Bulletin Board with News and Events

A Cathedral Christmas, the Advent event presented by Holy Name Cathedral using the senses to unwrap the true meaning of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, was a great success. Performed on December 8 before an appreciative house, the third annual Cathedral Christmas was a graceful event. Let me thank Cathedral Music Director Ricardo Ramirez, Associate Director David Jonies, the Chamber Singers, the Gallery Singers, the Women’s Schola, the Filipino Choir, the Children’s Choir, the Frances Xavier Warde Handbell Ensemble directed by FXW Music Teacher Bob Lesh, the St. Ailbe Praise Dancers, and the 14-piece Metropolis Chamber Orchestra. Very loudly, let me thank the hard-working volunteers, the enthusiastic committee, the generous sponsors, and all the patrons. Cathedral Christmas again was our Cathedral at its best. I’m looking forward to next year already.

Next weekend the Church will celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent. At Holy Name Cathedral, Masses will be offered Saturday at 5:15 & 7:30pm. The next day on December 24, the 4th Sunday of Advent Masses will be celebrated at 7:00, 8:15, 9:30, & 11:00AM with a final Advent Mass at 12:30PM (I have that one). Notice, there will be no 5:15pm Mass next Sunday, Christmas Eve. To fulfill the weekend’s obligation to participate in Mass, you must have been here by 12:30PM Sunday. Masses later in the afternoon next Sunday will be Christmas Masses. The Christmas liturgies at the Cathedral will begin at 4:00pm Sunday, Christmas Eve. That one will likely be the most crowded Mass at Holy Name Cathedral all year. Get here early if you want a decent seat. Music will be provided by the Chamber Singers. Father John Boivin will be the celebrant and homilist. Another pretty well-attended Mass will be offered at 6:00pm. Note that the parking lot from the 4:00 Mass needs to empty before you can claim a pre-6:00pm spot. Still, get here early. I will be the celebrant at the 6:00pm Christmas Eve Mass; with the homily, I will get an assist from my friends Dick Biondi (radio great from True Oldies 94.7-FM) and popular Chicago Rock favorites The Ides of March. Liturgical music will be led by the wonderful Cathedral Women’s Schola. The tickets for the Midnight Mass have been claimed already. Those with tickets must arrive early and will be admitted at 11:00PM. Places unclaimed by 11:15pm will be released to anyone who shows up at that time; standing room and even a few seats have been available for last five years. No one gets turned away. The Chamber Singers and Gallery Singers under the direction of Dr. Ricardo Ramirez will begin Christmas Carols at 11:30pm and will lead the music of the solemn liturgy at Midnight. Francis Cardinal George will be the main celebrant and homilist at Midnight assisted by most of the Cathedral priests. Super-station WGN-TV will broadcast the Mass to over 72-million households in North and South America with commentary in both English and Spanish. On Christmas morning (Monday), there will be no 7:00AM Mass. However, Masses will be said at 8:15AM with Father Mike Boland, 9:30AM (Bishop Timothy Lyne), 11:00AM (Father Bill Moriarity), 12:30PM (Father Mike Novick), and 5:15PM (Father Paul Stein).

Should I go to Mass twice next weekend? Yes – unless you want to cut Advent short and miss out on a complete preparation for Christmas. Saturday and Sunday through 12:30PM Mass are for Advent; beginning at 4:00pm Sunday, we will celebrate Christmas. I will look for you twice!

In advance, thanks to the volunteer parish Art and Environment Group who have 2 ½ hours next Sunday (between the end of the 12:30 until Christmas Eve’s 4:00) to change the Church from Advent to Lent. I am confident they can do it. I am really grateful for their responsible determination.

Two great ethnic and cultural prayers of the Christmas season will take place at Holy Name Cathedral this week. Sunday evening at 7:00pm, all are welcome to join in Las Posadas, a dramatic and musical prayer commemorating the search of Joseph and Mary for a place in which to rest and for a place forevermore known as the birthplace of God’s only Son. We will begin in the Cathedral at 7:00pm Sunday, join in a festive procession on the streets of the Cathedral district, and return to the Cathedral where Bishop John Manz will conclude the prayers. About 1,500 are expected to attend. Sunday night, you are invited to join in this pretty and moving prayer at Holy Name Cathedral.

On Monday at 7:00pm, Filipino Catholics will sponsor Simbang Gabi, an Advent prayer that looks to the symbols of Christ’s birth shedding light on today’s life. Come to the Cathedral for Mass on Tuesday at 7:00pm. Stay for the terrific feast in the cafeteria. Filipinos are the largest ethnic group in our widely-diverse parish. However, you need not be a Filipino to join in. I will look for you at Simbang Gabi Mass, Monday at 7:00pm.

For those who missed the previous announcement, construction will begin January 2 on a new terrazzo floor replacing all of the Cathedral’s present carpeting. Pews will be removed, refinished, and repaired. A ramp making the sanctuary accessible to the wheel-chair bound will zigzag the area in front of the pulpit. During January and the first two weeks of February, we will use folding chairs for Sunday Mass. A change from previous announcements – all Daily Masses will be held in the Club Room (not the Chapel) during construction. There will be no scheduled weekday confessions during construction; and the book store will open only on weekends. Most funerals can be accommodated in the Chapel. Any large funerals will have to be relocated. St. Michael’s Church in Old Town will help us. The construction time will be challenging. However, the completed project will leave us with a new and cleaner look along with a more resonant sound. Say prayers all goes as scheduled. Also, be patient.

Stop by Holy Name Cathedral Gifts and Books Store on the lower level to pick up your personal copy of SHARING CHRISTMAS, the uniquely Chicago CD featuring The Ides of March and radio legend Dick Biondi with all money benefiting the Thursday Suppers at Catholic Charities. For $10, you get a real Chicago music treasure, and our friends get a meal. Pick up your copy of SHARING CHRISTMAS!

Fr. Dan Mayall