DEC 2021
In This Issue: 2 Christmastime Stewardship 3 Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas 4 Youth Ministry 6 The Origin and Beauty of the Nativity Scene 7 Our Choir and Music Ministry
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
THE FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY An Opportunity for Parishioners to Connect with Friends Old and New
W
ith the busy lives we lead, it can be difficult to make time for visiting with our fellow parishioners, and it’s all too easy to leave Mass and head home to continue our Sunday activities. However, we are blessed with a ministry at our parish that allows us to meet new friends and visit with the old. The Food and Fellowship Ministry serves coffee, tea, and donuts each week, unless there is a Knights of Columbus breakfast, after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday Masses in the church basement. Michele Moehrman recently became involved in this ministry, and she handles the scheduling. She and her husband, Dave, and their two daughters moved to Tulsa from Houston, Texas in early 2020. The couple’s former parish had a fellowship ministry like this, and Michele has enjoyed it as a way to get to know other parishioners. “This is a simple but important ministry,” she says. “Who doesn’t love donuts?” Kathleen Jones and Jacob King serve a light As Michele points out, we don’t always have time to meet people who we breakfast for the Food and Fellowship Ministry. see sitting across the aisle. So, this ministry offers such an easy way to meet people because we are already at Mass. While the ministry took a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now so wonderful to gather and enjoy a treat and fellowship once again. “This has been a really good way for us to get to know people, being new to the parish,” Michele says. Michele would love to see more volunteers step forward for the Food and Fellowship Ministry. The donuts are delivered, so this just involves setting the items out and brewing the coffee before Mass. Michele will train new volunteers because the commercial coffee makers require a bit of direction. If enough volunteers step forward, each volunteer will only need to help about once per month. continued on page 5 8TH STREET & BOULDER AVE • TULSA, OK 74119 • (918) 582-6247 • TULSACATHEDRAL.COM
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL
Christmastime Stewardship
HOW WE CAN BRING HIS SON TO THE WORLD
I
t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that. True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way. Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world. What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants us to go, and 2
there are many places to which He may never go unless we take Him to them.” How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank, and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat. These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship. We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us. Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet, but to enable someone else to be them, as well. Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts. This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.
DEC 2021 A Letter from Our Rector
Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas Dear Parishioners,
W
hen I think of December, the first thing that comes to my mind is Christmas. While that may seem obvious, there are several other possibilities. I could think of Advent, which prepares us for Christmas. I could think of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation, and the patronal festival of the United States. I could think of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose popularity has spread far beyond the Hispanic community. December also brings the winter solstice. And it brings the end of the secular calendar year, which means getting my financials together for the upcoming income tax season. But instead, I think of Christmas — one of the greatest feasts of the Christian year, along with Easter and Pentecost. The basic truth of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, God Incarnate, is plenty of reason for us all to rejoice and worship. But we’ve piled so much extra baggage on our Christmas observance, and worship is often almost lost in the shuffle. We send Christmas cards to people we contact at no other time of the year. We put up wreaths, Christmas trees, and lights. We host parties for family and friends. We visit relatives. We plan and prepare Christmas meals. And we have Christmas gifts to buy. No wonder the Christ Mass becomes an afterthought! Maybe, though, we can combine our Christmas activities with our stewardship commitments. Treasure is the simplest. Shouldn’t the most expensive Christmas present we give be the one to Jesus whose birthday we’re celebrating? Risen and glorified, He needs nothing we have. But His Body — the Church — continues Jesus’ mission here on earth and always needs additional resources. Time and Talent may be a little more complicated, but can’t we spend a little more of our time in worship and prayer? Stop by the church for a visit to the Christmas Crib and offer a prayer of thanks for the gift of
