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Again this Christmas, Holy Name Cathedral presents SHARING CHRISTMAS, a 4-number CD featuring Chicago’s own The Ides of March and Radio Hall of Famer Dick Biondi of True Oldies 94.7-FM. For just $10, you can buy a terrific Christmas gift and help support the Thursday Suppers for hungry folks sponsored by Holy Name Cathedral at Catholic Charities on LaSalle Street each week. The Ides of March, a legendary Chicago rock band, produced the CD last year for the Suppers; Dick Biondi added the reading of a poem I wrote with musical backup from Scott May, keyboard player for The Ides. We raised over $14,000 last Christmas. This year, a limited supply of CDs remains. Get your copy at Holy Name Cathedral Books & Gifts on the lower level of the Cathedral. You also can order it on line until Christmas at www.theidesofmarch.com. Finally, SHARING CHRISTMAS will be on sale in the vestibule after the 6:00pm Christmas Eve Mass at which The Ides of March and Dick Biondi will assist me with the homily. Don’t wait. Pick up SHARING CHRISTMAS, a collector’s treasure, today. I was pleased to see The Ides of March present a great Christmas show two weekends back at the St. Charles Norris Performing Arts Center. They were terrific. Earlier in that week, I sat with them as they performed some of that Christmas music during the all-night Steve & Johnnie Show on WGN Radio. The Ides will bring a couple of those tunes to Holy Name Cathedral on Christmas Eve for the 6:00pm Mass. I am proud that Dick Biondi, The Ides of March, and their families have made Holy Name Cathedral part of their celebration of Christmas. Join us at the 6:00pm Mass on Christmas Eve when you, me, Dick Biondi & The Ides of March all will be SHARING CHRISTMAS. The Oblate Sisters of Jesus the Priest have been a part of Holy Name Cathedral parish since September, 2001. They tend to the kitchen and laundry in the rectory; they handle a few of the sacristy chores; and most importantly, they pray for vocations to the priesthood, for Chicago’s priests and seminarians, and especially for the ten priests living at the Cathedral. The Oblates are a real gift to Holy Name’s priests. One of the Sisters, Sister Consuelo Vazquez will celebrate the 50th anniversary of her profession of vows next Thursday, December 27. Friends from all over the United States and her religious family here in Chicago (including one of her blood-sisters, Sr. Enriqueta Vazquez) will join us in the Cathedral Thursday afternoon for this joyful event. The Oblates also have a community at the Major Seminary in Mundelein where Consuelo served as Superior for several years and a Novitiate in Hometown. One of the Hometown Sisters, Ana Torres, is preparing to take her first vows this coming summer. All the Oblates who have served Chicago previously were originally from Mexico. Sister Ana, a native of California, will extend their roots in the USA. The Oblates have served the Church of Chicago since 1961. For now, I invite all of Holy Name Cathedral and Chicago to congratulate and pray for our friend, the Jubilarian, Sister Consuelo. Felicitationes, Hermana! All tickets have been distributed for the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. However, in my five previous years at the Cathedral, we never have had to turn anyone away. The side doors will open about 11:00pm for those with tickets. Tickets were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis via self-addressed stamped envelope requests beginning shortly after Thanksgiving. At about 11:20pm, the State Street doors will be open for those who would like to find the places in the pews still available. We always have had standing-room once the seats fill up. Again this season, WGN-TV will broadcast Midnight Mass from Holy Name Cathedral. With WGN’s power as a Super Station carried on cable systems throughout the hemisphere, we expect to be available to a potential 72-million households in English, in Spanish, and this year for the first time in American Sign Language. Last year, WGN told us that they received a letter from Midway Island where the viewer turned on his TV shortly after dinner at 7:00pm. Be warned! The 4:00pm Christmas Eve Mass almost always is the most crowded Mass of the year. Especially if you want a spot in the parking lot, get here early. The guard at the gate will have strict orders to close off the lot for safety reasons when all the legitimate spaces are filled. Also, if you want a good seat in the Cathedral, get here early for the 4:00pm Mass. “I’m a regular Mass-goer at Holy Name! Shouldn’t I get precedence?” Yes, you should. That’s why I’m warning you in this bulletin announcement. You’re here this weekend; good for you! The visitors and the once-a-year worshippers are not reading this note. So you have the inside scoop – get here early! Although the 6:00pm Mass on Christmas Eve draws well, it usually is not full. However, there may be a few visitors traveling with our friends The Ides of March. Again, get here early. There will not be room in the lot until the 4:00pm Mass lets out. Still, I wouldn’t wait until 5:55pm to find a parking spot for the 6:00. Get here early! No one who attended Cathedral Christmas on December 14 was sorry to be here. Dr. Ricardo Ramirez did great work in bringing together all five Cathedral choirs (Chamber Singers, Gallery Singers, Women’s Schola, Children’s Choir, & Filipino Singers) with Associate Music Director David Jonies and Jeri-Lou Zyke’s Metropolitan Orchestra as well as an enjoyable guest marimba ensemble. Music staffers Abby Girdauskas and Jerald Egger deserve a grateful nod, too. Thanks, also, to Cardinal George and Bishop Lyne for their kind words. Once more, we thank the Underwriter/neighbors including Delaware Place Bank, the Fordham Company, McCaffrey Interests, Only She, and Potash Brothers Market; also the Sponsoring Restaurant/neighbors – Bijou Bistro, Chicago Chop House, Devon Seafood Grill, Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, Roy’s, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Holy Name also thanks all the Benefactors, Patrons, Donors, and friends who I am sure enjoyed the 4th annual Cathedral Christmas. Now’s the time. Take the camera. Get the family; grandkids; just the two of you; couples engaged; college friends; neighbors from your building; even you alone. Take your photo near the Nativity scene on Superior Street next to Holy Name Cathedral. Thanks, Art & Environment crew. This will make a great 2008 Christmas Card! Fr. Dan Mayall |
