THE GOOD
NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
| JOBS BOX |
| OKLAHOMA CITY ARCHDIOCESE |
| CONTACT US |
|
from
August 28, 2005 Centennial
Mass Photo Gallery Oklahoma Catholics
Celebrate Centennial
Thousands Make Their Way to Historic Mass Aug. 14 By Ray Dyer OKLAHOMA CITY — The more than 14,000 Oklahoma Catholics who participated in the Centennial Mass Aug. 14 were indeed thankful. They indicated so a number of times with thunderous applause. Many had smiles on their faces while some had tears of joy welling in their eyes demonstrating the emotions that was ever present from the beginning of the day to the very end. As the recent history book by Father James White attests many were proud on this special day to be “Roman and Oklahoman.” This day was special. It was a grand celebration of the very best that life has to offer- eternal hope in the eternal life. Father Stephen Bird and his Centennial Committee had worked for more than two years to ensure this historic event captured the essence of what a century of Catholicism can mean to a people and their state - and it showed. Every detail was covered, from the masterfully created video history presented prior to the Mass to the incredibly beautiful and dramatic Presentation of the Gifts by the combined Vietnamese communities of St. Andrew Dung Lac and Our Lady’s Cathedral to the orderly and solemn way in which Holy Communion was distributed to thousands. Everything worked perfectly. And how could it not, especially after three-year-old Sadie Cozad set the theme for the day. The tiny Native American dancer from Anadarko never missed a beat as she led the colorful procession of fellow Native American dancers into the arena and to the massive altar just prior to the Mass. Young and old, from the moment they stepped off their chartered buses, or parked their cars, the Catholics who made the pilgrimage to downtown Oklahoma City seemed extremely glad to be worshipping God in such a grand and united way. Hundreds of Hispanic Catholics sang songs of praise as they marched through the streets of Oklahoma City to the Cox Center from the nearby parishes of Sacred Heart, Little Flower and Holy Angels. Cletus Kane has belonged to Saint Philip Neri Church in Midwest City for 57 years. He said the Centennial Mass was his second major anniversary celebrating the Catholic faith in Oklahoma. “I made the 50th (1955) so I thought I’d make the 100th,” he said. The Mass at the Cox Center in downtown was far different than the one held at the State Fairgrounds a half century earlier. “The 50th was outside in a big field beside a highway,” he said. “I’ll see if I come back for the 150th.” Just before the Mass, the Corpus Christi Choir offered a soulful hymn of praise that had the Cox Center crowd clapping and singing along. A broad smile could be seen on the face of Father Bird as the enthusiasm built. The Mass opened with Archbishop Beltran and 16 bishops from Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Iowa and California processing in behind 105 priests from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa as the celebrants were greeted with a powerful rendition of “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” Celebrating the many faces and cultures that comprise the Church in Oklahoma, the Readings were offered in Spanish and Vietnamese. Giant video screens on each side of the altar translated the languages, making it easy to follow along. Wheelchairs and baby carriages were parked next to one another. Parents carried small children and walkers helped steady those whose hearts were willing, but whose legs were tired. Father Don Wolf of Assumption Church in Duncan, and a cousin of the late Father Stanley Rother, told the faithful the collection would go to the needs of the Church in Santiago, Atitlan, Guatemala. More than $32,000 was collected with members of the Knights of Columbus gathering the baskets. As Oklahoma Catholics know, Father Rother was assassinated at the Guatemalan mission on July 28, 1981. His cause is being promoted for sainthood. The spectacular and very moving Presentation of the Gifts featured Vietnamese liturgical dancers from both Our Lady’s Cathedral and Saint Andrew Dung Lac parishes. The presentation lasted close to 20 minutes. Spontaneous applause erupted throughout the arena at the conclusion of the presentation, causing a few gasps from some in the audience. The overwhelming response reflected a show of gratitude for the beautiful display of thanksgiving to our Lord. This was a special day for all, but for some it was also a very somber day. A day of faith, prayer and hope. Robert Mason served as an usher at the Centennial Mass. He is a member of Saint Madeline parish in Tulsa. The Centennial Mass was truly a day of celebration, sacrifice prayer and hope for this dedicated Knight. “My grandson, Jerry Powers, is in serious condition in a hospital in Louisiana,” he said. “He was in a bad accident last night. Someone broadsided him. I wasn’t going to come today because of that , but I decided I can do more good here today as an usher than I can at home. “I’ve turned everything over to the Lord and He’s pretty good at taking care of things for us.” Many families will also remember the day for the special recognition their loved ones received. Some 74 Oklahoma Catholics were presented with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice cross (Papal Cross) as a sign of their deep commitment to the Church. Archbishop Beltran presented each recipient with the honor. Tom Waken, one of those receiving the honor called it the “highlight of my life.” In his homily, Archbishop Beltran exhorted Oklahoma Catholics to live saintly lives. “We come here now to celebrate our centennial, not just as an historical moment but indeed as a moment of faith. This is a God-given opportunity to realize that we are called to become saints of God,” Archbishop Beltran told the audience. |
