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I do not officiate at many “away” weddings anymore. Committing to a wedding at another Church on a Saturday wipes me off the Cathedral wedding calendar on not only that date, but also on the date of the rehearsal. However, I was pleased that I took a rare Sunday wedding at Our Lady of Victory Church two weekends back. We do not schedule Sunday weddings at Holy Name. We need to keep Sunday afternoons open for Cathedral events such as the Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass celebrated annually as it was last Sunday afternoon by Cardinal George. I do not really remember how I ended up being the celebrant for that recent wedding at OLV. I am sure it was Eric-the-Groom who enlisted me. It was his family that was a part of that northwest side parish when I resided there while trying to teach high school seminarians at the late-great Quigley North from 1978 to 1990. I remembered Eric’s brother and their parents pretty well. However, we really had not kept in touch; and Eric was just 12 when I rode off to a Park Ridge parish for 3 seasons, subsequently to my first pastorate, and eventually downtown to the Cathedral. That accounts for the 17 intervening years. Eric can add it up. He works as an accountant. So Eric-the-Groom and Anita-the-Bride somehow talked Mayall-the-Priest into a rare road trip - their wedding in front of the Our Lady of Victory altar. I think it was that particular altar that was the real attraction. Since becoming a priest, I have been assigned as a Pastor twice, an Associate Pastor twice, a Dean twice, and a Resident Priest and High School Seminary Teacher once each. Throughout the whole 30 years and those 8 jobs, the most important thing I did every day was to say the Mass. I did not need Eric-the-Groom/Accountant to tell me that it was at the OLV altar that I have celebrated more Masses than anywhere else. I began most days for 12 years with 6:30am Mass at that altar. There I prayed two Sundays ago that Eric and Anita will live happily ever after and that they will find a familiar altar near their new home in Madison, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, I was happy to see an old friend, the altar at OLV. The attraction of that altar was reason enough for me to take a rare road trip. An altar is the representation of Christ Himself. The Prayer of Blessing of the Altar says, "May this altar be the place where the great mysteries of redemption are accomplished, a place where your people offer their gifts, unfold their good intentions, pour out their prayers, and echo every meaning of their faith and devotion." Our altar at Holy Name Cathedral easily is the largest altar at which I ever have offered Mass. A six-ton monolithic block of red-black Rosso Imperiale di Solberga granite from Argentina forms the table top of the altar. The pedestal is encircled by a bronze bas-relief depicting Old Testament sacrifice scenes. These precursors of Christ’s sacrifice are Abel’s offering of the first sacrifice; the priest Melchizedek giving bread and wine; Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac; and the Prophet Elijah receiving bread and water from the Angel of the Lord for strength to continue on his journey. The altar contains relics from St. John the Apostle and St. Timothy, the patron saints of the archbishop (John Cardinal Cody) and of the pastor (Bishop Timothy Lyne) when our altar was consecrated in 1969. I was happy to welcome the families of the Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School to 9:30am Mass last Sunday. Throughout the weekend, we passed a basket for FXW in an attempt to help that great school maintain the diversity represented among its families, a key to the excellent reputation of FXW. If you were away last weekend, or if you want to add your gift to our effort to put ten Cathedral kids through Catholic School this year, mark an envelope “FXW.” Put your check (made out to Holy Name Cathedral) into the envelope and drop it in any collection basket, deliver it to the Church office, or hand it to me personally. I will be sure it gets into the right pocket. I also will thank you. I think Holy Name Cathedral is doing a good thing in putting ten kids through Catholic School. Tickets for “The Mission Is Magic” Holy Name Cathedral’s GALA are on sale right now. The fun night of music, dancing, food, silent & live auction, entertainment, and magic will be celebrated on Friday, October 5 at River East Arts Center, 435 East Illinois Street - a charming venue. The deadline for reservations is a little over a week away, September 25. Get your GALA ticket this week! I will look for you on October 5.
Meanwhile, the chance to win $5,000 waits for you. All proceeds will benefit the educational ministries of the parish. Richard sits on State Street after Mass selling Gala Raffle tickets, and tickets also are available at Holy Name Cathedral Gifts & Books on the lower level of the Cathedral every day. But don’t wait! The number of chances sold is limited. Buy one now, or you won’t have a chance! We prayed last week for lifelong parishioner Dorsey Connors Forbes - a local television personality, a writer, a loving wife, and the matriarch of a fine family. In his homily Bishop Timothy Lyne recognized that Dorsey lived her entire life from baptism to funeral within a three block radius, within our parish. He also quoted her as saying, “Age is a number, and mine is unlisted.” We misspelled Dorsey’s first name in THE CHIMES last weekend. Our most veteran parishioner deserved better. This apology accompanies prayers for a true daughter of the Cathedral. Dorsey, rest in peace. Luciano Pavarotti died on September 6. Pavarotti once sang at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral during a Prayer Service on October 4, 1979, in the presence of Pope John Paul II. Bishop Timothy Lyne, then pastor of the Cathedral, enlisted the renowned tenor in August of that year during a personal phone call. Pavoratti accepted noting, “I’ve never sung for a Pope.” There were snags. The artist nearly walked out when no one showed up for rehearsal with the sheet music. He was singing Panis Angelicus and Ave Maria, pieces he should have been able to perform in his sleep. The Chicago Police Department rapidly rescued the moment with a bullet-like retrieval from his hotel. His performance was superb. All disciples of Christ have gifts. Pavarotti’s gifts were so obvious that even someone who never had been within thirty miles of an opera house knew who Luciano Pavarotti was. Luciano, gifted friend of Holy Name Cathedral, may the Heavenly Choirs come to welcome you. I only hope someone remembers to bring the music! Fr. Dan Mayall |
