GARY – The faithful of the Diocese of Gary were warmly welcomed to their spiritual home, the Cathedral of the Holy Angels, for a Christmas Eve Mass filled with beautifully sung traditional carols and a message of rejoicing in the birth of the Savior.
Bishop Robert J. McClory, with Father Michael Surufka, OFM, rector of the cathedral, as concelebrant, presided over the afternoon Mass in a worship space decorated with tall green trees adorned with twinkling lights, poinsettia plants and a large nativity scene placed next to the ambo.
“Maybe it’s been a tough year, a challenging year, but today is a day to rejoice, to celebrate the love of God poured out upon us in his son, Jesus,” said Bishop McClory in his homily. “The Lord is so good (and) he has blessed us mightily.
“There are lots of inspiring spiritual figures, and inspiring people in literature … Jesus is not a myth, he lived, he died and he rose again and he did that out of love for us,” declared the bishop. “The reality of Jesus is given to us in the nativity scene, the creche that has the figures showing us the birth of Jesus.”
Noting that it was 500 years ago this Christmas that St. Francis Xavier brought together the first nativity scene with living figures, “including a donkey, ox, cow, a wooden manger and some straw,” the bishop explained that “all were invited to come and rejoice in the birth of Jesus – in a real time, in a real place.”
While God created a beautiful world for his humans to live in, forbearers Adam and Eve believed in “the lies of the evil one, and said no thanks to God,” explained Bishop McClory. “Original sin had all kinds of effects, and God tried in so many ways to reach out to us … but (finally) we’re told in scripture that Mary will bear a son and he will save his people from their sins, and he came to reveal his love for us and to save us.”
While visiting many of the diocese’s parishes this past year, Bishop McClory said, “One of the most beautiful things was just people telling their stories, and how God has been with them in their lives. For 20-year-olds, it was (about) knowing more about the faith … and they were enthused because it was all new to them, while to some in really painful situations, who were really hurt, they said they came to church and found this really good priest who listened to me and prayed with me.
“It’s real, they didn’t just make this up,” the bishop pointed out. “The solution is so easy, ‘Jesus saved me.’
“Today, open your hearts to receive Him, in the house of bread, the Eucharist,” Bishop McClory implored. “Let the Lord love you today. Let that mercy pierce your heart as we receive the Eucharist.”
Lector Jose Valtierra, a parishioner at Holy Angels, was celebrating not only the Christmas holiday, but the completion of his family’s Posadas, a nine-day novena of rosaries and meals leading up to Christmas Eve. “I got to proclaim the Word of God and express myself through him, and my grandson, Gregory Ramos, also lectured with me.”
Dan and Ann Ruggaber, of Valparaiso, came to the vigil Mass at the cathedral “looking for peacefulness” to counter the grief of a recent death in their family and the chaos in the world,” said Ann Ruggaber.
“Our God loves us so much that with that love he sent us the Savior,” added Dan Ruggaber.
The couple were joined by their son, Philip Ruggaber of Norwich, Ct., and Ann’s sister, Mary Bedel of Muncie.
“I try to come here each year for Christmas with my wife, Maribel, to be close to my family, or they come to us,” said Philip Ruggaber.
Bedel smiled as she listened to the carols sung either by the Cathedral of the Holy Angels Choir or the St. Albert the Great Choir composed of members of the Dan and Anna Ahern family, of Whiting. The couple attended with all eight of their children, six of whom (Joseph, Christina, Catherine, Stephen, James and Margaret) sing a Renaissance style of music with their father, and two younger siblings, Leo and Agnes.
“My parents, Terry and Pam, were married here 56 years ago,” recalled Dan Ahern. “We come to honor our Lord by singing traditional music, and the acoustics are so beautiful in the cathedral.”
David Vicari, director and piano accompanist for the Cathedral of Holy Angels Choir, said he never picks the Christmas hymns without including “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night.”
“It’s very intentional that our selections are traditional,” he added. “Music is meant to enhance the liturgy, and that’s what we try to do. “O Holy Night” was chosen as the communion meditation hymn at the request of soloist Renee Miles-Foster, Vicari added, “and she did a beautiful presentation.”
Linda Webb, a choir member for close to 25 years whose special prayers this season are for a kidney donor, said the vocalists rehearse about two hours a week year-round for Sunday and holiday liturgies. “There is just a beautiful Holy Spirit here at Holy Angels and while I sing I think of how good God has been.”
Caption: During the recessional procession, Bishop Robert J. McClory (front, right) smiles as he blesses the faithful and is preceeded by Father Michael Surufka (left), O. F. M., rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Angels, and followed by Deacon Martin Brown (center), at the Christmas Eve vigil Mass on Dec. 24 in Gary. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)