Father Jovita asks: Have you discovered your Authentic Catholic Self? HFC Outreach Ministry is powered by Cathedral Parishioners Local Artist creates piece to be displayed in New Haven exhibit Cathedral Choir is recruiting New Members
Cathedral’s Saint Teresa of Avila statue will be placed in the sanctuary on October 17 & 18. 2015 is the 500th Anniversary of her birth.
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Lessons from the Pope’s Visit BY
VERY REVEREND JOVITA C. OKONKWO
I have been discussing the concrete behaviors necessary to fit the mold of intentional Catholicism. The behaviors in question include voluntary subordination, authentic self, covenantal relationship, responsible morality, transcendental spirituality, and transforming influence. Last month, I focused on voluntary subordination through which the Christian woman or man learns to subordinate her or himself to the other “out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). In this edition, I would love to focus on authentic self which forms the engine of true discipleship. An authentic Chris-
tian self is not a self-made self, drawn from an inward projection. It is rather a transposition into or a swap of another self – that of Christ. St. Paul says, “Strip yourselves of the old self, with its deeds, and put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of its Creator” (Col 3: 9-10). In a similar passage, he says, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4: 24).
This implies an anthropology of man open to God, keeping in view that the perfect realization of the human is the man Christ, who is a divine person. It is only in the knowledge of something other than himself that man can come to know himself. Hence, for the Christian, there will be a constant battle to overcome the false self, made in the image and likeness of the fallen world in which it lives, in order to attain a true self, made in the image and likeness of God. The false self is the selfish self, also called ego that is often selfish, crabby, raucous and spoiled. The true self is the self we are meant to be and it is not revealed until the false self is removed. It is the
self which philosophers call “subsistent” – that is, it is able to return to its own essence, to coincide with itself, to see itself as it really is, and to know itself by reflection (Sheen). The true self is the
authentic self which has the capacity to display humility, integrity, accountability, security, and vulnerability (Sendjaya). This self is exemplified in Pope Francis and he displayed it in his recent visit to
the United States. The authentic self does not seek constant approval from other false-selves because it habitually pushes hard to unite itself with the perfect self, found only in Christ. Authentic Catholics strive for “Christ-esteem” in place of self-esteem. Lessons from Pope Francis’ recent visit will help us explore this. LESSONS FROM THE VISIT OF POPE FRANCIS Like him or hate him, Pope Francis is a very popular person. Different people like him for different reasons. Media gurus love him because he says what they agree with, or they think he does. Environmentalists love him because he talks the environment. Animal lovers love him because he is Francis, the nature and pet lover. Liberals like him because of what he doesn’t say; the same reason some conservatives do not care so much about him. President Obama loves him dearly because in Francis he saw an ally for his landmark policies – diplomatic relations with Cuba, so-called clean energy, and at least in name, care for the poor. John Boehner loves him because he spoke to his heart; and he saw enough reasons to say bye-bye to politics relinquishing his role as the third most powerful public figure in American politics. The poor loves Francis because he speaks poverty and sides with the little guy; as reflected in his pigmy Fiat drowned in a sea of monster SUVs – the only leader whose escorts have better and stronger fleet. Women love Francis because he never stops praising their courage and strength. But Catholics love him because he is Peter, and they have grown accustomed to loving Peter. Real Catholics are the real lovers of Pope Francis. Why? They just love him. He is their pope and real Catholics love to love their pope. Period! Be that as it may, there are clear lessons we can draw from the visit of the Holy Father. The Catholic Church is not a minori-
ty point of view
Even if they don’t like Catholicism,
they cannot ignore it
No human being on planet earth
draws as much crowd as the pope
The pope speaks to all peoples and
changes hearts
