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In 2005, when Cardinal George and I agreed to ask Father Paul Stein to come to the Cathedral as Director of Liturgy and full-time Associate Pastor, I wondered what Father Paul’s reaction would be. Not as familiar with him as the Cardinal was, I was not certain he would welcome the unique job. I heard that Paul was doing very well in his first parish assignment, St. Turibius, a tri-lingual parish on the southwest side. He enjoyed a great mentor/first pastor; he valued some terrific priestly role models; and he was a happy priest. Just four years ordained, Father Stein was at the top of the list for the Cathedral role, a list assembled by Father Ron Kunkel who was moving on to teach liturgy and do additional graduate studies at Mundelein Seminary. Father Kunkel seemed certain that Father Stein would continue a Cathedral trademark of which he and I were proud. The Cathedral was the model for liturgical practice in Chicago. As for liturgy expertise, I relied on Father Ron and the Cardinal in that evaluation. As pastor, I just wanted to be sure Father Stein understood the full scope of the Associate Pastor’s job, the pace of Cathedral ministry, the size and complexity of the staff, the spotlight that the Cathedral sits under. In conversation with the Cardinal, I wondered out loud if Father Stein would want the job. The Cardinal confidently replied, “If I ask him, he’ll do it.” I don’t think I was two minutes into my interview of Father Paul before I inquired about his initial reaction to the possibility of the Cathedral. He smiled and answered, “If the Cardinal wants me to do it, I will.” Cardinal George sure knew his priest! Luckily for Holy Name, over the past two years, we have come to know this good priest, too. Father Paul Stein has done all things very well. He leaves the Cathedral on Sunday for the pastorate of St. Sylvester Church. Father’s fluency in Spanish will come in handy in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood; so will his understanding of young adult Catholics like those increasingly populating Logan Square. Maintaining the parish school will be a challenge. For at least a year, he will enjoy the partnership with a full-time associate, a rare treasure in today’s parish. Holy Name Cathedral gives Father Paul Stein to St. Sylvester as our gift. We send them a holy man, a great priest. May they quickly get to know him as Holy Name Cathedral and the Cardinal know him; may they also learn to love Father Paul Stein, their new Pastor. Did you hear the exciting news that Holy Name Cathedral’s Restore & Renew capital campaign has exceeded the $7-million mark in pledges? Our five-year, $10-million dream is definitely getting close to becoming a reality. If you have made a commitment, God bless your soul. If you have not, why are you delaying joining the rest of the parish in this terrific task? I would like everyone who considers herself or himself a parishioner to commit to this five-year campaign with contributions over and above the $39,000+ per week it takes to fund the services, ministries, apostolates, and facilities of our parish. Restore & Renew is our pledge to fulfill our dual identity as parish and as Cathedral. Many parishioners have stepped forward already. I’ve made my pledge. Now, where is your pledge? If you have a pledge card, return it by next weekend. If you do not have a card, phone Alex at (312) 787-8040. She will be happy to get you more information on Restore & Renew. Let’s Restore & Renew Holy Name Cathedral. Next weekend, a second basket will be passed for support of the “Peter’s Pence” collection. Peter’s Pence began in ninth-century England when King Alfred the Great collected money from the English landowners as financial support for the Pope. Blessed Pius IX formally instituted the modern collection in the 1860s. The date is determined by the Sunday nearest to the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29. Modern contributions enable Pope Benedict XVI to respond with immediate emergency help to those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, disease, or natural disaster. At Holy Name Cathedral and in he Archdiocese of Chicago, we will join our fellow-Catholics from all over the globe in supporting that basic Christian work. Envelopes should be available this weekend at the doors. Please be generous in the second basket next weekend. I have baptized 927 souls, about 95% children. On behalf of Holy Mother Church, I have witnessed 471 marriages. Earlier I wrote of how I keep my own proud sacramental record book. Recently, names have begun appearing on both lists, including the bride at this Saturday’s 4:00pm wedding – children I baptized early in my career for whom I have been honored to stand as the priest at their wedding. Previously, there were a couple adults I baptized at an Easter Vigil and at whose marriages I also officiated. There even are a couple of families for which I have presided at the wedding of a child and later have sacramentally validated a parent’s wedding that earlier had been celebrated outside the Church. This weekend, I enter a new category. For the first time in my 30-year priesthood, I have officiated at the wedding of a Christian I baptized while previously having officiated at the wedding of her parents. The bride is my niece, Amy Calhoun. I baptized her on August 9, 1980 at St. Veronica (since closed) where I also was baptized; she was my 79th baptism. I celebrated the wedding Mass of her parents, Bill Calhoun and Pat Mayall – my brother-in-law and my sister – on June 2, 1979 – my 30th wedding also at St. Veronica. Amy was married Saturday afternoon to Tom Sanchez here at Holy Name Cathedral. Theirs was my 471st marriage ceremony. Priests are tools in the hands of God. We transmit His Grace. I have been privileged to administer Sacraments thousands of times over 30 years. The rhythm always is the same. God acts first. We answer. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” In all Sacraments – Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing, Eucharist, and Holy Orders – God acts first. With Grace, we respond. Amy was called to baptism; I baptized her. Amy was called to Marriage; I performed her wedding ceremony. Her parents – my sister and my brother-in-law – were called to marriage and gifted with Amy (and Billy and Katie). I witnessed Pat and Bill’s marriage, too. I truly believe there is a man who will be called to become God’s instrument now reading this sentence, a future priest in administering the flow of Grace yet to be celebrated. Should he celebrate those Sacraments for his many parishioners or for his own relatives, may he understand what I understand better this holy weekend than I ever have understood it before – a priest is a minister of God’s Grace. We celebrate the wonderful Sacraments of the Catholic Church in the Holy Name of Jesus. On your holy wedding this weekend, congratulations, Amy & Tom – my #471! To all Fathers, Happy Fathers Day! If your dad is still with you, be sure to talk to him today. If you can, see him. I’ll see my dad – so will his eldest grandbaby Amy who got married Saturday; Amy and my dad share a common birthdate! If your father is deceased, pray for him; if nearby, visit his grave. Let’s all ask God’s blessing on the men who wear the noble title of FATHER. Fr. Dan Mayall |