God’s Son. Attend Mass each day of the Christmas Octave. Gather your family for prayers together in the morning or at dinner in preparation for Christmas Day and through the Christmas season. And Talent? There are lots of possibilities. Sing in the choir for the Christmas Masses. Help decorate the Church. Cook or bake for someone who is homebound. Invite someone who will be alone to share Christmas dinner with your family. Offer to work in a soup kitchen if you will be alone. The possibilities are endless. Yes, December means Christmas. But with some planning, we can make this hectic time a real blessing both for ourselves and others. Pray for me that I can keep Christmas properly, and I’ll pray for you. And by the way, have a Merry Christmas! Sincerely yours in Christ,
Very Rev. Gary D. Kastl Rector
3
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL
YOUTH MINISTRY: T
here is no doubt our faith is meant to be lived in community. Jesus made this clear to us, as written in the Book of Matthew — “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Here at the Cathedral, we have a new way for our youth to gather in Jesus’ name — the Youth Ministry program, which kicks off with a parent meeting in January. The first Youth Group is on Feb. 2. The mission of our Youth Ministry is “to lead the youth to an intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity and foster an authentic and encouraging community through prayer, witnesses, and small-group mentorships.” Each month will include a large-group gathering. Students will be divided by age and gender into small groups. Those groups will also meet once per month with a trained leader. The groups will, hopefully, remain together through high school and beyond. In July 2021, Alondra Griffith took on the role of Youth Minister and secretary at the school. She grew up at St. Francis Xavier in Tulsa. Alondra has a history of working with youth and is so excited to now be walking with our young parishio-
Alondra Griffith 4
ners at the Cathedral. Alondra spent two years working with Wisconsin-based Spiritus Ministries. She also worked with Totus Tuus after high school. Coming home to serve the youth of her hometown is a huge blessing for Alondra. With both Totus Tuus and Spiritus Ministries, Alondra was working with youth for a short amount of time — a week or less. She is thankful to now have the opportunity to walk with youth for a longer period while building authentic relationships. “I am really excited to see teens be accompanied on a personal level,” she says. “The way we set up our program, it’s very relational and discipleship-centered. We want youth to go deep and actually encounter the Lord.” Alondra’s own faith life was deeply impacted by a Totus Tuus retreat in high school. “I was forced to attend Totus Tuus, and that was about the first time that I saw young adults in love with their faith and Jesus Christ,” she says. “I was wondering what was making them so happy.” During adoration at the retreat, Alondra realized the Totus Tuus missionaries were in love with Jesus. “Right there I said, ‘I don’t know who You are, but I want
Alondra Griffith serving with Spiritus Ministries
DEC 2021
Creating Authentic Connections in Christ to follow You and be Your missionary,’” she says. Alondra and all the youth mentors are excited to get started. The adults have been through training over the past few months on telling their story, prayer, and relationships, to name a few topics. “These adults are committing to walking with these teens in some way for the rest of their lives,” Alondra says. “I am so thankful to all of them for their commitment.” Alondra wants parents to know the Youth Ministry pro-
gram is an opportunity to supplement faith lessons being taught at home. “It takes a village, and the parish wants to be part of that,” Alondra says. “I would tell teens to come and try it out. We want them to know that they are very loved, and there are people who really want to take care of them and walk with them.” Alondra wed Philip Griffith a few months ago. The couple is excited to build their lives at the Cathedral and to get more involved.
If you would like more information on our Youth Ministry, please contact Alondra Griffith at agriffith@tulsacathedral.com or 918-582-0422.
THE FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY
continued from front cover
Michele believes the success of this ministry is consistency. It’s also a good way to get to know families. Sometimes we may meet people through another ministry, but we don’t always have an opportunity to meet their families. “After the 10 a.m. Mass, there are a lot of families,” Michele says. “Kids are running around and lots of fellowship is happening. It’s a beautiful thing.” For Dave and Michele, having their daughters at Holy Family Classical School has also been a great way to get to know other families whom they’ve seen in the line for school drop-off. The draw for the family to attend Holy Family Cathedral was to be connected with the same parish where their daughters are at school. “A parish and a school are so intertwined,” Michele says. “We have been so impressed by the participation at the parish. It’s really amazing for an inner-city parish to be so active on the weekends with so many young families.” All are invited to come to enjoy coffee, donuts, and tea
after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses. “I would say the coffee is good,” Michele says. “It’s from Double Shot, a great coffee shop down the street. Come meet some new people and see some familiar faces!”
Folks gather for the Food and Fellowship Ministry.
