OCT 2020
In This Issue: 2 Got Talent? Bring It to the Spotlight! 3 A Primer on the Restored Order of the Sacraments 4 In Tulsa and Around the World, 40 Days For Life Aims to End Abortion 6 Holy Family Cathedral Welcomes Deacon J Thomas!
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Rosary Guild
ENSURING THE FAITHFUL AROUND THE WORLD MAY EMBRACE THIS ESSENTIAL DEVOTION
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ontinue to pray the Rosary every day” — this was the direction given to young Lucia by our Blessed Mother, when she appeared in Fatima, Portugal. However, this is truly a direction given to all of the faithful. Through the Rosary, we have such a powerful opportunity to draw closer to Jesus through Mary’s intercession. Unfortunately, there are people all over the world who have no access to a rosary. So, a group here at Holy Family Cathedral began in February to help fill that essential spiritual need for the faithful across the globe. David and Anita Thomer and Grand Knight William Ryan agreed they wanted to do more to share their love for the Rosary with parishioners and eventually, those served by missionaries from around the world. Thus began the Rosary Guild. “The Rosary Guild is a group of people who meet for the spiritual growth of members through making rosaries and praying the Rosary with the intention of spreading devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” David says. Rosary supplies are purchased from Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, a mission started by Xaverian Brother Sylvan Mattingly, C.F.X. in 1949 in the Archdiocese of Louisville. This is the world’s leading place for spreading the Rosary to missionaries — they not only ship rosary-making supplies, they connect those making rosaries with missionaries in need. Eventually, the group wants to make enough of the string and bead rosaries to donate to missionaries to distribute. Rosaries are made when the group meets every other Sunday after Mass or at home. Donating rosaries to missions is important as some people, throughout the world, can’t afford to buy them, and continued on back cover 8TH STREET & BOULDER AVE • TULSA, OK 74119 • (918) 582-6247 • TULSACATHEDRAL.COM
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL GOT TALENT?
Bring It to the Spotlight!
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he word “talent” often conjures up images of stage instead seek the quiet solace of behind-the-scenes tasks performers in the spotlight, captivating awestruck — cleaning the church, sewing altar cloths or stuffing audiences with their impeccable musical or acting skills. envelopes. While these talented performers are certainly Our interests and abilities are varied, and our deserving of applause, the majority of the population volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our sits hidden in the shadows, staring on in amazement talents back to God in loving service. Examine your heart while feeling overlooked — and perhaps wishing to and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts possess such talents themselves. But even when we towards serving the people of God. feel overlooked and untalented, God knows better. As H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author of Life’s Little Christians, we are all called to dig deep and trust that we Instruction Book, once said, “Talent without discipline are specially blessed with valuable talents and abilities, is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of even if our talents aren’t so obvious or don’t garner movement, but you never know if it is going to be applause and accolades. forwards, backwards, or sideways.” Along with “time” and “treasure,” “talent” is one If our gifts of talent are not guided by the discipline of the “three Ts” of stewardship. Exploring our natural of prayer, just like an octopus on roller skates, we will inclinations and preferences, especially when guided by get nowhere fast! Yet, if we keep our eyes on the goal of the intricacies of our unique personalities, can unearth heaven and serve the Lord with joyfulness, our efforts God-given talents. will produce a bountiful harvest. In the words of St. Paul “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same to the Corinthians, “Whoever sows sparingly will also spirit,” writes St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians. reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap “There are different forms of service, but the same Lord.” bountifully.” Some people have the gift of working peacefully with The next time you sit quietly in the shadows behind a children. Equipped with patience and gentleness, they are glaring stage spotlight, rest assured that your talents are able to guide young souls to the Lord. Yet, others shudder no less impressive in the eyes of God, and will always be T (continue at the thought of a classroom full of 5-year-olds, and ALENT “applauded” when directed to the service of His people. d) Importa nt: Please cle intereste arly write the fir me of the Renewed d family member(sts) na on the lin Commitm e. ent
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Please remember to turn in your commitment cards to the parish as soon as possible. We appreciate your willingness to participate in this year’s Stewardship Renewal. The more we grow to embrace and understand the stewardship way of Holy Fam Cathedra ily life, the more our parish will flourish and grow!l ________
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OCT 2020
A Primer on the
Restored Order of the Sacraments
