OCT 2021
In This Issue: 2 The Principles of Catholic Social Teaching 3 A Letter from Our Rector October: A Month to Turn to Our Lady of the Rosary 4 The Cathedral Families Ministry: Building the Domestic Church and Cultivating a Culture of Holiness 6 Join the Ranks and Honor the Dignity of Life in October
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Meet Deacon Gary Beam: Blessed to Serve the People of God
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o get to know Deacon Gary Beam, we should also introduce St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun born in 1647 who held an intense devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Throughout Deacon Gary’s diaDeacon Gary Beam, a retired commercial pilot, flew Pope Francis back to Rome conate, he can find many examples of when after his visit to the United States. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque has been with him. As St. Margaret Mary Alacoque once said, “I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.” Deacon Gary joins us from the Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow. Also serving on the diocesan Diaconate Formation Team, he looks forward to getting to know the people of Holy Family Cathedral. Crucial to Deacon Gary’s introduction is his wonderful family because they are very important to him. He and his wife, Terri, have been married for 38 years. They live in South Tulsa. The couple has four adult daughters — Meghan Grayless, Kaitlin Isley, Elizabeth Martinez, and Sarah Lauderdale — and nine grandchildren. “I feel so blessed that all four of our children have continued in their Catholic faith,” he says. By moving to Holy Family Cathedral, Deacon Gary joins Meghan, her husband, Erik, and their four children, who are parishioners here. Kaitlin, her husband, Aaron, and their three children, along with Elizabeth, her husband, Japheth, and their daughter are all St. Benedict parishioners. Sarah and her husband, Matthew, are Focus Missionaries at the University of Alabama at Birmingham — the couple has one daughter. Deacon Gary retired from American Airlines as a pilot last October. A highlight of his career was flying Pope Francis from the United States back to Rome when he visited the United States six years ago. He has had a long continued on back cover 8TH STREET & BOULDER AVE • TULSA, OK 74119 • (918) 582-6247 • TULSACATHEDRAL.COM
THE PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
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hat makes being Catholic, well, “Catholic”? Things like the Mass, the Rosary and the Seven Sacraments come to mind. But there is also an element of Church teaching that’s often overlooked and sometimes misunderstood — Catholic Social Teaching. Catholic Social Teaching guides Catholics on how to apply the faith to all aspects of life, and lays the framework for the Church’s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. Catholic Social Teaching can be explained with 10 key points. These 10 principles demonstrate the depth of the Church’s teaching on social justice, and they call Catholics to take an active role in shaping the world in which we live. Catholic Social Teaching, when taken to heart, can become the catalyst that causes positive change in a world that desperately needs it. Consider these principles and strive to apply them in your own life.
Human Dignity Human dignity is the fundamental principle within the Church’s teaching on social justice. A firm understanding of this principle is required so that the rest of Catholic Social Teaching can be viewed from the appropriate perspective. God created us in His image and likeness, so we all are worthy of respect. Respect for Human Life Whether unborn or seconds away from death, no life deserves to be prematurely ended. The Church sees this principle as crucial to the health of any society. Association Association holds that social relationships must be developed so that all people may reach their fullest potential. The Church teaches that the family is the basic unit upon which all other elements of society rest. We must uphold the sacredness of the family, and foster the growth of other societal organizations that preserve the well-being of all people. Participation All people deserve the right to work and to participate in God’s creation. The joy of accomplishing a task and performing honest labor should be made available to all people. Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable Society exists in a balance between those with power, and those without it. The vulnerable — those with disabilities — and the poor must be protected from those with power who choose to wield it in an unjust manner. Solidarity “Love your neighbor as yourself” — this commandment extends beyond the boundaries of any town, state or country. The principle of solidarity encourages all people to reach out to their brothers and sisters in need and to help them, even if they live halfway around the world. Stewardship Everything we have — even our own lives — is a gift from God. Our talents, our time and our financial resources are not our own, but God’s. The same goes for the natural resources we so often take for granted. Responsibilities and Limits of Government Governments, while created for the common good, sometimes overstep their boundaries. The Church teaches that all governments should seek to operate at the lowest level of organization possible — striving to solve problems at the source, with those who understand them best, and not through oppressive force. Human Equality God made all humans equal, including those of different ethnicity and race, and in different stages of life. No one person is of more value than another. Common Good It is especially important in our society to promote the common good — the social well-being and development of the “human group.” If we consider the entire human race as one family, the common good urges us to support our brothers and sisters so that they may reach their full potential.