“FRANCIS-FEVER” As I gave out communion on the Sunday the Holy Father was in Philadelphia, I noticed at least three people who wore Pope Francis t-shirts. After Mass, a woman told me that her shirt was sent to her from her daughter who lives in New York. The daughter in question, according to her, no longer practices the faith but she was among the crowd in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral who waited for Pope Francis to arrive. Another parishioner showed me a picture sent from her daughter who vowed she wouldn’t miss the attending the pope’s visit. Enthusiasm for Pope Francis was at fever-pitch and everyone spoke highly of him. It was reported that several people went to confession last weekend moved by the presence of the pope, his message of hope, mercy and compassion, and the holiness of his life. Some had not been to confession for decades, but turned a new leaf thanks to the pope’s visit. NOW THAT THE POPE HAS GONE BACK TO ROME Is this time to pick winners and losers? If so, the liberal progressives are ready to chant: “I told you we were right.” They can base this on the supposition that Francis, at least, in his speech to the Congress of the United States appeared to have used more of liberal buzzwords like dialogue, appeal to a spirit of welcome to immigrants, negotiations for peace, measures to combat global warming, and abolition of the death penalty. Conservatives will think that they lost because Francis steered clear of their own buzzwords in relation to abortion, the redefinition of marriage, no-fault divorce, doctor-assisted suicide, threats to religious liberty, and other cultural issues. They felt demoralized by Francis’
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silence on the issues they have vigorously fought for, and for many decades. A leading voice among the conservative community thinks that Francis encouraged progressive Catholics, both by his silences and affirmations. FRANCIS CALLS LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES BACK HOME So, the radical progressives won? If so, Hurrah! Given that they, more than the conservatives, are the ones who mostly have abandoned their faith, the challenge is for them to return to the Church and claim their heritage. Francis is a marksman, and that was his mission. His appeal to mercy and compassion appears to equal decades of anathemas to those who disregarded Church teachings and in anger and resentment drifted to unbelief. Whether the radical
liberal progressives will embrace Francis and rediscover their Catholic identity is left to be seen. The conservatives
who believe they’re fighting a culture war are not better than radical progressives because each group flaunts their aggressive sense of moral superiority. They often think that they need clubs and arrows and bombs. Those are instruments of rupture. Every word of Francis affirms perennial Church and biblical teachings, which, especially the conservatives, should have the courage to embrace and even include into their battlecry. The only winner in this divisiveness is the devil, whose name “diabolos” means division. He is happy when people fight each other and claim winners and losers. My suggestion: Drop your
conservatism and liberal progressivism and just become an intentional Catholic.
HERMENEUTIC OF RUPTURE Blame the enthusiasts of sea-change in Church perception, practice and worship for the hermeneutic of rupture that affirmed self over revealed truth prior to and post Vatican II. What the hermeneutic of rupture gave us is a band of confused Catholics who are extremely arrogant and too sure that they have clearer insight about spirituality and Christian living than millennia of Church teaching and practice. They belong to a number of radical activist groups that today call themselves “nones, dones, and prodigals.” THE “NONES,” THE “DONES” AND THE “PRODIGALS” According to a blogger, the “nones” who
are the fastest growing “spiritual” demographic in America, aka, “religiously unaffiliated,” are those who have never been really connected to organized religion and see the whole thing as unnecessary. The “dones” are those who drifted away overtime saying “good riddance” to the phenomenon of religion after they became tired of the hypocrisy, political infighting, turf battles and obsessive fixation with money, which they found in religion. The “prodigals” are away and gone; after being made to feel unworthy, judged less than, and pushed out. Poor babies, they are nursing the injury the big man called “Church” inflicted on them. They need numerous apologies, appeasements, and “religious candy” to bring them back. While there is some truth in these positions, yet, they remain overly exaggerated. Extremely judgmental, radical progressives call everyone judgmental who does not sing their anthem. They have a litany of crimes to which they accuse followers of Christ: Being right over being loving, Denial of rights, Homophobia, Intolerance, Exclusion, Sexism, Hate, War, etc. If you are a believing Christian, these brothers and sisters judge you as “narrow-minded,” “judgmental” and “hypocritical.” For them, the only thing that is not judgmental is their judgment of others. Any position other than total acceptance of the radical liberal position makes you a target of their senile attacks. WHAT IT WILL REALLY TAKE TO BRING LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES HOME, REALLY Moving from a hermeneutic of rupture to a hermeneutic of continuity requires divine intervention and Francis has his work cut out for him. Radical progressives aren’t joking. They are authoritarian and in many different ways they have outlined their demands. First, Francis would need to be firmer in his housetop bashing of priests and bishops to the hearing of all. For example, in the full view of the world media, he would need to publicly spank a cardinal, ground a few bishops, and whip a good number of priests. Second, he must ordain as many moms and grandmas as Revered Fathers, officiate in Andy’s marriage with his husband, and top it with a pontifical thanksgiving mass for Rachel and her wife. Third, he must issue a decree mandating all priests to either marry or leave the priesthood, and turn over the Church’s annulment process to US lawyers and judges. Fourth, Francis would
