Bulletin Board with News and Events

 Monday, May 7, 2007, marks the 10^th anniversary of Francis Cardinal George’s installation as the 13^th Ordinary (Chief) Bishop and the 8^th Archbishop of Chicago. TO CHRIST BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH!

As the centerpiece of his 10^th Anniversary celebration as Archbishop of Chicago, Francis Cardinal George will celebrate the 5:15pm Mass at Holy Name Cathedral next Saturday, May 12. A special liturgy concelebrated by Chicago’s Auxiliary Bishops, by the Vicar General Father John Canary, by Judicial Vicar Father Pat Lagges, and by me will include beautiful music, invited guests from the fields of Catholic Health Care and Catholic Higher Education, the consultative bodies of the Archdiocese, every parish of the Archdiocese, and others. You certainly are welcome to attend. However, expect an especially big crowd for the 5:15pm Mass on Saturday the 12^th. The liturgy likely will last into the evening. Because the priest/confessors will need to prepare for the special event next Saturday afternoon, both the normally scheduled 4:00-5:00pm confessions and the 6:15 - 7:15pm confessions will be canceled next Saturday, May 12. Confessions will be heard on the lower level of the Cathedral in the Reconciliation Room next Saturday, May 12, only from 3:00-4:00pm. We do expect the regular 7:30pm Mass next Saturday to begin on time. However, no confessors will be available after 4:00pm on that special occasion next Saturday.

Next weekend at all Masses there will be a second collection after Communion for the benefit of Catholic Charities. Holy Name Cathedral has a proud tradition of very generous support for Catholic Charities and for the basic Christian work that the famous agency does in our name and in the Holy Name of Jesus. Catholic Charities has been a safety net for those in need with services provided by 168 programs at 157 Archdiocesan locations. Catholic Charities served 895,000 people last year – people in every parish and neighborhood. Of every $1 you contribute next weekend, 92-cents will directly help poor and vulnerable families, children, seniors, men, and women. Nationally recognized, Catholic Charities of Chicago does great work. Please consider an extra special donation next weekend to Catholic Charities. I think you will be doing a very good thing.

Next Sunday at the 9:30am Mass, about a dozen children will receive their First Holy Communion. The children have been prepared throughout the past school year in the Cathedral’s Religious Education Program for those educated outside of the Catholic Schools. We thank the volunteer catechists under the leadership of HNC’s Children’s Religious Education Director Sharon Kinsley. Certainly, all are invited to join us for the touching First Communion Mass at 9:30am next Sunday. In addition, the Holy Name Cathedral children at the appropriate grade level who attend Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School received their First Holy Communion at Noon this Saturday, May 5, at Old St. Patrick’s Church. I was proud to concelebrate. St. Pat’s has 1^st through 4^th grade; Holy Name has 5^th through 8^th grade. For now, both campuses have pre-K and Kindergarten classes. The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic Elementary School governed by a lay board, located on the campuses of Old St. Pat’s and Holy Name Cathedral, and sponsored by both downtown parishes as part of our commitment to educating Catholic children in an environment that respects the diversity that is Chicago. All certainly should pray for our young friends – all the First Communicants – and for their families.

Next Sunday, Mothers Day, expectant mothers especially are invited to Holy Name Cathedral for the 12:30pm Mass. All mothers, of course, will be blessed at all Masses next Sunday; however, that annual liturgy with mothers expecting is a recognition by the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of those bearing pre-born life, the newest moms. Join Holy Name Cathedral in celebrating new life next Sunday at 12:30pm.

Once again this year, flowers will be sold after Masses next Saturday and Sunday, Mothers Day weekend, after all Masses until the supply is gone. Money raised will benefit The Women’s Center. The mission of The Women’s Center is a counseling and resource agency for women's and families' financial, career, legal and psychological needs.  Sale items include the following: Bouquet of 6 Roses - $6; Mixed Floral Bouquets - $10; Bouquet of 6 Carnations - $7; Single Rose - $3; Single Carnation - $2. For more information, call the Women’s Center at 773-794-1313. Look for the flowers outside the State Street doors next weekend.

Come spring, and the priests of the Archdiocese celebrate the anniversaries of their ordinations. The priests who regularly serve Holy Name Cathedral are diocesan priests; we exercise our authority in concert with the local Archbishop, Cardinal George. We are not members of religious communities such as the Servites at Assumption on Illinois or the Redemptorists at St. Michael’s in Old Town. All nine of us presently assigned to the Cathedral were formed and educated during the graduate school years at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (a.k.a. Mundelein Seminary). The number of seasons in priesthood and the ordination anniversary dates for each of us follow: Father Bill Moriarity – 41 years (April 26); Bishop Timothy Lyne – 64 years (May 1); Father Eugene Durkin – 58 years (May 7); Father Pat Lagges and me – 30 years each (May 11); Father John Boivin – 31 years (May 12); Father Paul Stein & Father Mike Novick – 6 years each (May 19); and Father Michael Boland – 21 years (May 24). That adds up to 287 years at the altars of Chicago, all of that experience gathered around the Cathedral’s altar for now. Pray that all of us have many more years in Chicago as His priests. Pray that we enhance the reputation of our great parish. Pray that there will be others to join us at our Cathedral altar and at all the altars of Chicago. For now, the nine of us give thanks for our Priesthood.

Next Sunday, bring your mother to Mass. If you are fortunate to have your mom still with you and if she lives in the Chicago area, wouldn’t Mass at Holy Name Cathedral be a beautiful way to begin Mothers Day?

Fr. Dan Mayall