Holy Family
CATHEDRAL NEWS March 2011
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Volume 16 Issue 7
From the Rector
Dear Parishioners of Holy Family Cathedral: Lent is upon us and we are commissioned by the Lord to look closely at our lives and seek ways to improve our response to God. We are called to deeper prayer, serious fasting and generous alms giving. Hopefully all are possible right here at Holy Family Cathedral. Our Mass and confession schedule encourage us to deeper prayer. We are adding a third Mass on the Fridays of Lent so that we can continue our practice of Mass, Adoration, Benediction and Stations of the Cross. In order to do this our school has graciously moved the weekly all school Mass to Wednesday so that Fr. Van and I only have three Masses to cover on Friday instead of four. Certainly the Stations of the Cross are a very proper and traditional way to pray during the Lenten Season. Fasting is of course very personal and should not in any way endanger your health. However a little less to eat for the sake of an awareness of the needs of others is certainly in order. Our Lenten dinners are a great symbol of this Lenten practice. Alms giving can be accomplished by contributing to our Holy Family Cathedral Outreach, our Adopt a Student Program for our school, or even finding that “Over the Hump� Envelope someplace on the desk. I am sure Catholic Charities would not turn down and extra payment on your annual pledge as well. Looking beyond ourselves to the needs of others heightens our awareness of the generosity of God that we celebrate during Holy Week. Pray, fast and give alms, our most traditional means of deepening our spiritual lives. Let us Pray, Fast and Give Alms,
Msgr. Gregory A. Gier Rector Identification Statement The Cathedral News is published ten times per year by Holy Family Cathedral located at 122 West Eighth Street, Tulsa, OK 74119. This is Volume 16 Issue 7. Periodicals Postage Permit 022-729 is Paid in Tulsa, Oklahoma. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Holy Family Cathedral, P.O. Box 3204, Tulsa, OK 741013204.
Three-Year Renovation Pledges update:
$69,146.00 is currently outstanding on the pledges for the Renovation Fund.
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Photo: Cathy Nelson
Lent at Holy Family
Holy Family
Cathedral
Lenten Fridays 5:05 Mass 5:35 Adoration 6:00 Dinner 6:45 Benedictio n 7:00 Stations o f the Cross
By Reservation only! Make reservatio ns by Wednesd ay for each week’s dinner. C all Monika, 582 -6247 ext. 18, with the numbe r of people in y our party.
Holy Family
Cathedral
Tomato Soup an d Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Gourmet cheeses Mar. 11 melted inside d elicate ly toaste d bread complemente d by tomato soup makes this a Le classic. nten
Soup and Vegeta Soup of the Day
Potato Soup
ble Lasagna Mar. 18 .
is Chef’s Choice
This simple and delicious meal is served on the Solemnity of th e Annunciation o f the Lord.
Mar. 25
Macaroni & Che ese Tender pasta me ets rich creams a Apr. 1 nd ch variation of gran eeses in this dma’s old fashion ed recipe. Served warm, toasted bre with ad.
Pizza No Lenten fast is complete witho Apr. 8 ut Ch Ch oose from a vari ety
Pasta with Mar
of meatless pizz
inara or A
eese Pizza. a pies.
lfredo Sauce Classic Italian pas ta cooked al den te topped with you choice of re d m arinara or creamy r white Alfre do sa uce.
Fasting and Abstinence: Catholics, age 14 and older abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics - age 18-59 - abstain from meat and limit themselves to one full meal each day. Prayer: Catholics are encouraged to pray more during Lent, especially with Scripture. Lent is also an ideal time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Apr. 15
Catechumens & Candidates Focus on Essentials of Being Catholic BY THE
RCIA MINISTRY TEAM
On March 6th at the 10 AM Mass
Then on March 20th, catechumens,
conversion through prayer and study.
our parish celebrated the Rite of
candidates and their sponsors from
Sending in preparation for the Rite of
each parish in the diocese come to
Election on March 20th. The group
Holy Family to be introduced to the
on the sacraments of Penance and
has been hearing about Lent and
Bishop who welcomes them as they
Eucharist. The first of this series of
how we use that time to prepare for
continue their studies. The Bishop
lessons, Last Things: Heaven, Hell
Upcoming classes will concentrate
Easter. With this Easter
and Purgatory, is pre-
Vigil being such an im-
sented by Monsignor
portant event for those entering the Church, this Lent is also one of the more dramatic times of their lives. They’ve come to realize why it
“It is more than learning the tenets of the faith, or even believing what the Church teaches. It is an internal conversion of life that can only happen over time…and it continues for a lifetime.”
Gier on Ash Wednesday, and is an appropriate lead-in to Lent. Those entering the Faith will be invited to participate in the important
takes months to become
rituals of Holy Week, in-
Catholic. It is more than
cluding carrying the oils
learning the tenets of the faith, or
accepts and signs the book of the
to be blessed at the Chrism Mass,
even believing what the Church
elect from each parish’s representa-
the washing of the feet on Holy
teaches. It is an internal conversion
tive and speaks with encouragement
Thursday, and the dressing of the al-
of life that can only happen over
to those who’ve spent the last few
tar on Good Friday.
time…and it continues for a lifetime.
months experiencing the personal
Catechumens and candidates will
common ground and differences be-
The hospitality branch of the RCIA
be individually interviewed by a
tween Catholic and Protestant teach-
team changes our refreshment fare
member of our clergy to assure that
ings.
in keeping with the penitential em-
the basics are understood and any
phasis during Lent. Refreshments
concerns can be addressed. We
served are now likely bread,
can be assured that each new
pretzels, or crackers with herbed
Catholic will be fully prepared to
olive oil, perhaps some cheese
join our community. They will
or vegetable trays rather than
know more about the faith than
cookies and cakes. Our class on
many of us who’ve been Catho-
Ash Wednesday had no food,
lic for years, but have not kept
just some liquid refreshments,
studying about it, and thus have
as it was a day of fast and absti-
lapsed into some misconcep-
nence. We encourage our class
tions. Especially in this part of
to enter the Catholic way of life
the country, it would be benefi-
with an understanding of why we
cial for all of us to study some
fast and how it benefits our spiri-
apologetics so we can know the
tual life.
