After 24 years, there will be a changing of the guard on the organ at Holy Family Cathedral, when Farrell Dixon plays his last Sunday Mass May 27. In a career that has spanned nearly 55 years, beginning when he was in seventh grade in the Baptist church, Mr. Dixon has played in the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches before becoming a Catholic.
“It has been a wonderful experience, and I would do it all over again,” Mr. Dixon said, adding that he is “stepping down regretfully.”
Mr. Dixon’s retirement comes as a result of being diagnosed three years ago with Parkinsons disease. The disease has started to progress, making it difficult to play the organ he said, but he plans to continue teaching piano at Monte Cassino School.
The cathedral’s new organist and music director will be Ernest Neal, who has been music director at Christ the King Church for the past seven years. His first Mass at the cathedral will be June 3, on the Feast of the Holy Trinity.
“I am delighted and thrilled to be moving to Holy Family Cathedral to work with Msgr. (Gregory) Gier,” Mr. Neal said. “I am honored and humbled to be asked to follow Farrell Dixon.”
Mr. Neal also has been asked by Bishop Edward J. Slattery to become diocesan music director. Although he said he does not know what precisely the new position entails, he will be working for the yet-to-be-established liturgy and sacred music institute.
“I am very pleased that Ernest was appointed,” Mr. Dixon said of his successor.
His work as music director at Holy Family has included playing for many ordinations and weddings, and Mr. Dixon said he has enjoyed all aspects of the job but especially the wedding coordination in which his wife, Mary Jo has helped.
“She is a wonderful singer and cantor, and I couldn’t have pulled off these weddings without her help.”
“We will miss that,” he said, “but we will continue singing in the choir or volunteering at least for awhile.”
“I will miss working with Msgr. Gier and Msgr. (James) Halpine,” the cathedral’s rector emeritus. Mr. Dixon added that he has worked with nearly all of the priests in the Diocese of Tulsa at some point.
“He is as much a part of Holy Family as the pillars of this church,” said Msgr. Gier, Holy Family’s rector. “When people think of Holy Family, they think of (Rector Emeritus) Msgr. Halpine and Farrell Dixon. He will be missed, he is part of every one ís family, he has played every funeral, wedding and almost every Sunday Mass for 23 years.”
The monsignor said Mr. Dixon had hoped to stay until he was 70, “but his stepping down due to the illness takes integrity and honor.”
For the immediate future Mr. Dixon’s retirement plans include spending time traveling to visit his 24 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In a career path similar to his predecessor, Mr. Neal began playing music in a Baptist church where his father was the minister. He went on to play for Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches before he came to Christ the King.
He described his experience as a “process of searching. Playing in a non-liturgical setting, I always knew that there had to be more to worship. I wound up in the Anglican Church, which is highly liturgical, and there came to know the Eucharist.
“That led me to Catholicism, where there is no question that Christ is truly present,” Mr. Neal said. “I was a Catholic born in a Baptist body but did not become Catholic until coming to Christ the King.”
Pentecost Sunday, May 27, will be his last at Christ the King. In a parish bulletin article, Mr. Neal cited the stand-out work of the parish’s Gallery Choir and said, “While these new appointments are very exciting, I will miss you all very much, especially my choir families. God bless the Parish of Christ the King.”