To get involved with the Food and Fellowship Ministry, please email Michele Moehrman at foodandfellowship@tulsacathedral.com. 5
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL The Origin and Beauty of the Nativity
W
ith all the commercialism surrounding Christmastime, it’s far too easy for us to lose sight of the true reason behind the season. Overwhelmed by our endless to-do lists and the hustle and bustle of lastminute shopping, our focus quickly shifts away from the Christ Child’s birth. And yet, hidden amongst the holly wreaths and garlands, the Christmas Nativity remains a tangible reminder of the Incarnation, pulling us back into time for a moment as we reflect upon the incredible gift of Christ’s birth. Interestingly, it was circumstances much like our own today which first led St. Francis of Assisi to recreate the Nativity scene nearly 800 years ago. Frustrated with the growing materialism and greed that seemed to pervade 13th century Italy, St. Francis wanted a way to visually remind people of Christ’s humble beginnings — to show them that Christmas isn’t about pomp and circumstance or material goods, but rather about unselfish love. Describing the idea to his friend Giovanni, St. Francis wrote, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger...” And so St. Francis’ idea took form on Christmas Eve in
Scene
1223. This original Nativity scene was a living one, even including live animals. Villagers were deeply moved by the silent display of humble beauty, and the Nativity tradition soon spread throughout Italy and surrounding Europe. It is a tradition that remains today in nearly every Christian church and in many homes. In fact, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without a Nativity scene somewhere. Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth. Many families have a tradition of hiding the Infant Jesus, only placing Him in the crib on Christmas morning. This helps build anticipation during the Advent season as we anxiously await the Divine’s birth. Others go a step further, actually wrapping up the Christ Child to be opened as the very first gift of Christmas. Yet, whatever your family’s particular traditions, we hope that the Christmas Nativity continues to draw your heart heavenward this Christmas season — to center us all on the greatest gift ever given, our Incarnate Lord.
Advent & Christmas Schedule Tuesday, Dec. 7 Vigil Mass — 6:30 p.m., Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
6
Saturday, Dec. 25 Christmas Day 12 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m. No Confessions or 5 p.m. Mass
Wednesday, Dec. 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 7 a.m., 12:05 p.m., 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 26 Feast of the Holy Family 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Vigil Masses at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., Choir Performance at 11 p.m. No daily Mass or Adoration
Friday, Dec. 31 Daily Mass — 7 a.m., 12:05 p.m. No Adoration Vigil Mass 6:30 p.m., Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
Saturday, Jan. 1 10 a.m., Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Confessions at 3:30 p.m. Vigil Mass 5 p.m., Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, Jan. 2 Epiphany of the Lord 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m.
DEC 2021
Our Choir and Music Ministry: Invigorating the Prayer of the People
P
rayerful singing lifts our souls to God and unites our worship with the choirs of angels. Here at Holy Family Cathedral, we are blessed to have a Music Ministry that leads us in song and encourages us to enter more deeply into the Mass. “Music impacts the parish by invigorating the prayer of the people,” says Ernest Neal. “It helps them grow in their spiritual relationship with Our Lord Jesus, which often leads to the overall growth of the parish.” Ernest, our organist and Director of Music, leads the choir and plays the organ at the 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Masses every week. Great care and thought go into choosing the Mass settings and hymns to enhance the liturgy and lift our hearts in prayer. The beautiful and engaging music helps to draw us into the liturgy through meaningful participation. “Music at Mass is important because it offers a deep level of prayer and praise that is only possible through music,” Ernest says. As we journey towards Christmas, Ernest and the choir are preparing some beautiful choral pieces for the concert that will precede the Midnight Mass. As the choir rehearses some challenging new music, they hope that it will inspire the parishioners and help them enter into the joy of Christmas. The hymns and carols that we continued on back cover
“It is my hope that parishioners hearing the choir’s music are elevated above the noise and chaos of life, and are raised into the beauty and harmony of life in Christ’s presence. I hope that the members of the choir are inspired and strengthened by their ministry of song and that they are blessed by helping others to pray in the most beautiful way.” — Ernest Neal
(From left) Good Friday cantors Kevin Cobb, Ernest Neal and Kyle Gallia
The Holy Family Cathedral choir
7
PO Box 3204 • Tulsa, OK 74101-3204 (918) 582-6247 • tulsacathedral.com
Our Choir and Music Ministry will sing at the Midnight Mass are often familiar favorites and draw us into the beauty and peace of the Christmas season. Our choir members make a great commitment to serve the parish. They offer not only their musical talent but a great deal of time as well. Members commit to rehearsals every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and sing at two Masses each Sunday. Participating in the choir is also a commitment to grow both in their musical abilities as they learn challenging new music, and spiritually as they engage with the liturgical music and share it with the parish. Parishioners with singing skills are invited to learn more about the choir. Some familiar-
continued from page 7
ity with reading music is necessary, but more important is the passion. “A love for the music of the Church and singing are most important,” Ernest says. Next time you are at Mass, pause and let the music fill your soul and lift your heart. “It is my hope that parishioners hearing the choir’s music are elevated above the noise and chaos of life, and are raised into the beauty and harmony of life in Christ’s presence,” Ernest says. “I hope that the members of the choir are inspired and strengthened by their ministry of song and that they are blessed by helping others to pray in the most beautiful way.”
If you would like to learn more about the choir, please contact Ernest Neal at eneal@tulsacathedral.com.