be required to sell the major basilicas in Rome (signs of the Church’s opulence), mandate all bishops to sell their cathedrals and all sacred vessels and turn over the proceeds to the victims-club of sexabuse by the clergy. Finally, priests should be made to live out their poverty by sharing the corners of bridges and overpasses with the homeless. Then and only then will the “nones,” the “dones” and the “prodigals” be appeased and “may” consider returning home. Meanwhile, the official prayer of the Church should include apologies to them at lauds, vespers and compline. You may wonder, how many apologies will be enough! The world heard St. John Paul apologize. Pope Benedict followed and Pope Francis has apologized many many times. They all fell on liberal deaf ears. Radical liberal progressives want something not even God can give. They find power in rupture, and power is not easily surrendered. Francis’ appeal to mercy should be for them alone, but they must not be expected to forgive and show mercy. HERMENEUTIC OF RENEWAL Pope Francis realizes that the hermeneutic of rupture enjoys the sympathies of the mass media and has tapped into their sensibilities to frame a new hermeneutic of reform and renewal to which the accompanying slogans are those easily understandable to them. That was why when he was in the US he took a humble, nonjudgmental approach wishing to maintain a position of a bridgebuilder and avoiding the polarizing issues in contemporary American society. Pope Francis knows that faithful Catholics will continue to be faithful, even when they feel unsupported and their causes ignored. It is the conservatives who, like the liberal progressives, crave for attention, affirmation, and support in their so-called culture war. Authentic and intentional Catholics are forwardlooking and do not demand “religious candy” because their faith informs them to seek first the Kingdom of God and
His righteousness; and every other thing shall be added unto them
(Matthew 6:33). Have you discovered your authentic Catholic self? May our blessed Mother Mary intercede for God’s Church with her children and shield her from the current attacks of the enemy!
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BY ANDREA EGER CANFIELD
When those in need of assistance in the Tulsa community reach out for help from Holy Family Cathedral, a team of dedicated volunteers exists to answer the call.
In fact Holy Family Cathedral Outreach receives about 35 such calls every month and volunteers respond to each and every one of them. "Without the support of Holy Family’s parishioners, many of our less fortunate brethren would be unable to get over some of the bumps, hiccups, in their lives. Outreach fills a niche by focusing on smoothing out those occasional bumps, allowing those in need to get on with their lives and search for longterm solutions to life's many problems,” said Don Cannon, who has volunteered with the group for about 15 years and retired as Tulsa City Council Administrator four years ago. Outreach relies solely on funds from occasional sec-
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ond collections taken up during Mass, and because the operation is run by volunteers, there are zero overhead costs. That means 100 percent of contributions for Outreach go to assist people needing mostly utility or rental assistance. In 2013, Outreach served 288 clients, with the average financial assistance being $73. In 2014, 200 clients were served with payments that averaged $89. “Clients are limited to assistance one time per year. We frequently maximize our assistance by requiring our clients to secure matching contributions from Salvation Army or another helping agency. If we are unable to assist the client, we offer other community resources,” said Carol Lapolla, Outreach presi-
dent. During a visit to a homeless shelter in 2013, Pope Francis said, “To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete. It means seeing in every person and face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely.”
God for his many blessings by giving back in direct, one -on-one, situations. We wanted to have an immediate impact on the lives of our less fortunate brethren," said Don Cannon.
It is that spirit of service that drives the work of Outreach’s volunteers, who are both working professionals and retirees alike who commit about one hour per week on average.
Most calls are for assistance with paying utilities, oftentimes by people who are in imminent danger of having their power, heat or water cut off. Outreach has established a working relationship with local utility companies so that group members can call and verify what client balances are past due.
Don and Anne Cannon are the longest-serving members of the group, which was originally founded as a chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Group members use a simple and convenient online portal to retrieve clients’ contact information and to request payments for assistance.
