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.

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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.

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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.