HAPPY DAY, MOMMA!

May 11, 2012

Do you remember the old days when the telephone company was called “Ma Bell?” – and when it really was a megalithic, monopolistic, conglomerate? Those days, Ma Bell told you to “reach out and touch someone” because it was “the next best thing to being there.” Every year around Mother’s Day, I remember a great story recounted by Bob Collins, a much beloved radio personality on WGN radio in Chicago. Affectionately called “Uncle Bobby” by his many listeners, Collins was solidly opinionated about almost everything and pretty willing to share those opinions with his Southern twang and infectious charm. He died in a plane crash outside Chicago in 2000. I was in Rome at that time, visiting for the Holy Year. I heard about the crash from a Vatican priest.

Well, you put Ma Bell, Bob Collins, Mother’s Day together with a touch of famed Alabama football Coach Bear Bryant, and you have a story that I think of every year – for years – since I heard it.

It seems Bryant was making a “reach out and touch” phone commercial. He characteristically used his tag line “Call your Momma.” Under his breath and not part of the script he said, “I wish I could call mine.” South Central Bell kept it in.

Collins told the story about the commercial year after year, but it was the “back side” that really grabs me … So, here it goes.

A woman called South Central Bell after the Bryant commercial ran. She spoke with some advertising person who accepted the “nice call from the nice lady” with courtesy, and was ready to say “Thank you, Good bye” when the woman said: “No, wait, you don’t understand. My husband heard that commercial and he called his mother. They had not spoken to each other for some time. They had a wonderful visit over the phone.” The ad guy was pleased and prepared to end the conversation thinking the woman was finished. She said: “There’s one other thing … my husband’s mother died that night.”

Bear Bryant died in 1983. My Mother died in 1996.

Call your Momma – I wish I could call mine.

I don’t have to draw you a picture, do I?

Happy Mother’s Day – See you at Sunday Mass!

DESTINATION: THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH

May 3, 2012

I have traveled to many different cities around Europe and the United States; and one of the first places I like to visit in these cities is the local cathedral church. In Europe, that’s not so difficult because there are so many dioceses and most large cities have cathedrals. In the United States it may become a bit more challenging since the diocesan centers (and, hence, the cathedral churches) are fairly distant from each other. Nevertheless, cathedrals tell the great story of the faith for the local Church. They have become the living biographies, as it were, of the lives of our ancestors who have paved the way for us to be here and to live our faith today!

That brings me to today’s very interesting point. Our cathedral, under the patronage of St. Joseph the Workman, begins some major anniversary celebrations this Sunday, May 6, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. The Cathedral Parish begins its 150^th or sesquicentennial anniversary and the present cathedral church building itself begins its 50-year anniversary at the same time.

The history of our Cathedral Parish and current cathedral church are fascinating and exciting! To give you an idea: Did you know that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863? On Jan. 6, 1863, Trustees of the new St. Joseph Parish were elected. In 1864 ground was broken for the building of the new St. Joseph Church. In 1868, the Diocese of La Crosse was created with Bishop Michael Heiss as bishop and he named the new St. Joseph Parish as the site for the cathedral of his new diocese. The cornerstone was placed in May of 1869. Father Martin Kundig (of the newly created Archdiocese of Milwaukee) dedicated the cathedral on Oct. 2, 1870 because Bishop Heiss was attending the Vatican Council in Rome, leading the American delegation of bishops discussing the matter of Papal Infallibility (which was defined at this Council by Pope Pius IX).

As I was reflecting on the material that has been provided for this great anniversary celebration, I was astonished by the wonderful confluence of events that led up to the foundation of our diocese and the beautiful story of the establishment of our cathedral.

The cathedral is first and foremost the mother-church of the diocese. It is the bishop’s church and the place from which he leads, teaches, and governs the diocese. His chair in the cathedral is called the “cathedra” and only he may sit on it as the official shepherd and leader of the faithful of the diocese. Liturgies at the cathedral may, from time to time, lend themselves to a bit more solemnity than may be found in other parish churches. Many times that is due to the involvement of the bishop in those ceremonies and the rituals that often accompany them.

This anniversary celebration will take place at our cathedral for the coming year and will involve all of us in our diocese in one way or another – and everyone is invited – no, encouraged, heartily encouraged to participate. All the parishes will be invited to celebrate Mass at the cathedral through your deaneries and with your pastors and parish priests. Remember the Year of Faith will kick off on Oct. 11, 2012 and runs through to the Solemnity of Christ the King in 2013 (the end of November). Busy times lie ahead of us; they are exciting and stimulating for our faith and our lived expression of it.

I sure hope that you will find time to get to your cathedral this year. I have proclaimed a special indulgence for those people who make a pilgrimage to the cathedral and offer the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be for the special intentions of the Holy Father along with the reception of the sacraments of penance and Eucharist according to the custom of the Church. You can make a day of it in La Crosse. The city is trying to become more visitor-friendly and is providing some good family fun. We also have the beautiful Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe where daily Mass is also offered and a beautiful restaurant is available for great eats before heading back home to any of our 19 counties and beyond.

Celebrate your history and the great heritage found at our magnificent cathedral and I look forward to seeing you at Sunday Mass!

Feel free to forward this message to everyone you feel would enjoy reading it.