Letter from Father Morgan

Published June 17th, 2022

In my last bulletin article, I stated that a Parochial Vicar would not be forthcoming to the Cathedral (the listing of assignments are in the latest edition of the Bishop’s Bulletin and on the Diocesan webpage for your perusal). For months, I had been interviewing an Eritrean priest, studying in Kenya, with the hope that he would come to us as our new Parochial Vicar, and
especially help with the Bakhita community, which has grown exponentially since my arrival. He knows five languages including English. In case you are wondering...even his theology courses are in English. As suspected, but not having a backup plan, obtaining his visa became entangled within the bureaucratic process at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. To complicate matters, Nairobi is in political turmoil as an election nears – travel not advised, inside or outside of the country. There is no guessing when, or if, this priest could arrive to us. Hence, I will be the only priest on staff. Fr. Tony Klein, the new chaplain at O’Gorman High School and Vocations Advocate, will be helping out on weekends, taking over for Fr. Thuringer. However, focusing on
Vocations work, his help on weekends could be limited. As I stated in my prior letter, it implies that changes to the sacramental schedule are imperative. First, know that we are keeping the weekend Mass schedule. No changes there: 4 p.m. Saturday Vigil, 7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday Masses will be kept intact. So, what changes are coming? Beginning on Friday, July 1,
the 6:45 a.m. Mass in the Chapel – Wednesday through Fridays – will be suspended indefinitely. The following day, Saturday, July 2, the 9 a.m. Mass celebrated in the Cathedral proper will be suspended, indefinitely. The bottom line is that the 6:45 a.m. weekday Mass in the chapel, and the 9 a.m. Saturday Mass in the Cathedral go away. I know this puts a burden on those desiring
an early Mass on their way to work. The Adoration Sisters have agreed to move their weekday and Saturday Mass schedule from the current 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. beginning July 1. What is the rationale for suspending these Masses? By and large, to prevent me from having to do 3 or 4 Masses a day. That is, two daily Masses and a nursing home Mass here and there, or
possible funeral for example; or in the case of Saturday, a daily Mass, a wedding and a Vigil Mass. With the demand on the Bishop’s time, the 4 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass will be relegated to the rector at least two Saturdays a month, if not more. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we have to deal with reality. My heart hurts as I write this letter. As I stated prior, we have a
shortage of priests, and the Bishop and the Personnel Board are doing the best that they can do with the priests that we have available...but also to understand, recently ordained men need time and formation to be prepared to step into a situation like the Cathedral. I pray that this will not affect the growth of the parish. It is so evident that “new life” has been breathed into the
Cathedral since the end of Covid – evident in the amount of new, young families that we have added, and yet bolstered by the dedication and commitment of the families and couples who have been here forever. If this is a challenge to our people, maybe it is in answer to the call of Vatican Council II: that it is the laity, not the priest, who creates and sustains a living, viable parish life; not necessarily recreating the ministry of the priest, but leading those areas of parish life where the laity are called to lead, especially with the education and formation of children and outreach ministries, social activities and the like. Volunteerism will be the strength of the Cathedral, God willing, in the long run. Tough letter, I know, but one that had to be written.

Come Holy Spirit Come!