e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Diocese Realigns with GO for Catholic Schools; Veritas Program Discontinued
TULSA — After three years of operating Veritas, Bishop David Konderla has decided to discontinue this effort and realign with GO for Catholic Schools to provide financial aid to deserving students to attend Catholic schools.
"After much consideration, I have concluded that the best way to serve our students moving forward is to dissolve Veritas and renew our support of GO for Catholic Schools as the official tax credit scholarship fund of the Diocese," said Bishop Konderla. "By relying on a single tax credit fund, we reduce confusion and bring clarity to this critical initiative."
While Veritas, founded in 2021, is closing, the good work of raising tax credit scholarship funds will continue under GO for Catholic Schools Inc. — a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2012 that manages the GO for Catholic Schools Tax Credit Scholarship Fund.
"We look forward to supporting and collaborating with GO for Catholic Schools in the future to provide scholarships for our students," said Bishop Konderla. "Throughout its long history, GO for Catholic Schools has raised $11 million in scholarships for students at our Catholic schools."
GO will continue to make a high-quality, faith-enriched Catholic school education more affordable and accessible to all students and families, while empowering local Catholic schools to serve our communities for years to come. While GO exists to serve all Catholic school students, families, teachers, and communities, it has a special focus on serving students and families with the greatest need. For many of these families and students, a Catholic education might otherwise not be possible.
"Anyone who pays taxes in Oklahoma can support Catholic education by contributing through GO and get up to 75% of their contribution as a tax credit on their tax return,” said Jennifer Allen, Executive Director of GO for Catholic Schools.
For more information, click here.
More About GO for Catholic Schools:
GO for Catholic Schools Inc. (“GO”) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2012 that manages the GO Catholic School Tax Credit Scholarship Fund.
GO was founded to make a high-quality, faith-enriched Catholic school education more affordable and accessible to all students and families, while empowering our Catholic schools to serve their communities for years to come.
While GO exists to serve all Catholic students, families, teachers, schools and communities, it has a special focus on serving students and families with the greatest need. For many of these families and students, a Catholic education might otherwise not be possible without GO.
GO for Catholic Schools Inc.
PO Box 52820
Tulsa, OK 74152
info@GoforCatholicSchools.com
918-928-2950
EOC Photo by Daniel McCay
Bishop David Konderla speaks with elementary students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Muskogee.
New Development Director Named at St. Philip Neri; Funderburk Now With FOCUS
TULSA — Taylor Marshall began his new job as Development Director at the University of Tulsa's St. Philip Neri University Parish on July 1.
Originally from the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Marshall's professional background is in account management, focusing mainly in the healthcare space. He and his wife have three children and moved to Tulsa a year ago from South Carolina. They attend Holy Family Cathedral.
"He has quickly grown to love Tulsa and considers himself to be an 'Okie at heart,'" says pastor Fr. James Porter. "Please keep Taylor in your prayers as he starts his new role. St. Philip Neri, pray for us!"
Marshall says he is looking forward to connecting with the TU Catholic community.
"I look forward to building connections with all our wonderful donors who generously support campus ministry," said Marshall. "I extend my gratitude for this opportunity to serve."
Marshall succeeds Josh Funderburk who, along with his wife Lindsay, recently accepted a full-time position as FOCUS missionaries at the Parish of Christ the King. In this role, Funderburk will work alongside Branson and Emily Schroeder, current FOCUS missionaries, to help CTK parishioners in their faith journey. Funderburk officially started his new position on July 1.
Josh Funderburk and family
Taylor Marshall
More About St. Philip Neri University Parish:
The Saint Philip Neri University Parish was established in 1946 as a Newman Center to serve Roman Catholic students at the University of Tulsa. In 1991 it moved to its present location at 440 South Florence Avenue. On May 1, 2022 it became a Personal Parish to serve the college community at TU and in the Diocese of Tulsa.
An active ministry on the TU campus, St. Philip Neri provides weekly liturgies, as well as educational, social, and service opportunities for students of all faiths. Students enrolled at other colleges and universities in the Tulsa area are encouraged to participate.
Contact Information:
St. Philip Neri University Parish
440 S Florence Ave, Tulsa, OK 74104
Email: tu-newman@utulsa.edu
Phone: 918-599-0204
Brother With Ties to Diocese, Makes Solemn Vows as Benedictine Monk
LATROBE, PENN. — A man with Diocese of Tulsa connections is among a group of four monks who professed solemn vows, or vows for life, before Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., this past Friday at the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.
Brother Bede (Anthony) Maxson, O.S.B., is the grandson of Deacon Jerry Rutherford of St. Henry Catholic Church in Owasso, and was previously a parishioner of St. John Catholic Student Center while attending college at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Brother Bede originally hails from New Windsor, New York, and is a 2016 graduate of Cornwall Central High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace administration and operations from Oklahoma State University in 2019. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Catholic philosophical studies from Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York in 2021. He began studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in the fall of 2022.
He entered the monastic community of Saint Vincent Archabbey — the first Benedictine Monastery in the United States — as a novice on July 1, 2021, and professed simple vows on July 10, 2022. Following his first profession he was assigned as sacristan and vocation office guestmaster. In 2023, he was given the additional assignment of assistant to the director of vocations.