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OCT 2021
A Letter from Our Rector
October: A Month to Turn to Our Lady of the Rosary Dear Parishioners,
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ay by day, our heavenly Father provides spiritual food and graces to His beloved children, nourishing us on our earthly pilgrimage. October brings us the grace of the Holy Rosary, a prayer buried deeply in the heart of the Church, as one of its most precious treasures. The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which takes place Oct. 7, is a commemorative feast established by St. Pius V on the anniversary of the naval victory won by the Christian fleet at Lepanto. The victory was attributed to the help of the Mother of God, whose aid was invoked by praying the Rosary. This victory revealed the power of the Holy Rosary more than ever. Catholics who were open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit took with deep resolve the Rosary as their link to God. Pope St. John Paul II, in his 2002 Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, writes: “The Church has always attributed particular efficacy to this prayer, entrusting to the Rosary... the most difficult problems. At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat, its deliverance was attributed to the power of this prayer, and Our Lady of the Rosary was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought salvation” (39). Thus, not merely through the Rosary, but more significantly, through the woman behind the Rosary — the glorious Mother of our Savior, Christ the Lord — a wellspring of God’s love has been discovered. Indeed, the Rosary is truly a way to discover Christ’s infinite love through the tender heart of His Mother. “With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and
is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 1). A great number of saints, such as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who had a special concern for the preservation of the Christian family, sensed
that its salvation would be through the Holy Rosary. And as Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “Today I willingly entrust to the power of this prayer... the cause of peace in the world and the cause of the family” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 39). Our Lady of Fatima, who pleaded with families to pray the daily Rosary, would agree with him! Let us entrust everything to the Rosary along with the saints. As our hearts burn with hope, let us give to the Mother of God every concern that we bear, each cross we carry, piece by piece, worry by worry. She will be there to offer everything to our Heavenly Father, Whose care for each one of His children reaches beyond anything we could ever imagine. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Very Rev. Gary D. Kastl Rector
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HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL
THE CATHEDRAL FA
Building the Domestic Church and
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couple of years ago, the Holy Spirit tapped on the hearts of Will and Becca LePage, and they opened themselves up to His divine promptings. God only knows how many families will be blessed because of their openness, as well as the generosity of all of those who are working alongside them to start the Cathedral Families Ministry. “Fr. Kastl told us about his desire for a vibrant family ministry at the parish,” Becca says. “We very much share that desire, especially after we had a tremendous experience with a family ministry in Ann Arbor during the early years of our marriage. With Fr. Kastl’s encouragement, we are eager to launch Cathedral Families this year. Our hope
is that Cathedral Families will enliven faith in Christ, forge deeper friendships among families in our parish, and provide an engaging platform in which to invite new families, Catholic and nonCatholic alike, to join us.” The Cathedral Families is a ministry designed to help married couples and families grow in fellowship, faith, and evangelization. “The mission of Cathedral Families is to build up the domestic church of every home of the parish,” Will says. “As a new ministry, we trust in the Holy Spirit to bless the married couples of Holy Family Cathedral. We pray that couples can abundantly serve their families and the Church in
whatever state they find themselves — newlyweds, young families, or ‘emptynesters.’” Cathedral Families will offer opportunities for casual, large-group gatherings that foster community within the wider parish family. These gatherings are meant to spark relationships among families who see each other at Mass but haven’t had the chance to meet, as well as among families that attend different weekend Mass times. “We hope these large-group gatherings, hosted about every three months, will be stepping stones towards forming sincere friendships among families associated with the parish, as well as new families who might be interested
Gathering on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, May 1, 2021
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OCT 2021
A M I L I E S M I N I S T R Y:
