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The Feast of the Epiphany is the story of three Wise Men who came from a long way away from the Bethlehem stable so dear to the Christmas story in search of a star that announced the birth of our King. Epiphany is the tale of the Light to the Nations. Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations) is the title of the Second Vatican Council document that underlined the power of the Epiphany. The Church of Christ brings the Light to the nations. We, God’s people, His chosen, His elect, have a lot to say to our world. Those who depict Vatican II as the Church trying to catch up with the modern world ought to re-read Lumen Gentium. The Church does not have to apologize for our participation in the modern world. We bring the presence of Christ, the most precious gift, an eternal gift to the modern era. The modern world sadly does not kneel in reverence; it presents few gifts at all, nothing as valuable as the gifts of the Magi. Nevertheless, the Church stands strong in the 21st century offering the virtues of honor, truth, beauty, temperance, knowledge, wisdom, humility, justice, piety, courage, faith, hope, and especially love. Most of all, we offer the embodiment of all those eternal verities, Jesus Christ Himself alive today and risen forever. Thanks to all Holy Name parishioners who joined me on New Year’s Eve with a couple hundred worshippers from Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Sinai Congregation. Fourth Church graciously served again this year as hosts. I suspect we will continue the tradition next year, too. Mark your calendar now for a gathering of God’s people in the Gold Coast/Magnificent Mile/Cathedral District/Streeterville area giving thanks for a fading year’s blessings and asking God to remain with us in 2008. Our neighbors at the Field Museum asked us to tell all about their “Discount Days” in January & February. See Sue (the world’s most famous dinosaur), travel through a mummy’s tomb, view artifacts from all over the globe, and see many kinds of animals up very close. General admission will be free Saturday, 1/13, through Friday, 1/19. Beginning 1/15, all Mondays and Tuesdays will be free through February including the January 15 Martin Luther King Day holiday. Wednesday, 2/21, through Friday, 2/23, will be free as well. I might wander over to Roosevelt Road and the Lakefront myself. Thank you to Father John Boivin and the most gracious volunteers who staffed the Holy Name Cathedral annual Christmas Dinner for those who otherwise might be alone on the day when “Sharing Christmas” should be mandatory. Our parish dinner began under Bishop Lyne’s direction in the 1960s. It continued this past Christmas. To all friends who were there, thank you. Last weekend I wrote about the unbelievable job our volunteer Art & Environment Group did in making the Cathedral look like Christmas just 135 minutes after the end of the Advent prayers on December 24. With Christmas Eve on a Sunday this season, our friends had the slot between the final blessing at the last Mass of Advent (approximately 1:15pm) until we needed to open the doors at 3:30pm to the biggest house of the year, the 1,500 parishioners and visitors looking to pray the first Christmas Mass at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve. Our A&E Group could not have been more efficient and artistic! Cardinal George did not believe me when I told him they accomplished the impossible in just a little over two hours. By name, I thank the main committee – Ron Birch, Darren Milanovich, Pat Still (also the staffer in charge of special events), and especially Donna Ciszewski who confidently coordinated the great effort. Thanks go to volunteers Joanne Singleton, Rachel Carda, Tom Gaspar, Cindy Dangler, Father Mike Novick (associate pastor getting his first peek at a Cathedral Christmas), Susanne Smith (parish pastoral council president), Milli Streigl, Mary Canavan, Diane & Michael Fuchs, Ethel Schnitzer, Janice Mary Jastrowski, Sacristan/Seminarians Derrick Witherington and Patrick Callahan, and our noble maintenance crew. If I left any name off this list, kick me. I want to include the whole team. All were a part of a tremendously disciplined and beautiful machine. It’s too bad we had to hide the result all too soon with the construction already underway on this Epiphany weekend. Still, let’s never hide how proud we are of the Cathedral parish’s Art & Environment crew. I appreciate your patience during the construction of the new Cathedral floor. The pews have been taken away to Wisconsin for a new coat of finish and for attachment of new kneelers. These kneelers will be terrific. They are adjustable, and are capable of floating two thirds of the way to the floor. After you kneel down, they gently drop the rest of the way. There will be no loud bang when the congregation kneels down for the Eucharistic Prayer on our new and beautiful terrazzo floor. Meanwhile, we are trying to work out the details of Mass on chairs in a half of a Cathedral for the next six weeks. As I write this piece on New Year’s Day, Father Paul Stein and Deacon Stan Strom have suggested that the possibility of an “overflow” Mass in the auditorium at 5:15pm Saturday as well as at 9:30 & 11:00 on Sunday might be wise. When you get to Mass, listen for an announcement. We may offer a slightly delayed (e.g. 11:10) Mass in the auditorium for those who are not able to squeeze into the Cathedral under construction. The ultimate goal is to have the new Cathedral floor in place for the weekend before Ash Wednesday, February 17 & 18. Most of all, smile. Your patience will be appreciated. This weekend I mark my fifth anniversary as pastor of Holy Name Cathedral. I pray that I have been true to the dignity and importance of this great parish, this mighty Cathedral. Most importantly, I hope I have brought something more to our Church’s identity. I am very conscious of my place as just the ninth pastor/rector in the history of Chicago’s most important Church. All nine of us in union with the bishops we have served have shaped the soul of this parish in our own individual way. On the fifth anniversary, I pray that Mayall’s addition to the legacy of Holy Name Cathedral always will be true to the Gospel and to the Sacraments we continue to celebrate for the great people of Chicago.
Fr. Dan Mayall |
