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Monsignor Gier reprints his homily about Monsignor Halpine. RCIA's Catechumentate period begins. Martin Reidy posts a Christmas poem.
Citation preview
CCCATHEDRALATHEDRALATHEDRAL N N NEWSEWSEWS December 2010 Volume 16 Issue 4 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Holy Family
Msgr. James F. Halpine
Rest in Peace
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 4. Periodicals Postage Permit 022-729 is Paid in Tulsa, Oklahoma. POSTMAS-TER: Send address changes to: Holy Family Cathedral, P.O. Box 3204, Tulsa, OK 74101-3204.
Three-Year Renovation Pledges update:
$87,361.90 is currently outstanding on the
pledges for the Renovation Fund.
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Deadlines:
Please submit your articles and announcements
for the January Cathedral News by Dec. 7 to
onsignor
alpine
M y dear people, this weekend
marks a time of sadness for
us as a community and parish. In a
very real sense we jointly mourn the
death of one of our best friends. For
many he was like a grandfather, for
many a parent or mentor but for all of
us he was a priest: a man who stood in
our midst and assured us that God
truly loves us; a man who stood faithful
to his promise of priesthood and never
wavered from his dedication to the
Catholic Church, its teachings or the
celebration of its seven sacraments.
Now we all know he had his favorite
two sacraments but nevertheless was
available for all seven.
He was well known and immensely
popular within the Ecumenical commu-
nity of Tulsa. His fellow pastors, rabbis,
and religious leaders all knew and re-
spected him as a man of immense in-
tegrity, warmth and kindness. They al-
ways knew he was loyal to them and
would always be a powerful and hon-
est representative of his Catholic
Church. His love for them would give
them only the whole truth of his Catho-
lic Church.
His dedication to us as a parish has
been demonstrated over and over
again since his arrival as Rector in
1976. However it has never been more
evident than in this last year as he has
continued to drive himself to continue
serving us. In these last thirteen years
he has missed Saturday afternoon
confessions only five times that I re-
member: twice for the Mozart Festival
in Bartlesville and three times because
of illness: knee surgery, stroke and this
recent lung and heart condition.
Last Saturday he was in his confes-
sional from 3:30 – 5:00.
Last Sunday he celebrated the
10:00 Mass and on Thursday he had
THE FOLLOWING IS THE HOMILY GIVEN BY MONSIGNOR GREGORY GIER ON CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY
2010, THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MONSIGNOR JAMES HALPINE:
H
M
the 5:05 Mass in the Chapel. He died
Friday morning while getting ready for
the noon Mass.
As hard as it was for him, he pushed
on. We owe him a hugh debt of grati-
tude and appreciation.
To say that he believed in the great
feast we celebrate this weekend, “The
Kingship of Christ” goes without say-
ing. Did Msgr. Halpine hold to and
firmly believe what St. Paul says today
to the Colossians?
“Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share in
the inheritance of the holy ones in
light. He delivered us from the
power of darkness and trans-
formed us to the kingdom of his
beloved Son in whom we have re-
demption and the forgiveness of
sins.”
Was his whole life not dedicated to
delivering us from the power of dark-
ness, the forgiveness of our sins? Was
he not a source of our Eucharistic
nourishment to make us fit to share in
the inheritance of the holy ones in
light?
Msgr. James Halpine embodied
these words and brought them to life
right here at this altar and in that con-
fessional.
He loved God and the Catholic
Church.
He loved his parishioners.
He served God, the Church and us
most fervently and constantly. We
have much for which we should be
thankful. Thankful to God for sustaining
Msgr. and to Msgr. for his whole
hearted response to God’s grace.
A few notes about his last days. We
all know that he did not want to leave
Holy Family Cathedral or rectory and
enter a nursing home. He wanted to be
in his rooms listening to his stereo.
He would often tell me that he hoped
to simply die in his sleep and I would
find him the next morning. If that were
the case, he also assured me that he
would have said his Act of Contrition
before going to sleep. How truly Hal-
pine!!
He had said only the day before he
died that he hoped to go by a heart at-
tack and not the lingering illness bod-
ing before him by virtue of his lung dis-
ease.
He died while putting on his shirt,
getting ready to celebrate the noon
Mass on Friday.
God was very good to him as he had
been very good to God.
So on this Feast of Christ the King,
as we hear the crucified, redeeming
Lord say “Amen, I say to you, today
you will be with me in paradise,” we
know this was Friday’s greeting to
James Halpine, the Faithful Servant.
“Today you will be with me in para-
dise.”
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of the faith-
fully departed, by the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
BY THE RCIA MINISTRY TEAM
Rite of Acceptance on November 21
marked the change from simple inquiry
into the Catholic faith to acceptance of
its teachings and an eagerness to
learn more. Those attending the
classes who were unbaptized are now
Catechumens, and those who had
been baptized are now Candidates.
Most Christian faiths have an approved
form of baptism, and so those baptized
in those traditions will not be re-
baptized. It there is any doubt about it
being a legitimate form, they will have
a “conditional baptism” during the
Easter Vigil.
So many of the rituals in our faith are
familiar and we often become unaware
of the significance and drama. The
“bells and smells” of the incense and
ceremony surrounding feast days in-
trigue newcomers and affect them pro-
foundly. While many of the inquirers
were initially hesitant to get up in front
of everyone at Mass to be the focus of
this first Rite, after reflection, they
agreed they wanted to process as a
group into their front reserved pews. It
is important that we Catholics recog-
nize the time and effort they are putting
in, and how the Spirit is working in their
lives. After the Rite of Acceptance,
they are now a part of our community
and have many of the privileges we
take for granted, such as being married
in the Church, buried from the Church
and being prayed over. When they en-
ter at Easter, they will be baptized if
not already done, confirmed and have
had their first confessions (in the case
of those already baptized.) They will
receive the sacrament of the Eucharist
for the first time, but at this point, all
other connections to our parish are
complete.
