The years go by more quickly all the time, and it is hard to believe that summer is already beginning. I hope that you are well. It is out of deep love and concern as your pastor that I am writing to the entire parish asking that together we look at how we treat the Lord’s Day. People have many activities and worthwhile interests occupying almost every day of the week; however, from the time Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai the Sabbath has been seen as the day of the Lord, and we are called by the Lord to keep it holy. For centuries, people of faith treated the Lord’s Day as special.  Churches were overflowing, and people always made time for church.  It was a way to stay connected to the Lord and to one another. Those of us who remember them have fond memories of those days.

The reality of life is that times change, but our need to remain close to our Creator remains the same.  I have been a priest for 27 years and your pastor for the last 12. In recent years I have noticed that Mass attendance on the weekend has dropped by about 15%. This concerns me greatly. Other priests I have talked with and even Gallup studies have shown that this is not unique to our parish. I have no doubt that the dark scandals scourging our Church have affected attendance.  However, it is important to remember that our faith is in the Lord, not in the institution or its ministers we rely on to celebrate the sacraments.

The greatest gift that the Lord gave to the world, other than our faith, is the gift of the Eucharist – his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – which he instituted at the Last Supper. The Sunday Mass gives us the opportunity to receive his Body and Blood, hear his Word, and celebrate with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Sadly, for a variety of reasons weekend Mass attendance is no longer at the top of many people’s priority list. All we have to do is look around to see that this gradual shift away from keeping Sunday for the Lord has not benefited society.  Violence is up, family problems are up, depression and substance abuse are up, people are more divided and discontent than in decades past, and the list could go on.

I am asking that you join me in really trying to enter into keeping the Sabbath holy. I know there are things that cannot be avoided, but Sunday Mass attendance should once again become a priority for all members of the Body of Christ. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection. When we are not all present, part of the Body is missing and is missed.

Some of you may be in a spiritual or other kind of crisis. If you are not here or don’t reach out to someone in the parish, we may not know and cannot help.  We are all part of this community, so if you have not seen someone at church in awhile, I ask that you consider reaching out to them just to see how they are doing. I am going to try to think of Sunday not as just getting up and celebrating four Masses each weekend, but as an opportunity to be with you and with the Lord and to receive his grace.

I know in summer many people travel, and going to Mass in another place or with another language can be very rewarding and interesting.  I pray that each of us individually and as a parish community will rediscover the beauty of the Lord’s Day. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 118, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” May God bless us all as we make this journey toward God’s Kingdom together.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.  (CCC 2181) 

Holy Days of Obligation

On holy days of obligation, Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass. Every Sunday is a holy day of obligation, as are six other days throughout the year. In Oklahoma the Feast of the Ascension is moved to Sunday, so the remaining holy days of obligation we observe in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City are:

• January 1: The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God
• August 15: Assumption of Mary into heaven
• November 1: All Saints’ Day
• December 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• December 25: Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord

Holy days are like Sundays in that Catholics must attend Mass and, if possible, refrain from unnecessary servile work. In the United States, Christmas Day (December 25) and the Immaculate Conception (December 8) are always days of obligation. Christmas and Easter (which always falls on Sunday) are the highest-ranking holy days, and the Immaculate Conception is the feast for the United States. 

First Communion for Children

First Communion is usually celebrated in the spring at Christ the King. Children usually prepare for and receive the sacrament during their second grade year. Children enrolled at Christ the King School receive their catechesis during the school day. Children not enrolled in Catholic schools receive their catechesis during Sunday religious education classes, following the 10am Mass.

If your child is ready to prepare for First Communion, please contact our RE Office at 843-4766 or margaret@ckokc.org.  

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

If you are not Catholic but are interested in learning more about the Faith, Christ the King offers RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) or Inquiry classes take place each Tuesday evening, beginning in the fall and continuing through Easter. While these classes are designed for non-Catholics or non-Christians who are interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith, they are often appropriate for baptized Catholics who have not practiced their faith or who have not completed the other sacraments of initiation (Holy Eucharist and Confirmation).  Anyone is welcome to attend these sessions, and there is never an obligation or pressure to become Catholic. Please contact Margaret Tunell, at 843-4766 or margaret@ckokc.org if you wish to learn more about RCIA. 

Catholics Coming Home

Catholics Coming Home is a way for Catholics who have been away from the Church for whatever reason to return comfortably to the practice of their faith and Holy Communion. Sessions provide the opportunity to pray, ask questions, share experiences and discuss issues. If Confession is needed before returning to Holy Communion, it can be arranged. If a canonical impediment to receiving Holy Communion exists, Fr. Rick will assist in addressing it. If you or someone you know is interested in returning to the practice of the Catholic Faith or would like to learn more about Catholics Coming Home, please contact Jenni Butch at (405) 843-4766 or jenni@ckokc.org.