d Cultivating a Culture of Holiness “In this time when the morals and values of Christendom are frequently questioned or are in direct opposition to the values of the current American culture, it is critical to have support in cultivating a culture that embraces a life of holiness. What a beautiful gift to have a group of people who are traversing the waters of life as newlyweds, navigating the joys and uncertainties of parenting children, or redefining what family looks like in a more seasoned state of life — all under one domain to draw hope and joy from God, rather than the voice of the world.” — Will LePage in joining our parish and the Catholic Church,” Will says. So far, the ministry has hosted two large-group gatherings — the St. Joseph the Worker Celebration in May and the Parish Picnic in July. “They were open to the whole parish — not just couples and families — and we were humbled by the success of the two events, by the generosity of parish volunteers, and by the turnout of folks,” Becca says. “These two gatherings have really encouraged us to continue hosting large-group gatherings because it is clear that the people of the Cathedral truly desire fellowship as a parish family.” In the coming months, Cathedral
Families will be inviting men and women to join small groups, to help them form deeper, lasting relationships and grow as disciples in a very intentional way. “These small groups need not all look the same, as each can adapt to suit the charisms and desires of its members — for example, a young dad’s group may choose to study about different saints or books from the Bible,” Will says. “We hope to have enough small groups so there is a good fit for everyone.” Ultimately, evangelization will continually lie at the heart of the Cathedral Families Ministry. Evangelization is a key component
of this ministry,” Becca says. “The large-group gatherings are opportunities for families to invite their non-Catholic friends to a casual church event. It’s not always easy to extend an invitation to Mass with the family that lives across the street — however, it may be easier to invite them to have a good time with other families from your church who are eager to welcome a newcomer. Everyone is hungry to live a life of purpose and value, and the other families in our spheres are fertile ground waiting for the seed of faith in Christ to be planted on the soil of their hearts.” Providentially, this ministry will meet an urgent need — not only in our parish family but also amid the cultural decadence of modern society. “In this time when the morals and values of Christendom are frequently questioned or are in direct opposition to the values of the current American culture, it is critical to have support in cultivating a culture that embraces a life of holiness,” Will says. “What a beautiful gift to have a group of people who are traversing the waters of life as newlyweds, navigating the joys and uncertainties of parenting children, or redefining what family looks like in a more seasoned state of life — all under one domain to draw hope and joy from God, rather than the voice of the world.”
Volunteers are needed to help this ministry flourish, especially to host small groups. Furthermore, all married couples are encouraged to participate in the Martin Dinner hosted by our parish on the evening of Oct. 9. For more information on this event, or on how to help with the Cathedral Families Ministry, please email Will and Becca LePage at lovefromthelepages@gmail.com. 5
HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL Join the Ranks and Honor the Dignity of Life A
ll Catholics are called to action — this month, and beyond. October is Respect Life Month. And as we face the looming culture of death, we are all summoned to action. An apostolic exhortation by Pope St. John Paul II, titled Ecclesia in America, described this culture of death’s effects on the “powerless” within American society: “I am thinking here of unborn children, helpless victims of abortion; the elderly and the incurably ill, subjected at times to euthanasia; and the many other people relegated to the margins of society by consumerism and materialism. Nor can I fail to mention the unnecessary recourse to the death penalty… Faced with this distressing reality, the Church community intends to commit itself all the more to the defense of the culture of life” (Ecclesia in America, 63). Respect Life Month is the perfect time to prayerfully examine our consciences in light of these critical issues, which directly violate the dignity of the human person. This includes not only the evil of abortion, but also euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, capital punishment, and contraception — all of which are vital contributors to the pervasive culture of death. So we must individually ask ourselves, “Do I, in my personal, day-to-day choices, respect life? If so, do I boldly proclaim this belief or merely stand idle? Do I exercise my right to vote and support candidates who promote a culture of life? Am I known within my home, family, and/or workplace as someone that respects life?” As with every movement of a Christian heart towards goodness, it is imperative that our efforts begin with a prayerful foundation. The work of the Holy Spirit allows us to receive the zeal necessary to promote the sanctity of human life, even in the face of suffering. This October, please pray for a revitalization of the culture of life. Every night, as a family, meditate on the prayer from John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae. As you pray, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with apostolic boldness, and ask the Lord to guide your heart towards ways in which you can personally contribute to the culture of life. The call is clear, the stakes are set, and all Catholics are summoned to action. How will you respond?
