e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Funeral Services for Former Chancellor of Diocese, Dr. Henry Harder, Held Today
TULSA — Dr. Henry Louis Harder, father of Rev. Ken Harder, and former Chancellor for the Diocese of Tulsa, died peacefully on July 15.
He was born in Van Buren, Ark., on Oct. 8, 1936, the son of the late August Maxwell Harder and Nadean Ann (Crawley) Harder.
He received his elementary education at St. Boniface School in Fort Smith and his secondary education at Subiaco Academy. He completed the requirements for a baccalaureate degree in philosophy at Subiaco in 1958 and subsequently received a master’s degree in English from the University of Arkansas, a doctorate in English from the University of Maryland, and a post-graduate fellowship at Harvard University.
In 1960 he married Ramona Frances (Johnson) Harder and they had five children: Karen, Monica, Kenneth (a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa), Stephen, and David.
Harder was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1960 and completed the requirements to become a naval aviator in 1961. In addition to his active duty service as a pilot, he served on the faculty of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for four years. He retired from the Naval Reserve as a captain in 1991.
Following a year of service on the faculty of Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, Dr. Harder joined the faculty of Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Mo., where he taught for 28 years, specializing in Medieval Literature and Linguistics, and was a professor.
After retirement from the academy in 1998, Dr. Harder joined the staff of the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa. He served as an auditor in the Diocesan Tribunal for more than 12 years. He was named chancellor of the Diocese of Tulsa by the late Bishop Edward Slattery in 2000 and served in that capacity until retiring in 2006.
During his tenure at the Diocese of Tulsa he was named a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and served on the Catholic Charities Board of Governors; the Catholic Charities Finance Committee; the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph’s Residence; the Board of Trustees of Calvary Cemetery; the Board of Trustees of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Oklahoma; the Diocesan Finance Council, the Diocesan Investment Committee; and the Board of Trustees of the Bishop Kelley High School Endowment Fund.
Funeral Services for Dr. Harder:
Visitation and Rosary were held Sunday evening at Fitzgerald Funeral Service Southwood Colonial Chapel
3612 E. 91st St. S, Tulsa, OK
Monday, July 21
9 a.m. – Funeral Mass
St. Anthony of Padua
Catholic Church
515 S Morton Ave, Okmulgee, Okla
1 p.m. – Burial
Fort Smith National Cemetery,
Fort Smith, Ark.
Presiding at the funeral Mass will be the Most Reverend Daniel Mueggenborg, Bishop of Reno, Nevada and the Most Reverend David Konderla, Bishop of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma. Concelebrating will be the Very Reverend Kenneth J. Harder, JCL and priests of the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.
To read the full obituary, go to: https://www.fitzgeraldfuneralservice.com/obituaries/henry-harder-2/#!/Obituary
Deacon candidates of the 2027 cohort.
Rite of Lector Set for 17 Deacon Candidates on August 7
TULSA — The public is invited to witness the next stage of formation for Deacon Candidates in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 7, at Holy Family Cathedral.
The 17 men currently in diaconate formation are part of a cohort that is expected to be ordained in 2027, joining more than 100 currently ordained permanent deacons within the diocese.
"The Diocese of Tulsa and the Catholic Church in the United States have a robust and lively permanent diaconate, which is a vital sign of a healthy and mission-oriented Church," says Deacon Craig Victor, director of the diaconate for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. "Permanent deacons, rooted in the sacrament of Holy Orders, bring Christ’s presence into the world through their service at the altar, the Word, and especially among the poor and marginalized."
A recent report published by the Center for Applied Research found that of the estimated 13,864 permanent deacons in active ministry in the United States, fewer than 4 percent are under the age of 49, and fewer than 1 percent — or just 138 deacons — are in their 30s.
According to Dcn. Victor, the Diocese of Tulsa currently has 102 deacons on its roster with the average age at ordination being 52 years old. Of those 102 deacons, 43 were under the age of 50 (42.1%) and nine were under the age of 40 (8.8%) at ordination.
"We have six deacons in their 40s (5.8%) and one deacon in his 30s," said Dcn. Victor. "Our oldest active (with a parish assignment) is 93 years old. Our youngest deacon is 38 years old."
He says the diverse vocational witness—often as husbands, fathers, and professionals—enriches parish life and helps bridge the Church and the everyday world with compassion, humility, and practical love.
