If something is whispered to me in prayer that is negative about St. Mary’s Cathedral, is it more for the common good that I keep it concealed❓…
Our dog, Perezvon, is no where to be found when I turn on the spigot to fill the watering can, but in no time at all he is standing in line waiting his turn; indeed, in the “Dog Days of Summer“, cool, clear, running water is not something that can be easily concealed; likewise, wasn’t that the way it was for St. Mary’s almost fifteen years ago when, “Your name reached the distant islands“, to the extent that Monsignor Waldow was growing uncomfortable with how much Bishop Zurek was pointing out to every other parish all that was going on…
Simply put, St. Mary’s has all the essential elements of what a Cathedral should be composed of: A large substantial church, the oldest functioning Catholic School in the Diocese with 220 boys and girls, a full and rich Faith Formation program for all ages, but most of all, for adults, a Catechumenate process structured according to The Forum, Youth Ministry and a free-standing youth center with Life Teen and EDGE, Liturgical music rich and full…an organ with 1200 pipes and trumpets valued at $900,000, traditional music as well as contemporary, 24/7 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, outreach to the inner city and a true sense of responsibility for the poor and disadvantaged of the inner city, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the oldest Knights of Columbus Council in the diocese (Council 1450), Council of Catholic Women, Stephen Ministry, Charismatic Renewal, Lay Ecclesial Movements, RENEW, and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Monsignor Waldow, Cathedral History, Why St. Mary’s as the Cathedral Church?
…nowadays, with no where near the activity going on as described above by Monsignor Waldow, there is also one less Mass on the weekends, 5 less weekday Masses during the week (even less considering that daily Mass is canceled if there is a funeral) , the unheard practice of having confessions canceled and the lost of our position, which we held for a few years, as the most giving (and highest UCA assessed) parish in the diocese; so, couldn’t all this be a sign, as Msgr. Waldow often said, that although, “We all rush around, we all labour, we all build”, just as those some 15 years, “before us, …rushed, laboured, built”, the difference today is that because the Lord does not build the house, those who build it labour in vain; however, when a few decided to bring this possibility to Bishop Zurek, instead of experiencing the joy of 15 years ago of being a true father who brought out in men and women alike great and precious possibilities, wasn’t His Excellency’s course of action now one of domination;…
We lose the capacity to realize
From a letter from Bishop Patrick J. Zurek to the Faith Community at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Amarillo.
“I, as a lay person, do not always have all the knowledge”; while it is quite
probable that the deacon, priest or bishop has a much fuller picture of what is
actually happening.
…consequently, how can I say, “Here I am,” I…; “send me!”, …
…for even though, “The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty”...
…Alleluia, alleluia;
I think I want to hide behind appearances of religiosity and even love for the Church and seek human glory and personal well-being.”, instead of being “insulted for the name of Christ, and blessed
for having the Spirit of God rest upon me; Alleluia, alleluia;…
…because, “Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms, simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of” what is happening at St. Mary’s Cathedral; but since, “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed” am I willing to face the personal consequences of being a concealer❓