e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Father Charles Swett Laid to Rest
TULSA — The Funeral Mass for Father Charles Swett, 95, was celebrated on August 11, at Holy Family Cathedral.
Bishop David Konderla celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial, and Fr. Jack Gleason’s heartfelt homily touched priests, deacons, family, and all in attendance as he reflected on the life and ministry of Father Swett.
"Any grief we feel today is far outweighed by gratitude and hope, for the Lord who promised eternal life is faithful," said Fr. Gleason. "Fr. Swett lived in the midst of the people —not above them — feeding us with the Word of God, the Eucharist, lively conversation, and the tender mercy of Penance."
Father Gleason told mourners that Fr. Swett had a way of making God’s mercy immediate, available, and personal, knowing the absolute need for Him.
"Even in illness, when his words faltered, his life still spoke: the Good Shepherd never stops loving His flock," said Fr. Gleason. "We believe the desert of his suffering has now burst into bloom, his memory is clear, his strength renewed, and his joy complete. May he now hear those words every priest longs for: 'Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.'"
Fr. Swett had been retired from the active ministry for a quarter of a century, and his last years were spent in a long-term nursing care facility.
"Dying at age 95, he had outlived many those he had served in his 67 years as an ordained priest," said Fr. Bryan Brooks, Vicar for Priests of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. "It was then no surprise that at the funeral the laity were outnumbered by the priests. But nearly every priest of the Diocese was present. This included those who had limited or no experience of knowing Fr. Swett. It was profoundly moving to see so many of the presbyterate there to pray for this old priest. What a wonderful sign of unity and respect among the priesthood of Jesus Christ."
Following the Mass, graveside services were held at Calvary Cemetery where Fr. Swett was laid to rest within the Altar Circle of Priests. Afterward, Bishop Konderla blessed all the graves of priests buried there.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
EOC Photos by Daniel McCay
New Student-Created Mosaic Honors Patroness at Tulsa's School of St. Mary
BY JEAN YAEGER
TULSA — Students at the School of St. Mary in Tulsa helped bless a new mosaic of the Blessed Mother they created with colorful tiles, medals, seashells and other materials.
“It is a great joy that we come together on this Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to dedicate this image of Our Lady here at the entrance to our school,” said Father Stuart Crevcoure, pastor at the Church of St. Mary, during the short service on Friday.
Father Crevcoure blessed the mosaic with holy water as students gathered around, eager to point out the pieces they contributed.
School parent Anna Kallstrom, who teaches art at Bishop Kelley High School, coordinated the project. Mrs. Kallstrom drew the image and then worked with the children during the whole month of May to lay and attach the tiles. Special add-ons – including a miniature John Paul II figurine – decorate the stones at the bottom.
The mosaic measures 4 feet across and 6 feet in length in a depiction of Mary extending her arms in blessing. The posture shows Mary’s care as patroness of the school, showering the campus with the graces we need to grow in holiness, Father Crevcoure said. It’s mounted on an exterior brick wall.
“The mosaic was initially intended to beautify the school, include the students, and honor Suzanne Nelson for her 40+ years of service to Catholic education,” Mrs. Kallstrom said. “However, after getting to know more of the incredible moms at St. Mary’s, I also see it as a tribute to all the mothers who look to Mary for patience and perseverance in times of uncertainty.”
Her daughter Olena Kallstrom, a 7th grader, said her favorite part was Mary’s face. “I like how she looks so calm and looks protective of her children,” Olena said.
The blessing service included a Gospel reading from St. Luke and prayers for faith, hope, love and humility.
A plaque on the mosaic reads “Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for Us.”
Photo courtesy School of St. Mary
New Book Explores History of Clear Creek Abbey
TULSA — As Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey marks a quarter century since its founding as a humble priory in 1999, a local author brings the history behind the monastery to life in a new book, Cowboy Bethlehem.
“I wrote a book about Clear Creek Abbey along with my late father T. Gavin King,” says author Theodore King. “Cowboy Bethlehem was the nickname the monks gave to Clear Creek when they moved to Oklahoma in 1999. In the book we interviewed some of the monks. We also interviewed some of the people who relocated to be near the abbey. We go into the history behind Clear Creek which began with a program for the humanities at the University of Kansas back in the 1970s.”
The book also delves into the cultural impact Clear Creek has on the people who encounter it. The book has been endorsed by Bishop David Konderla as well as the pastor of a prominent Protestant congregation in Tulsa. Deron Spoo, pastor of First Baptist Church in Tulsa has taken retreats at Clear Creek and wrote an enthusiastic endorsement.
“Cowboy Bethlehem is not just a book for a Catholic audience; it is a book for all who seek truth,” says King.
King graduated from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah after attending Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He worked for several years in the Washington D.C. area before returning home to Oklahoma in 2001. He first encountered Clear Creek on a trip with his father in November of 1999 not long after the monks' arrival in Oklahoma from France. From 2005 to 2008 he was a fundraiser for the monastery's building project. He has written about Clear Creek Abbey for Our Sunday Visitor, Sooner Catholic and the EOC. He resides in rural Rogers County with his rescue dogs.
His father, T. Gavin King was an attorney for 50 years. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Tulsa school of law. The elder King was one of the first lay people to visit Clear Creek in 1999. That first visit began a friendship with the monks he cherished until his death in 2024 at the age of 90.
For more information about the book, click here.
Book Signing Event
Holy Family Cathedral
820 S. Boulder Ave.
Heiring Auditorium
(lower level of Cathedral)
12:45 p.m., Wednesday, September 10, 2025
(immediately following the 12:05 p.m. daily Mass)
Mr. King will read an excerpt from his new book Cowboy Bethlehem, answer questions, and sign copies of his book. The book will also be available for purchase.