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his is a transformational time for youth ministry and faith formation for Holy Family Cathedral, as we have restored the original order of the sacraments, reflecting an intention to empower our young people to live as disciples in today’s challenging society. Children in Grades 1-2 now will prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Eucharist in the restored order. Some of you may be confused by all the talk of the “restored order” or unfamiliar with terms such as “Sacraments of Initiation” and “age of reason.” Essentially, the restoration of the order means that Confirmation will be received before the reception of first Eucharist, and both sacraments will be received in second grade at the same Mass. First, what is a sacrament? Most Catholics know the names of the sacraments, but they might not know the definition of a sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines sacraments as “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us” (1131). What are the Sacraments of Initiation? There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The Church refers to Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist as “Sacraments of Initiation,” as they “lay the foundations of every Christian life” (CCC, 1212). As for the “restored order,” this simply means that we will now be celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation in the order in which God designed them to be given — Baptism, Confirmation, first Eucharist. It also restores the practice of administering the Sacraments of Confirmation and first Eucharist when they reach the age of reason. What that means is that children will now prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and begin going to confession in first grade. The following year, they will prepare for confirmation and first Eucharist, and receive both sacraments at the same Mass in second grade. So how did the original order get changed? It happened in 1910, when Pope St. Pius X lowered the age of first Communion to the age of reason (around 7 years old). When he did so,
he did not address the age of confirmation, thus leaving us with our current practice of delayed confirmation. We have decided to restore the sacraments back to their original place because children need more grace at an earlier age to become saints in our increasingly secular world. This is in response to calls made in the documents of Vatican II, and Pope Benedict XVI’s document Sacramentum Caritatis. There may be some concerns that since children receive their sacraments at an earlier age, they may discontinue their faith formation and drop out. But that is where parents must step in and be primary teachers of the faith for their children. Parents and siblings have the first responsibility of being an example of Jesus Christ to each other and living the Gospel each day. Children will stay in religious education if they see their parents striving to grow in holiness through family prayer, Scripture reading, Sunday Mass, regular confession, and living a life of charity. It is the parent’s responsibility to see that their children grow in the faith. Our parish is here to assist in this process. Some may wonder how we can expect children to make an adult commitment to the Church at such a young age. Contrary to a widespread misperception, Confirmation is not the sacrament of adult commitment to the faith. It is a cause of spiritual maturity, not recognition of physical maturity. As the Catechism says, “Although confirmation is sometimes called the ‘sacrament of Christian maturity,’ we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need ‘ratification’ to become effective.” Confirmation assists those who receive it in growing in Christian maturity. Our hope is that by restoring the order of the sacraments, it will underscore the fact that the Holy Eucharist — not Confirmation — is the culmination of Christian initiation. It will also help to remind the faithful that the six other sacraments are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. Also, this is an opportunity to rediscover the meaning and purpose of our own initiation into Christ’s body. Our hope is that change will prompt the faithful to encounter the origin, depth, and meaning of all the sacraments, helping them grow in their relationship with Our Lord.
Please contact Deacon J and Kelsie Thomas at kthomas@tulsacathedral.com if you have any questions about the Restored Order of the Sacraments at Holy Family Cathedral. 3
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL
In Tulsa and Around the World, 40 D
“A Peaceful Vigil of
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s Catholics, we recognize that life begins at conception and can only end at natural death. Now, during Respect Life Month, we have a fantastic opportunity to promote the sanctity of life through 40 Days for Life, an international effort to end abortion. Holy Family Cathedral Parish will once again take part in 40 Days for Life, set this year for Sept. 23 through Nov. 1. The effort consists of a peaceful prayer vigil and fasting, with community outreach. Those taking part will be active from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. “We will go to abortion clinics or Planned Parenthood during the 40 days,” says Deacon B.D. Tidmore. “This will be only peaceful activity, no screaming. We just pray. We are ecumenical — we have Anglicans and Presbyterians join in, and in Tulsa, it is led by the Catholic Church.”
In addition to 40 Days for Life, there are other continual efforts to promote the sanctity of life in Tulsa and beyond. One such effort is the year-round prayer at the Garden of Hope to end abortion. A small corner area of peace and solace, the Garden of Hope was established in 2006 by Bishop Edward Slattery, who obtained the land across the street from the Tulsa Women’s Clinic. Each Thursday at 11:30 a.m., a group of 20 men gather there to pray the Rosary. The Garden of Hope is also a gathering place that offers shelter from the weather for those taking part in the 40 Days for Life effort. Another year-round effort is that of the sidewalk advocates, who gather on Monday through Friday, when the clinic is open, offering informational pamphlets to women approaching the clinic.