"A thriving diaconate strengthens the Church's outreach and deepens her commitment to the Gospel."
Deacon Candidates
2027 Cohort:
Dr. Rob Agnew
St. Francis Xavier, Stillwater
Everett Buyarski
Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa
Todd Cruice
St. Patrick, Sand Springs
Matthew Dunham
Church of Saint Mary, Tulsa
Dr. Francis Grabowksi, III
Christ the King, Tulsa
Kendall S. Hanson
St. Francis Xavier, Stillwater
Lawnie Hess, Jr.
St. Cecilia, Claremore
Matthew Kalla
St. Pius X, Tulsa
Chuck Kelley
Saint Benedict, Broken Arrow
Anthony Kham Lam Khai
St. Pius X, Tulsa
Frank Malkemus, Jr.
Church of the Resurrection, Tulsa
Robert Ernest Martin
Saint Benedict, Broken Arrow
Fernando Nevarez
St. Clement, Bixby
Giang John Nguyen
St. Joseph Vietnamese, Tulsa
Robert Ponce
St. Francis Xavier, Stillwater
Craig Rhodes
St. Henry, Owasso
David Schlittler
Church of Saint Mary, Tulsa
The Rite of Lector is one step closer to the ordination as permanent deacons. Lectors are charged with proclaiming the readings from the sacred Scriptures (except the Gospel), announcing the intentions in the Prayers of the Faithful (in the absence of a deacon) and reciting or singing the responsorial Psalm if there is no cantor during Mass. Distinct from a typical parish lector, these men will now exercise this ministry in a permanent way.
Save the Date: St. Anne to Host MOCtoberfest on October 18
BROKEN ARROW — St. Anne Catholic Church will host its annual MOCtoberfest from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. .on Saturday, Oct. 18, and invites the public to attend and support its major fall fundraiser of the year.
The name MOCtoberfest comes from the church's Ministry of Compassion (MOC), the heart of the parish’s charitable mission. The event brings together the parish and the greater Broken Arrow community for a day of celebration and service. All proceeds support the Ministry of Compassion—a vital outreach that provides food, counseling, ESL classes, and emergency assistance to those in need throughout Broken Arrow and Coweta.
Each year, MOCtoberfest draws hundreds of attendees from the parish and local community. It's a celebration of faith, family, and generosity, where every ticket, every meal, and every raffle entry helps someone in need. It’s a family-friendly, faith-filled day of food, music, games, fellowship, and Catholic outreach.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Live music all day long from local performers and parish talent
Kids Zone with games, bounce houses, and family activities
Food trucks & booths featuring local favorites and parish treats
Silent auction & raffle prizes donated by community partners
Beer garden (21+ with ID)
A welcoming space for neighbors, newcomers, and long-time parishioners alike
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to the website here.
Cascia Hall's Fr. Philip Cook Talks of Pope and Augustinian Spirituality:
TULSA — Fr. Philip Cook, Augustinian friar and headmaster of Cascia Hall Preparatory School, presented a talk on Pope Leo XIV and Augustinian Spirituality at the Church of Saint Mary on Tuesday night in front of an overflow crowd.
“Augustine has kind of resurfaced with the election of Pope Leo,” said Fr. Cook. “Saint Augustine wrote about 113 books that have survived, over 200 letters, over 500 sermons, all of which has come down to us. It's massive. It would take lifetimes to read through all that and explore all that.”
Fr. Cook focused his talk on the Augustinian charisms, how Augustinian spiritual tradition might influence Pope Leo's papacy, and also highlighted his own personal encounters with the pope when he was known as Fr. Robert Prevost, or simply "Fr. Bob," while serving as the Augustinian Provincial for the Midwest Province and on the board of directors at Cascia Hall.
Fr. Cook focused his talk on the Augustinian charisms, how Augustinian spiritual tradition might influence Pope Leo's papacy, and also highlighted his own personal encounters with the pope when he was known as Fr. Robert Prevost, or simply "Fr. Bob," while serving as the Augustinian Provincial for the Midwest Province and on the board of directors at Cascia Hall.
Fr. Cook began his talk by relating how a protestant minister he knows made the observation shortly after Pope Leo's selection that Christianity stands at a juncture.
"He's saying that this moment now is an Augustinian moment in our history, and he makes the observation that throughout the history of Christianity, going all the way back, in times of crisis or in times of transition, in times of difficulty, St. Augustine becomes more popular," Fr. Cook told the audience. "It's as if we, as a Christian community, go back into the deposit of faith and retrieve from our collective wisdom, insights to help us in our discipleship of Jesus Christ in the world today."