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in October Pope St. John Paul II’s Prayer for the Revitalization of the Culture of Life
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life. — Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae
OCT 2021
Home Improvement Ministry Strives to Offer Assistance and Foster Fellowship
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oly Family is excited to introduce the Home Improvement Ministry! Through this new ministry, parishioners are invited to participate in sharing Christ’s love through the literal building up of the human home. “The Home Improvement Ministry is designed to serve three purposes,” says parishioner Sam Strope. “First, it is to serve those within our parish that need assistance with a home repair project due to age, mobility, finances or
Sam Strope of the Home Improvement Ministry
other disabilities; secondly, to provide an opportunity for those that prefer to serve the Body of Christ with their hands; and lastly, to provide a connection for future encounters with our parish priests and ministry teams if additional spiritual support is desired.” The ministry will welcome any parishioner aged 18 and up to participate in small home repair, maintenance, and construction projects — minor teenagers may also participate with a parent present. Parishioners in need of assistance will be able to apply at the front office or at the church, and the ministry will evaluate and schedule the project as long as it is within their expertise. “We will offer workdays quarterly with several projects occurring on a given Saturday, with pre-planning sessions that will be scheduled as needed,” Sam says. “The ministry will start small but take on increasingly more difficult tasks as our team matures in confidence and experience. Some examples of possible projects are small concrete repair, tree stump removal, kitchen faucet replacement, painting, light fixture replacement, dryer duct cleaning, and toilet flush valve replacement.” In addition to serving others, the ministry will also foster a sense of
community among parishioners. They plan to start each workday by meeting at the Saturday 8 a.m. Mass, followed by fellowship — they will then set out to each job site afterward. “We hope that friendships will build organically between both the work teams and the project hosts,” Sam says. “This ministry is hospitable in nature both for those giving and receiving, and so we will rely on a few particular saints to guide us on this journey. We are placing the ministry under the patronages of Blessed Karl of Austria, St. Joseph the Patriarch, and of course St. Joseph the Carpenter. Pray for us!” The Home Improvement Ministry is planning to launch its first workday in early November, so please keep an eye out for updates! Anyone with experience in construction, home repair, and maintenance is welcome to participate in planning sessions as the ministry works to anticipate project costs, duration, and volunteers needed.
For more information, or to get involved, please sign up during the parish Stewardship Renewal, or contact the parish office at 918-582-6247.
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PO Box 3204 • Tulsa, OK 74101-3204 (918) 582-6247 • tulsacathedral.com
Meet Deacon Gary Beam: Blessed to Serve the People of God career in the airline industry — he got his start in the Coast Guard and also attended Navy Flight School. Another interesting point in his career was his time spent on the first flight on the new Boeing 787s — about half of the 787s flown by American Airlines were tested by Deacon Gary. Deacon Gary was raised in the Southern Baptist faith — he and Terri agreed to raise their children in the Catholic Church since it is Terri’s faith tradition. Deacon Gary was invited to consider attending the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and entered the Catholic Church in 1999 — he has been involved in the Church ever since. In 2007, a few men in the diaconate formation program encouraged him to think and pray about becoming a deacon. He was ordained in 2014. “It’s a blessing just to serve the people of God,” he says. “That is what I enjoy. I feel God’s presence the most when I am assisting at funerals, just being there for families during a time of great loss.” Deacon Gary looks forward to using his music skills at Holy Family Cathedral. His first interaction with the Cathedral was singing in the Schola Choir in the past. He also
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looks forward to getting involved at the school and assisting with adoration on Fridays. “I am excited to see what the needs are here at the Cathedral once I get my feet on the ground,” he says. Now in retirement, Deacon Gary and Terri keep themselves busy babysitting their grandchildren. “I am the family fix-it guy, too,” Deacon Gary says. “My daughters say, ‘If dad can’t fix it, no one can!’” Let us all give Deacon Gary Beam a very warm welcome to our Holy Family Cathedral community!
“It’s a blessing just to serve the people of God. That is what I enjoy. I feel God’s presence the most when I am assisting at funerals, just being there for families during a time of great loss.” — Deacon Gary Beam