.
The Year of Faith: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Year of Faith? At certain times in the history of the Church, popes have
3. The Year of Faith begins in October 2012 with a Synod on New Evangelization. What is a synod?
called upon the faithful to dedicate themselves to deepening
A synod of bishops is a gathering of bishops, selected from
their understanding of a particular aspect of the faith. In
different areas of the world, who meet with the pope to dis-
1967, Pope Paul VI announced a Year of Faith commemorat-
cuss questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in
ing the 19th centenary of the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and
the world. This meeting of bishops helps to foster a closer
Paul. The 1967 Year of Faith called upon the Church to recall
unity between the bishops and the pope, and provides
the supreme act of witness by these two saints so that their
counsel to the pope. Pope Benedict XVI has situated the
martyrdom might inspire the present day Church to collec-
Synod on the New Evangelization (October 7-28) at the be-
tively and individually make a sincere profession of faith.
ginning of the Year of Faith (October 11).
The upcoming Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict XVI is
4. How are Year of Faith and New Evangelization linked?
a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the
The New Evangelization is a call to each Catholic to deepen
Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta fidei 6). In other
his or her own faith, have confidence in the Gospel, and
words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to
possess a willingness to share the Gospel. The New Evan-
experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter
gelization is first and foremost a personal encounter with
into a deeper relationship with him. The pope has described
Jesus Christ; it is an invitation to deepen one’s relationship
this conversion as opening the “door of faith” (see Acts
with Christ. It is also a call to each person to share his or
14:27). The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but
her faith with others. The Year of Faith, just like the New
during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk
Evangelization, calls Catholics to conversion in order to
through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with
deepen their relationship with Christ and to share it with
Christ and his Church. 2. Why is the Year of Faith this year?
others. 5. How does the Year of Faith affect the average Catholic?
With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011, Porta fidei,
Every baptized Catholic is called through baptism to be a
Pope Benedict XVI declared that the Year of Faith will begin
disciple of Christ and proclaim the Gospel. The Year of Faith
on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013.
is an opportunity for each and every Catholic to renew their
October 11, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the fiftieth
baptismal call by living out the everyday moments of their
anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council
lives with faith, hope and love. This everyday witness is
(Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Cate-
necessary for proclaiming the Gospel to family, friends,
chism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith,
neighbors and society. In order to witness to the Gospel,
Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of
Catholics must be strengthened through celebrating weekly
Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their
Sunday Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
knowledge of the faith.
The St. Francis of Assisi Tuition Assistance Trust Fund has provided over $3 million in scholarship funds to families seeking a Catholic
The Holy Family Cathedral Women’s Club is collecting
education for their children. This year, in conjunction with its annual
toiletries for abused woman residing at the Day Spring
Gala, there will be a raffle to win $5,000 in tuition credit to any of the
Villa. Donation boxes will be at the South and East Cathe-
13 area Catholic schools. Tickets are $25.00 each or 5 for $100.00.
dral entrances from October 14 through November 11.
Call the School Office: 918-582-0422. 7
Holy Family Cathedral P.O. Box 3204 Tulsa, OK 74101-3204 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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