A light lunch will be provided.
This event is free and open to the public.
Deacons, Wives Honored at St. Lawrence Mass; Formation Cohort Receives Rite of Lector
TULSA — The Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma recently celebrated Deacon Appreciation weekend, August 9-10, including the annual St. Lawrence Mass.
Bishop David Konderla presented Deacon Tim Sullivan with an official Apostolic Blessing from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of his Diaconate Ordination. Dcn. Sullivan, who serves at St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Tulsa as Director of Evangelization and OCIA at the parish, was presented the Blessing at the annual St. Lawrence Mass held Saturday at Holy Family Cathedral honoring permanent deacons and their wives. Dcn. Tim is pictured above with his wife Connie.
On August 7, Deacon Candidates reached another milestone in their formation as they participated in the Rite of Lector. The men currently in diaconate formation (pictured below) are part of a cohort that is expected to be ordained in 2027, joining more than 100 currently ordained permanent deacons within the diocese.
To learn more about Diaconate formation, click here, or contact Deacon Craig Victor, Director of the Diaconate, at dcn.craig.victor@dioceseoftulsa.org.
To learn more about Diaconate formation, click here, or contact Deacon Craig Victor, Director of the Diaconate, at dcn.craig.victor@dioceseoftulsa.org.
Photo by Bethany Kelley
For Second Time, Tulsa's Saint Francis Named Top 15 Health System in the Nation
TULSA — For the second year in a row, Saint Francis Health System is ranked as one of the top 15 Health Systems in the nation. The prestigious designation comes from the 15 Top Health Systems study by Premier and published by Fortune. In the medium-sized health system category, Saint Francis ranks No. 1.
Health systems do not apply for the ranking and winners do not pay to market the honor. Based on an unbiased analysis of Medicare data from 338 U.S. health systems, the study uses a balanced scorecard approach with measures across four pillars: clinical outcomes, extended outcomes, operational efficiency and patient experience.
“This is a great honor for Saint Francis and recognition of the hard work our 12,000 team members are doing every day to provide the best patient care," said Saint Francis President and CEO Dr. Cliff Robertson. "At all levels of our system, we work constantly to keep our quality high, and this recognition is great verification that we're meeting that standard.”
Premier’s 15 Top Health Systems™ Annual Report includes a comprehensive analysis of the data supporting the top performers. Read the full report here.
Saint Francis is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system based in Tulsa. It is the largest private employer in eastern Oklahoma with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,000 physicians.
Scenes From Around the Diocese
A number of events are happening all over the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma on any given day. So many, in fact, it is difficult for our small staff to be everywhere at once. Below is just a sampling of recent events captured by our own photographers as well as photos submitted by others. Do you have a photo of an event at your parish or school? Submit them for possible publication in diocesan social media and/or the EOC at Communications@diocseoftulsa.org
EOC Photo by Daniel McCay
Bishop Kelley High School seniors welcome 252 freshmen to campus on Monday, Aug. 11 with the annual “Kiss Your Mom Goodbye” tradition on the first day of school. As part of their rite of passage, when freshmen arrive on campus Monday morning, they are met by welcoming seniors encouraging the new students to kiss their parent or guardian goodbye before heading into their first day of high school.
Photo by Lori Scholl
On Sunday, August 10, at the parish of St. Augustine in Tulsa, Bishop David Konderla celebrated a combined Confirmation Mass for the parishes of St. Monica Catholic Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church.
Photo courtesy of Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus Holy Family Council 10388 presented a $3,000 check to seminarian Peter Sartorius during its monthly council meeting on August 5. The funds were raised primarily through the council’s successful “Pancakes for Peter” event, with additional contributions from the annual Mardi Gras Gala and other initiatives. Council 10388 also proudly supports another seminarian, Luke Bland, as part of its mission to foster vocations within the diocese.
From the Editor...
Although the continued heat may tell us otherwise, summer activities are winding down and fall events are gearing up. We could feel the transition happening last week as students returned to the classroom for a new school year. So too, will Seminarians of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma return to their respective campuses for another year of formation.
If you attended the Bishop's Annual Seminarian Education Dinner recently, you may have had a chance to meet some of 16 current Seminarians and the five new men who begin their journey this fall. The annual dinner raises much-needed funds to support seminarians financially — tuition and living expenses — during their lengthy education and formation process.
It has been the steadfast determination of Bishop Konderla and the Diocese that no young man discerning the Priesthood should face financial burden in doing so. As a result, the Diocese fully funds tuition and living expenses for each of the young men throughout their discernment and education journey.
We just recently learned that his year's dinner set a record number for attendance with more than 300 guests and has already raised more than $215,000 for the St. John Vianney Endowment Fund. This fund was created to specifically support the education and training of Seminarians in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. Your support helps ensures more young men who answer God's call may do so unburdened by finances.
It may be but one contributing factor in why our Diocese was recently ranked in in the top five in the nation for the number of priestly ordinations as percentage of our Catholic population. But, as I'm sure our Director of Vocations Fr. Duy might say, we're not resting on any laurels. There's much work to be done and the demand for priests in the diocese and across the nation will only continue to grow as older priests retire and more and more people come into the Catholic faith.
If you were unable to attend this year's dinner, but would like to support Seminarian Education, please visit: https://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/sedonate.
If you were unable to attend this year's dinner, but would like to support Seminarian Education, please visit: https://www.dioceseoftulsa.org/sedonate.
Chris Rush
Chief 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
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