FOR LENT, REFRESHMENTS SERVED ARE NOW MORE LIKELY BREAD, PRETZELS OR CRACKERS...OR VEGETABLE TRAYS.
Holy Family School continues to thrive The Cathedral School may be Tulsa’s oldest Catholic school, but it doesn’t act a day over twenty. The school’s leadership has found a healthy balance between maintaining more than eleven decades of traditions and leading the school in new directions as it continues to evolve.
STUDENTS DROP CHANGE INTO COUNTERS TO BENEFIT THE ROOF REPAIRS.
Earlier this month, the students took part in a Walk-A-Thon, a fundraiser for the Home and School association which in turn funds field trips and other student activities. Parents sponsored students who walked around a quarter-mile track in the parking lot. This fun, outside activity gave the students an kinetic outlet following a week of learning and testing. Maintaining an aging building is one of the inconvenient realities of running a school with a long history. The school’s roof has four large flat spaces where water pools and penetrates into the
classroom ceilings. Principal Jay Luetke-
several times over the years. Saint
meyer challenged the students to save
Katharine Drexel, the school’s early fin-
coins towards repairs. If the students
ancier, insisted that the school was
donated more than $5,000, Mr. Luetke-
named “The Saint Therese Institute for
meyer promised to spend 24 hours on
Creek Indian Girls.” The school’s focus
the roof. The students donated
changed when it opened its doors to both
$5,586.30. The principal kept his prom-
girls and boys and to children of every
ise, posting nighttime photos of the Ca-
ethnic background. It changed again
thedral on the school’s facebook page.
when the current building was built, pro-
The school’s mission has remained the same: to educate Tulsa’s children. The mission’s emphasis has changed
viding much needed space for a lively high school. In the 1960s, Bishop Kelley High School opened. Our school agreed to close its high school to bolster the enrollment of BKHS. Closing the high school brought our student population from over 300 students down to less than 100. The most recent decades have challenged the school’s mission again. A changing downtown Tulsa provides new opportunities for growth. Principal Jay Luetkemeyer is working with enthusiastic parents and supporters - perhaps the most involved in the school’s history. They are exploring the school community’s needs and desires. The leadership recently created of a three-year-old preschool, scheduled to open this Fall. Continuing growth. There’s something about Holy Family.
STUDENTS COMPLETE LAPS AROUND THE PARKING LOT IN THE W ALK-A-THON.
Holy Family
Council 10388
Notes from the Knightstand
BY
MARTIN REIDY
While others shoveled cleared and raked at Holy Keep for God-ness sake I awaited the phone to ring to come by and get those things That you so searched both high and low for that "junque" that's gotta go! Lent! It finally arrived!
radio for six weeks! Nothing moved
5th. for the annual cut, clear, and
Aah, March! You have arrived -
slower than the 40 days of Lent!
cast into the fire centuries of brush
The only reprieve was that ap-
and bush. Backs ached, hands cal-
your exit is not like the lion! Poor
proximately mid-way there was St.
loused, but spirits never waned. The
March! Originally the first of ten
Patrick's Day which was not only not
pay was meager-a free lunch-but
months (later twelve) it was rele-
a day of Lent but also no school -
they all said it was great!
gated to third place by jolly King
which meant a movie at 1 p.m. and
Meanwhile, the truck is gassed,
Numa Ponpilius circa 700 B.C. Along
radio programs until Early Evening.
storage rented, and the phones are
with its demotion it also lost the New
Had it not been for St. Patrick I doubt
open for collection of your garage
Year Day celebration as New Year's
that I would have survived childhood!
sale donations. Certain restrictions
more like a lamb and let us hope that
Day has always been the prerogative
And then there is Lent itself: if it is
apply: no appliances, mattresses,
of First Month. That honor now went,
40 days why are there actually 46
clothing, or construction material for
as I am sure that you are aware, to
days? Nell, the Church never consid-
various legitimate reasons. Heavier
January. So March sort of lan-
ered Sunday as a Lenten day so 46
items may require a later scheduled
guished as a cipher month - a wait-
days less 6 Sundays gives one 40
pick-up. Look for a mendicant meal
ing room for Spring so to speak. That
days. Except in our household: there
prior to Stations each Friday circa
is - until the Christian era when Lent
were 45 days of Lent. Period! 45
5:30-6:30 p.m. It is free but dona-
made its appearance which made
days? Well, there was St. Patrick's
tions always accepted - and pan-
March a month to be respected, to
Day and to mother, being Irish, that
cakes & sausage on the 20th. It ain't
say the least, for its preview of
day was sacrosanct and thereby
free but is really cheap! So, allow me
Easter.
ends the tale.
to say, "Slan agus beannacht
I recall the dread with which I
Jumping ahead now to the current
would look forward to March for Lent
comings and goings found a coterie
meant the draconian sacrifices of no
of Knights along with sundry kith and
movies, no comics, and restricted
kin at Clear Creek Monastery on the
leat!” (Goodbye and Blessings with you!) Síocháin! (Peace!)
Holy Family Cathedral P.O. Box 3204 Tulsa, OK 74101-3204