"We wanted to thank
Beyond Internet access, volunteers need no qualifications other than a heart for the kind of service called for by Saint Rose of
Knights of Columbus work to feed the homeless BY
MARTIN REIDY
Du! Du! Liegst mir im Herzen Du! Du! Liegst mir in Sinn! Du! Du! Machst mir viel Schmerzen Weisst nicht wie gut Ich dir bin! Ja, Ja,Ja, Ja! Weisst nicht wie gut Ich dir bin! Ok, everyone! You may not sing it like Marlene but, Hey! - It's Oktoberfest! - and nobody will care. Just hum the words a few times and you will have it down pat. Then, dig out those lederhosen, put an Edelweiss in your Tyrolean and come on down to Oktoberfest on the 17th in Heiring Hall following the Saturday evening Mass. It is $15 for adults and $5 for the kids and free for the younger ones under five for an evening of (German) food, fun, and frolicking - and cheap at twice the price to See Ed Owen doing the polka! So, Kommen Sie Alles, bitte!
in town for $4, and $2 for the kids!
Pancake Breakfast Now, for those of you who may become carried away by all the festivities and awaken to find yourself still in Heiring Hall with the rising of the sun fear not for you are in good stead as you will already be there for pancakes and sausage the following morning of the 18th. Once again, it is Gray on the Grill for our monthly pancake breakfast - still the best buy
the Homeless Center with funds collected at a special collection for that purpose with the Council providing $500/year as our contribution. We were hoping for $1,000 or $1,500 but were over- whelmed with nearly $2,900! The project cost is circa $1,800 to $2,200 per year for serving 120 complete meals each month (about $1.20 to $1.50/person) and have been able to continue
Homeless Dinner Project And speaking of food, our Homeless project funds for the monthly dinner at the Homeless Center are being rapidly depleted with just sufficient funds to carry us into December. Three years ago in November 2012, the Council came before the parish requesting funds for this project with the blessing of Monsignor Gier. The Council proposed a joint partnership with the parish where at the Council would provide a monthly dinner at
the program with these and added donated funds in the past three years. However, the pocketbook is nearly empty so, once again, this time with the blessing of Fr. Jovita there will be a special collection on October 25th for this purpose with the same partnership arrangement so as to fund the program for at least another year if not longer - and, naturally, ask you to be overgenerous in your giving. We thank Fr. Jovita for allowing us to do this and are most thankful for those who donated in the past and will do so in this October collection. An annual Homeless Dinner report will be forthcoming in January (hopefully) along with a Summary Three Year Report (again. hopefully).
The Holy Rosary Not to be forgotten is the notation that October is the Month of the Holy Rosary (the 7th) in commemoration of the victory of the Catholic rag-tag fleet over a superior Moslem one on October 7, 1571 at Lepanto, located on the northern edge of the Gulf of Corinth and off the Western coast of Greece, which stymied the western progression of the Moslem
forces into Europe. Also, squeezed in between the Feast of St. Theresa on the 15th and whose statue will be set forth in the Cathedral on the 17th & 18th is the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque on the 16th and who may be seen continually on the south wall painting by the south entry depicting the appearance of the Sacred Heart to St. M.M. Alacoque in the early 1600's. As with so many holy apparitions it took a while for the Church to come around to acknowledging the appearance of the Sacred Heart to Sr. Margaret Mary but in 1899 Pope Leo XIII dedicated the whole Catholic world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and we will end on that note with Sr. Margaret Mary's prayer to the Sacred Heart: "I therefore take You, Sacred Heart, to be the only object of my love, the guardian of my life, my assurance of salvation, the remedy of my weakness and inconstancy, the atonement for all the faults of my life, and my sure refuge at the hour of death." Happy HALLOWEEN, Everyone! PAX!
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Large scale painting depicts Our Lady of Guadalupe and Six Martyred Priests BY
MARTIN REIDY
Jose Chavez, Council Knight and Artist In Residence has come up with another winner!
The new painting is that of Our Lady of Guadalupe and six martyred priests from among many, if not hundreds, who were killed during the troubled times in Mexico circa 1920-1940. Jose had heard of the happenings and found notes to that effect in his grandfather's library in (I presume) New Mexico and his grandfather's involvement in attempting to save as many religious as possible. It was from these notes that Jose came up with the idea for the banner which is done in natu-
ral pigments on stretched cowhide.
The Mexican and K of C flags represent the protection of Our Lady, and the crucifix and monstrance signify the protection of the Eucharist! It is my understanding that following a pilgrimage of the banner around the diocese the banner will be on permanent display in the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven Ct. - home of the Supreme Council of the U.S. Deacon Kevin Sartorious has written a
more in depth commentary on the banner and has submitted the article to the Columbian
of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother (SSM), Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi. “As a group, we focus on the poor. It is a needed program at this time when there is so much unemployment and so many elderly in need.”