During his college years at Oklahoma State, he was a member of the Cowboy Marching Band and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. At home he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima Council. He is also a second-degree black belt in Soo Bahk Do.
He is the son of Jeff and Danielle Maxson of New Windsor, New York and the oldest of seven children.
"Once upon a time I had the honor to preside at the wedding of his parents, Jeff and Danielle," said Fr. Bryan Brooks, pastor of Broken Arrow's Church of St. Benedict, in a social media post. "Through the intercession of St. Benedict, may Br. Bede and his fellow monks persevere in their vocation."
Br. Bede (Anthony) Maxson, O.S.B, is the grandson of Deacon Jerry Rutherford of St. Henry Catholic Church in Owasso, and a former parishioner of St. John Catholic Student Center while attending college at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
MoreAbout Archabbey of Saint Vincent:
Established in 1846, the Archabbey of Saint Vincent is a community of monks, sharing a life in union with Christ Jesus, according to the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and the monastic Rule of Saint Benedict. Out of our common life and the celebration of the Eucharist flows our apostolic works, which are the lasting fruit that our discipleship bears to the glory of God. For this reason, young men are attracted to join us, coming to share our life and thereby sustaining our work, serving God, the Church and each other. Saint Vincent is comprised of four distinct areas: The Archabbey Monastery where the Benedictine monks live, the Archabbey Basilica where the Divine Office is prayed, Saint Vincent Seminary and Saint Vincent College which has close to two thousand students.
Augustinian Spirituality Topic of Tuesday Talk
TULSA — The Church of Saint Mary will host a talk about Pope Leo XIV and Augustinian spirituality presented by Fr. Philip Cook.
The event, scheduled for 7-8 p.m., this Tuesday, July 15, is open to the diocese.
What does it mean that our new pontiff is an Augustinian? Fr. Cook, Augustinian friar and headmaster of Cascia Hall Preparatory School, will seek to answer this and other questions.
What does it mean that our new pontiff is an Augustinian? Fr. Cook, Augustinian friar and headmaster of Cascia Hall Preparatory School, will seek to answer this and other questions.
Parish Hall doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for all to enjoy refreshments and socializing.
Bishop Celebrates 2 Confirmation Masses
DURANT — On Sunday, Bishop David Konderla celebrated not one, but two, Confirmation Masses at St. William Catholic Church in Durant, and there were no spare seats at either.
In addition to those being confirmed and their families, the Masses were also attended by a delegation of the Knights of Columbus from nearby Denison, Texas, as well as Durant City Manager Pam Polk and her extended family.
Father Carl Kerkemeyer serves as pastor of St. William as well as St. Patrick's in Atoka — the first Catholic Church established in Indian Territory in 1872.
Photos courtesy of Jim Harmon
Vinita's Annual Oktoberfest Set for October 11
VINITA — The 38th Annual Oktoberfest in Vinita will take place on the Holy Ghost Catholic Church campus from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct.11. Admission is free to this family-friendly event, attracting thousands across the four-state region.
Oktoberfest features all kinds of festival fare including authentic German, Native American, Asian, Mexican and American foods, all-day live entertainment featuring the German-American Society of Tulsa dancers, local talent, a spectacular silent auction, lots of kids games with prizes, a kid’s craft, bounce house, petting zoo, bucking bull and pony rides, cake walks, tours of the beautiful church stained glass windows, raffle prize drawings, and dozens of arts and crafts vendors.
The perennially popular event involves the whole community, and proceeds are gifted back to numerous charities and organizations.
Holy Ghost Catholic Church
120 W. Sequoyah Ave.
Vinita, OK 74301
918-256-2281
Website: holyghostvinita.org
E-Mail: holyghostvinita@gmail.com
Facebook: Oktoberfest of Vinita, OK
From the Editor...
In today's often hectic world, we know your time is precious. We're all constantly bombarded by messages and information on our electronic devices. Some of it is valuable, some of it ... not so much. So, we're thankful that you choose to spend a portion of your precious time reading this weekly newsletter, or our many daily social media posts, or viewing our podcasts, or reading the print edition of the EOC. It's all produced to inform you about the many things happening within the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma.
If you'll allow me to put on my communications director hat for just a moment, I can tell you that each member of our team is striving every day to provide the very best and most complete information possible in as timely a manner as we can. But like any truly effective communication, it's a two-way street.
Over the past several months, I've personally witnessed a greater level of input from parishes, individuals, and organizations. As a three-person staff trying to cover nearly half of the state, we simply can't be everywhere at once (even though we may try). This makes your suggestions, event notices, and news and photo submissions, absolutely vital to our mission. Please keep it coming!
The easiest and most effective way to inform us about upcoming events or submit materials is to simply email us at: communications@dioceseoftulsa.org. Once received, one or more of us will typically acknowledge and/or reach out to you for additional information as needed.
On a final note, our recent July issue of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic included a two-page spread about our annual communications appeal. You may have also previously received a letter in the mail. Many of you have responded and we are extremely grateful for your continued support and vote of confidence. As of this morning, more than 700 individuals had made a contribution to fund our Communications activities, putting us at nearly 70 percent of goal for the fiscal year that started July 1.
Thank you!
Gifts can be made online at https://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/gifteoc
Until next week, thanks for reading!
Chris Rush
Editor
"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" — Philippians 4:8