We have begun reserving several
rows each Sunday at the 10:00 Mass
for these catechumens and candi-
dates. This makes them visible to the
congregation, who are called to pray
for their success. We will continue this
at the 10 am Mass until they enter the
Church at Easter. They will see the
reverence we have for the Eucharist,
and how the Mass is conducted. Not all
of them attend at 10, because many at-
tend other parishes closer to their
home or other Mass times. We have
27 who are attending the classes regu-
larly, and with work and enough exist-
ing background, there is still time for
new inquirers to join this group.
The Time of the Catechumenate Begins
KATIE SIKORSKI DIRECTS THE SMOOTH ENTRANCE TO THE PEWS AS DEACON GORMAN OVERSEES THE REHEARSAL FOR THE RITE OF ACCEPTANCE.
Notes from the Knightstand
A CHRISTMAS STORY
BY MARTIN REIDY
As I prepare
the evening dinner
I ponder the Feast
of coming winter.
My thoughts wander
o'er the season
wondering If and Why
we lost our reason.
A sense of Christmas
fills the air
bringing cheer
most everywhere.
But something's missing-
to say the least-
in this celebration
of the Christmas Feast.
Familiar songs
are sung again,
at each store
I venture in.
Santa ringing,
eating, drinking-
with an eye
that's always twinkling!
BUY! BUY! BUY-
It's all I hear
the same old re-run
of the spiel last year!
And fir trees stacked
on graveled lots
but the one I want
is usually bought.
And then there comes
those catalogues-
printed tomes
of toys and togs.
And where did I put
the decor and trim
for the needled tree
we just brought in.
Hoping the lights
are not tangled vines
needing unwound-
IF I find time!
And where's the crèche-
the manger and cradle-
and all the figures
to complete the stable?
Did I toss
the Magi Three
last year when
I tossed the tree?
And just where did
I hide that toy-
bought last year
for my little boy?
Or that doll-
that could dance and twirl-
the perfect gift
for my little girl?
So, I ask myself-
“Have we lost sight
of what did occur
on that miraculous night?”
“That our Christ became lost
midst the glitter and dross-
of the ancient story
that became Santa Claus!”
Just how did we lose
our bearings and sight-
of God come to earth
turning Darkness to Light?
So, by the stove I stand-
lost in my thoughts
of what God did accomplish
but what we have wrought.
I wonder: would Jesus
care if we just say-
“Thanks for Your Gift”
and a “Happy Birthday!”
So, is it perplexing
For all our yearning
that, oh my God,
OUR SUPPER'S BURNING!
May your Christmas
be more full of joy
than this muse'd poem
we here employ!
New Mass
Schedule
In January, the Cathedral
will begin using a revised
Mass schedule.
Sunday:
• 8:00 a.m.
• 10:00 a.m.
• Noon
• 5:00 p.m.
Monday:
• 12:05 p.m.
Tuesday:
• 7:00 a.m.
• 12:05 p.m.
Wednesday:
• 7:00 a.m.
• 12:05 p.m.
Thursday:
• 7:00 a.m.
• 12:05 p.m.
Friday:
• 7:00 a.m.
• 12:05 p.m.
Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament on Friday
evening:
• 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Saturday:
• 8:00 a.m.
• 5:00 p.m. Vigil
The parish Youth Group deliv-
ered at least 200 turkeys and
hams to Catholic Charities.
Thank you to everyone who
donated turkeys, ham or
money to buy turkeys.
Parish youth deliver turkeys to Catholic Charities
What: Donate coats, blankets, and nonperishable food.
When: Dec. 11 & 12, and Dec. 18 & 19
Where: The Cathedral
Why: Inasmuch as you have done these things to the
least of my bretheren, you have done them to me.
These empty hangers are waiting. It is time for the annual Coats & Blankets collection.
The 2010 Christmas Program
features the combined casts from
Holy Family Cathedral School
And
Holy Family Parish Religious
Education classes
December 16, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Reception following.
Periodical Postage
P A I D
Permit No. 022-729
Tulsa, OK
Holy Family Cathedral
P.O. Box 3204
Tulsa, OK 74101-3204
«ENDORSE» «LABEL_NAME» «FULL_ADDR»
«BAR_CODE»
CHRISTMAS EVE:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Confessions 5:00 p.m. Children’s Mass
7:30 p.m. Vigil Mass with Motet Choir 11:00 p.m. Christmas Carols
12:00 Midnight Mass with Full Choir and Bishop Slattery
CHRISTMAS DAY:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25
8:00 a.m. Mass
10:00 a.m. Mass with Motet Choir 12:00 p.m. Mass with Motet Choir
[No 5:00 p.m. Mass]
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY:
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26
8:00 a.m. Mass 10:00 a.m. Mass with Full Choir
12:00 p.m. Mass with Motet Choir 5:00 p.m. Mass
VIGIL OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31
5:05 p.m. Mass
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1
8:00 a.m. Mass
The solemnity of Mary, Mother of God falls on a Saturday this
year. The obligation to attend is abrogated, or removed. The
Cathedral will celebrate the holy day with Mass on Dec. 31 at
5:05 p.m. and on Jan. 1 at 8:00 a.m.