Using a humorous anecdote, Fr. Cook told his audience that Augustine's wisdom reminded him of eating a bowl of his favorite breakfast cereal as a child.
"When you're a kid, when you're eating Lucky Charms and you get the little marshmallow part, (and) you're like, 'ooh, these are good!' When eating through St. Augustine, he has bits of profound wisdom and insight and passion and love for Jesus Christ that come out and that have fed Christians, have nourished Christians, for 1,600 years," explained Fr. Cook. "So, he still has his appeal for many, many people in the world today."
To view a video recording of Fr. Cook's presentation in its entirety, click here.
EOC Photos by Chris Rush
Bishop Pays Visit to Saint Patrick's in Atoka
ATOKA — Father Carl Kerkemeyer, pastor of St. Patrick in Atoka and St. William in Durant, submitted the photo below from Bishop David Konderla's recent visit to the historic Atoka parish in southeast Oklahoma. Atoka has the distinction of being where the first Catholic church in Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) was established in 1872.
"An official historical marker was set up on the grounds of (formerly) St. Francis Church at Atoka, Indian Territory, in 1972, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of St. Patrick's Church and pointing to its original site some blocks east in Atoka, east of the MK&T Railroad tracks," reads a history of the parish by Br. John Michalicka. The original St. Patrick's Church building was destroyed years earlier in a windstorm.
To read Br. Michalicka's early history account of St. Patrick's in Atoka posted on the Oklahoma Historical Society website, click here.
July Saint of the Month:
St. Cajetan
1480-1547 | Feast: August 7
BY CANDACE BRYANT-LESTER/FAITH CATHOLIC
St. Cajetan was ordained a priest in 1516, just one year before Martin Luther published his “95 Theses.” Cajetan had no desire to split from the Church, however; his goal was to reform and restore it.
Born Gaetano dei Conti di Thiene in Italy, Cajetan grew up in a noble, pious family who dedicated him to the Blessed Mother as an infant. He eventually studied law and worked for the papal court in Rome for a time. Upon the pope’s death, Cajetan returned to his hometown of Vicenza to serve the neediest and poorest.
In 1522-23, he built two hospitals for “incurables” – one in Vicenza and one in Venice. Later in his life he created a bank to help the poor – the Bank of Naples – which offered an alternative to the loan sharks that preyed upon them. In exchange for his services, Cajetan asked patrons to “pay” him back by saying prayers or rosaries.
In addition to providing avenues for physical healing, Cajetan devoted his life to ecclesiastical reform and spiritual healing. In 1524 he and four companions (including the future Pope Paul IV) founded a new order: the Congregation of Clerks Regular, known as the Theatines. The goal of the order was to combine reform of the clergy with apostolic service and preaching the Gospel.
Cajetan died in 1547 of natural causes and was canonized in 1671 by Pope Clement X. His relics are buried in Naples in the Church of San Paolo Maggiore.
More About the Congregation of Clerks Regular, or Theatines:
Today the order is active in Italy, Spain and, in the United States, in several locations in the state of Colorado. The Theatine constitution says: “Our particular form of religious life, inspired by the Acts of the Apostles, requires above all, giving everywhere a witness of the resurrection of the Lord, to persevere devoted to prayer and to the Ministry of the Word.”
From the Editor...
You may have noticed that today's e-newsletter went out several hours earlier than normal. We typically send it out at noon on Mondays. But with this morning's funeral services for former Chancellor of the Diocese of Tulsa, Dr. Henry Harder, we wanted to send it out early enough for those who had not yet received the news.
I never had a chance to meet Dr. Harder in person, but based on his remarkable obituary (available online here), it is clear that he was a very gifted and accomplished man who led a life of distinguished service to his country, higher education and the Church.
His services were scheduled for this morning at 9 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Okmulgee, with burial to follow at 1 p.m. at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Presiding at the funeral Mass will be the Most Reverend Daniel Mueggenborg, Bishop of Reno, Nevada, and the Most Reverend David Konderla, Bishop of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma. Concelebrating will be the Very Reverend Kenneth J. Harder, JCL, as well as priests of the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.
Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and especially his son, Fr. Ken Harder, a priest of the diocese currently serving in Okmulgee.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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