Lately, she has noticed an uptick in calls for help from very young parents, 19 to 21 years of age, and said she is heartened to know the church can help those in need make ends meet, particularly when there are children involved.
ARTIST JOSE CHAVEZ (LEFT) STANDS NEXT TO HIS LATEST WORK.
magazine which is the national organ for the Knights of Columbus in this country.
HFC Outreach Lima, the first person born in the Americas to be canonized, who said, "When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus.”
“It is a wonderful thing that Holy Family tries to assist people as much as it can – especially the elderly and children. Most call when their lights would be cut out or their water turned off and those are essential things we need,” said Sister Mary Bernard, who is part of the community of the Congregation 6
Bernard previously worked as a nurse at St. John Medical Center and a local nursing home, but retired earlier this year and now devotes her volunteer time to Outreach and Catholic Charities.
“There have been times when I was wondering what was going on in their life so we popped over there to see. Some people abuse the system, so we have to be very careful. We don’t take the money for granted – we want to use it wisely,” Bernard said. “We are not parishionBernard said she often ers, but we are Catholics, so talks over her Outreach cli- if any church needs someents with fellow volunteer, thing, we assist.” Sister Anastasia Joseph. The two have even made a couple Interested in donating or of home visits to clients over volunteering? Please call Carol at 918-742-3503 for more the years. information.
St. Augustine said “He who sings, prays twice.” The cathedral choir is currently seeking new members. If you love the music and liturgy of the Church, the cathedral choir could be the ministry for you! The choir rehearses every Thursday evening at 7pm during the academic year in Heiring Auditorium. Currently they are rehearsing the Christmas portions of Handel’s Messiah to be sung at Midnight Mass as well as other exciting choral music. Contact Ernest Neal at cathedral.organist@gmail.com or at the parish office for details on how to join.
October 4 Blood Drive sponsored by Knights of Columbus & Red Cross Holy Family’s Knights of Columbus Council #10388 are working with the American Red Cross to bring a Blood Drive to the Cathedral on Sunday, October 4. The Blood Drive will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Red Cross requires that donors are seventeen years of age, or sixteen with parental consent. Those who wish to donate are encouraged to reserve a time slot in advance. Donors may sign up in the south entrance to the church, email kofc.hfc.louderback@hotmail.com, or call 918-851-0762.
The Secular Franciscan Order; formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis, is an official Order within the Catholic Church, established by St. Francis of Assisi himself early in the thirteenth century. We are single and married. We work, worship and play in the community where we live. Our purpose is to bring the gospel to life where we live and where we work. We look for practical ways to embrace the gospel in our lives and try to help others to do likewise. We meet once per month: Oct. 4, Nov. 15, and Dec. 20, always at 2:00 p.m. in the Halpine Room. Email LeilaOFS@aol.com with any questions.
Holy Family pledges October 16 40 Days for Life is taking place now at Tulsa’s Garden of Hope. It is an annual vigil during which Christians pray for an end to abortion. From now until November 1, Catholics and other Christians will take part in 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. The goal is to sustain 40 days of round-theclock prayer. Will you pray for an hour? Holy Family has committed to a 12 hour period on Friday, October 16 from noon to midnight. For more information – and especially if you’d like to volunteer to help, please contact the Knights of Columbus at 918 -851-0762 or kofc.hfc.louderback@hotmail.com. Or visit this website and sign up for a time slot yourself: 40daysforlife.com/tulsa
The Church observes the feast day of Saint Teresa of Avila on October 15. The Cathedral’s statue of Saint Theresa of Avila will be placed in the sanctuary on the weekend of October 17 and 18. 2015 marks the 500th year since the birth of Saint Theresa of Avila, a Doctor of the Universal Church. The Diocesan Carmelite Seculars will sit together at the Noon Mass that Sunday, Oct. 18. Come and join them! The Carmelite Seculars vocation is to live the Carmelite spirituality in the world. For information call Mickey, 918-369-0537.
Please submit articles and notices for publication in next month’s newsletter by the 20th of the month. Please make your submissions to TulsaCathedral@gmail.com or 918582-6247 by the 20th of the month. 7
Holy Family Cathedral PO Box 3204 Tulsa, OK 74101-3204 Return Service Requested
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