Prayers are offered to end abortion during the 40 Days for Life, held beginning in September through November 1. The group has gathered at the Garden of Hope, despite the chilly rain.
Volunteers from Holy Family serve as sidewalk advocates, presenting informational literature to women approaching the Tulsa Women’s Clinic.
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Go Life has two mobile units providing free ultrasound for Tulsa area women. Many who had been considering abortion change their minds once they see the images of their babies.
OCT 2020
Days For Life Aims to End Abortion
Prayer and Fasting”
“They pray, and ask the women, ‘Can we talk to you?’ and hand them the bags,” Deacon Tidmore says. “Sometimes a woman gets to her car and sees the information, and sometimes she will go to the Garden of Hope, where she receives help.” While many work toward this goal through prayer, these efforts to end abortion are also put into action by the Go Life Mobile Medical group. This pro-life organization has an office behind the Garden of Hope, as well as two RVs that are equipped as mobile ultrasound units. “They offer free ultrasounds throughout Tulsa, and they also go to different rural areas,” Deacon Tidmore says. “We found that when women see the baby, 70 to 80 percent will choose life. They go into the Go Life unit and the staff doesn’t say, ‘Here’s your baby and good luck.’ They have abundant resources to help in a pregnancy crisis. The group helps with the baby, food, jobs and providing resources. As the group has found, if the woman sees the baby, it changes her heart. “When they go to the abortion clinic, and they call them a ‘women’s clinic,’ they have to have an ultrasound, but the woman doesn’t have to see it,” Deacon Tidmore says. “We’ve been told by women who did, that they were told not to look, that they didn’t need to see it. When they do see it, they chose life and the clinic loses money. The clinic charges $100. Last year, we had 25 babies born because women chose life.” Deacon Tidmore relates an incident that happened several years ago when a young woman in nurse’s scrubs ran out of the clinic. She was covered in blood and obviously distraught. “She came across the street and said, ‘I can’t do it anymore — can you help me?’” he says. “We sent her to the nuns at the Garden of Hope and they told her they would help her get another job.” Recalling another young couple who came to the clinic, Deacon Tidmore says that a young man came out of the clinic and asked what the group was doing.
A statue of the Blessed Mother with Baby Jesus stands within a protective case in the Garden of Hope gazebo.
“We told him we were praying for him, and we sat and talked,” Deacon Tidmore says. “We told him, ‘You know what’s going to happen.’ We told him he needed to bring her out because there is another way. He grabbed her out of the clinic and they ended up having the baby. It happens. Peaceful love comes from God.” Bishop David Konderla often will join those in prayer at the Garden of Hope. “He is originally from Bryan, Texas, where 40 Days for Life started,” Deacon Tidmore says. “He was actively involved with Abby Johnson, the Planned Parenthood director who became pro-life.” Deacon Tidmore encourages Holy Family parishioners to become involved in 40 Days for Life, and emphasizes just how important it is to uphold the sanctity of life. “All life matters, and 40 Days for Life is a peaceful vigil of prayer and fasting with the aim to find an end to abortion,” he says. “I don’t think a lot of people realize that the Catholic Church believes life begins at conception and we do, too.”
If you would like more information about 40 Days for Life, please contact Deacon Tidmore at 918-830-1772, or the parish office at 918-582-6247. Holy Family Cathedral is committed to pray in the Garden of Hope for 24 hours on Oct. 6. Please see the bulletin for more information. 5
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL Holy Family Cathedral Welcomes
Sharing Practical Ways to
Deacon J Thomas celebrates his ordination to the permanent diaconate with his family and Bishop Konderla.
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his summer, Holy Family Cathedral was pleased to welcome Deacon J Thomas and his family to our faith community! Deacon Thomas joined us following his ordination to the permanent diaconate on July 18. With a deep love and respect for the vocations of marriage and family, Deacon Thomas especially enjoys serving the Church by preparing the faithful for the Sacraments of Holy Matrimony and Baptism. Deacon Thomas was born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas in a Baptist family. He was first seriously introduced to the Catholic faith when he was a student in the Physician Assistant program at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. There, he met and began dating Kelsie, a practicing Catholic. When he mentioned that he would like to start attending Mass with her,
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Kelsie told him to choose from any of the local parishes, mentioning that the liturgy and readings would be the same at each one. For Deacon Thomas, learning that the celebration of Mass is consistent among Catholic churches was a watershed moment. “I think it has to do with my nomadic experience growing up,” he says. “My father was an electrician, so we moved every four or five years to follow the work. In doing so, we would go to different Baptist churches and I would see the Scriptures discussed or interpreted differently, and the dynamic of each place would be so different in personality and preaching style. So I wouldn’t have been able to put a name to it then, but in the moment when Kelsie said that, it showed that something was
OCT 2020
Deacon J Thomas!
Live the Faith, So That We May All Be Disciples greater here than just this option or that option.” Deacon Thomas went through the RCIA process and was received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 3, 1999. The next month, he and Kelsie were married at Holy Family Cathedral. Deacon Thomas had received four sacraments within a month’s time — Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Holy Matrimony — and has felt truly at home in the Church ever since. When the couple moved from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, they became parishioners at St. Bernard of Clairvaux. About 10 years ago, Deacon Thomas first began feeling a “silent nudge” toward the permanent diaconate, further inspired by the servant’s heart he witnessed in a family friend, Deacon Alan Mikell. Deacon Thomas feels a special devotion to marriage and family life and sees the permanent diaconate as a wonderful way to serve couples and families in the Church. And as a husband and father of five children, ranging in age from 4 to 21, he certainly has a lot of personal experience to draw from as well! “I love sharing the beauty, joy and depth of the teaching of marriage with the young engaged couples in the early stages of their relationship — showing them that it takes three, with Christ being the third, and embracing that and the joys that will come from that,” Deacon Thomas says. “I also enjoy helping parents prepare themselves for their child’s Baptism and just seeing the beauty and power in that. I hope that in preparing for those two events, I’m really helping them continue to live a life of our faith.” Throughout his formation to the diaconate, Deacon Thomas’s wife, Kelsie, has been an unfailing support. Here
at Holy Family Cathedral, she will also be devoting her time and talent to helping our parish families as she coordinates the Restored Order Sacramental Preparation Program. Having discovered as an adult the immense beauty of the sacraments of our Church, Deacon Thomas encourages all of the faithful to remain close to these spiritual graces. “For as long as I can remember, I always loved our Lord and knew that our salvation was through Jesus,” he says. “It was in a very Baptist way, focused on my relationship with Him and all other things aside, but I think even as a child I had an inkling or even a hope that there was something more to it than that. It wasn’t until I became Catholic and was living the faith that I realized and truly appreciated that having a personal relationship with Jesus is having a life in the sacraments. I would encourage everyone to cling to the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the sacrifice of the Holy Mass and reception of the Eucharist, just as often as we can.” In his first months here at Holy Family Cathedral, Deacon Thomas has been thankful for our beautiful and reverent liturgies, and our welcoming and loving parishioners. He feels blessed to be called to serve our faith community and looks forward to getting to know all of our parishioners well in the months to come! “Holy Family Cathedral has always been a very inspiring place where people are visibly living the faith,” he says. “I hope that I can also be an example of a good steward of all things and be able to share practical ways to live the faith in all aspects of our lives so that we can truly be the disciples that we are called to be.”
“Holy Family Cathedral has always been a very inspiring place where people are visibly living the faith. I hope that I can also be an example of a good steward of all things and be able to share practical ways to live the faith in all aspects of our lives so that we can truly be the disciples that we are called to be.” — DEACON J THOMAS 7
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL PO Box 3204 • Tulsa, OK 74101-3204 (918) 582-6247 • tulsacathedral.com
Rosary Guild
continued from front cover
they aren’t able to make them. Missionaries are always in need of more rosaries to spread Mary’s message. David says making the rosaries also blesses the ones making them. “This is such a good way to spread devotion to the Blessed Mother,” David says. In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the growth of this group, which is currently about five members. David asks for parishioner’s prayers as the pandemic has slowed progress for the new group.
“The Rosary Guild is a group of people who meet for the spiritual growth of members through making rosaries and praying the Rosary with the intention of spreading devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.” — DAVID THOMER
If you would like more information about the Rosary Guild, please contact David Thomer at dthomer@boscoschool.org. And, as we navigate the ongoing changes brought into our lives by the COVID-19 pandemic, may we faithfully continue to pray the Rosary, drawing closer to Jesus through His mother. To learn more about praying the Rosary, please visit www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/rosaries/how-to-pray-the-rosary