e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Archbishop Emeritus Beltran Laid to Rest
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Mass of Christian Burial for the Most Rev. Eusebius J. Beltran, Archbishop Emeritus of Oklahoma City, was held Sept. 24 at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine. Interment took place at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.
Principal Celebrant for the Mass was Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City. Principal Concelebrants included Most Rev. Peter Bryan Wells; Most Rev. Edward Joseph Weisenburger, Homilist; Most Rev. David Austin Konderla; Most Rev. Anthony Basil Taylor; and Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B.
Additional funeral coverage can be found at Sooner Catholic here.
Additional funeral coverage can be found at Sooner Catholic here.
In 2nd Year, Tulsa Catholic Women's Conference Draws 750 for Joyful Event
BY JEAN YAEGER
TULSA — The Tulsa Catholic Women’s Conference brought together an estimated 750 women on Saturday for a joyful and reverent celebration of the theme “Chosen Daughter.”
Women of all ages came to the Renaissance Convention Center in Tulsa for the event, which featured presentations by popular speakers. Sister Josephine Garrett shared a four-step exercise for breaking out of negative thought patterns by committing ourselves to the truth of God’s word. Lisa Cotter spoke on the unique gifts in God’s design of femininity. Kate Capato, a painter of sacred art, emphasized the power of beauty to reveal the Lord and open our hearts.
“Beauty is telling us something we need to hear, calling us into the Divine,” she said. “God is singing us a love song every day, and are we listening?”
Emcee Jill Simons encouraged the women to go back home to their families and parishes with a renewed understanding of their identity.
“Our loving Father has reminded each of us of a truth we must never forget: You are His chosen daughter. You are not an accident. You are not overlooked. You are not alone. Your gifts are meant to be shared with the world, to build up His Church. You are loved,” she said. “The Lord is sending you out as a missionary of His love, mercy and truth to a world that is aching for hope.”
The conference included Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, music, a breakout session in Spanish, and shopping at booths run by Catholic vendors.
Bishop David Konderla’s homily challenged the women to bear fruit from the seeds of wisdom, courage and strength planted at the conference.
“The challenge then for us is to go out and to think ‘Given where I am in my life, given who God is, what is the next step I could take that would draw my heart closer to the Lord’s?’” he said.
The Tulsa Catholic Women’s Conference (TCWC) is designed to provide the women of eastern Oklahoma with an encounter with God’s love and Church community. It offers generous hospitality, high-quality faith formation, and opportunities for worship and friendship. Save the date for the next TCWC coming Sept. 18-19, 2026.
EOC Photos
Southern Vicariate's St. Agnes to Host 10th Pilgrimage Mass of Jubilee Year
ANTLERS — The Southern Vicariate's St. Agnes Catholic Church in Antlers will host October's First Saturday Pilgrimage Mass at 10 a.m., Oct. This is the 10th montlhy pilgrimage Mass held by the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025.
Bishop David Konderla will celebrate the Mass with Pastoral Administrator Fr. Steve Austin, along with other visiting priests of the diocese. The theme and prayer intentions for this month is Immigrants and Victims of Trafficking. The morning will begin with Confessions from 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. Mass will begin at 10 a.m.
Bishop David Konderla will celebrate the Mass with Pastoral Administrator Fr. Steve Austin, along with other visiting priests of the diocese. The theme and prayer intentions for this month is Immigrants and Victims of Trafficking. The morning will begin with Confessions from 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. Mass will begin at 10 a.m.
The Antlers parish has a long history predating statehood. According to an account posted on the Oklahoma Historical Society website by author Velma Nieberding, the church was founded to serve the Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory.
“On November 23, 1896, the Right Reverend Theophile Meerschaert, Vicar Apostolic of the Indian Territory (later Bishop of Oklahoma) assigned the Reverend William Henry Ketcham to the mission of Antlers.”
Fr. Ketcham would go on to found a great many Catholic Missions throughout Indian Territory. The full story can be found online here.
Bishop Konderla has also designated the final Mass of this year's Three Hearts Pilgrimage at Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey as an official Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage site. The Mass will take place Oct. 11 at the conclusion of the penitential walk by an expected 3,000+ pilgrims. For more about Jubilee Pilgrimage sites and the remaining schedule, check out the diocesan website here.
Saint Francis Hospital Earns Three-Year Level 1 Trauma Verification
TULSA — Saint Francis Hospital has earned Level 1 Trauma Center verification from the American College of Surgeons, the highest designation available for trauma care. The full three-year verification confirms Saint Francis as a standard-setter for trauma care in eastern Oklahoma.
Most often, first-time Level 1 hospitals receive a one-year provisional verification that requires additional survey visits. Immediate three-year verification is uncommon and affirms that Saint Francis already meets the standards set by the American College of Surgeons—demonstrating the staff, systems and resources required to provide the most advanced trauma care both immediately and sustainably.
“This is about more than a title,” said Dr. Brock Goodwin, Saint Francis Hospital trauma medical director. “Level I verification means more lives saved, faster care and more resources for the most critically injured patients. It reflects decades of investment by Saint Francis and commitment to its community.”
The achievement is the result of years of investment and collaboration, according to G.T. Bynum, vice president of community and government affairs for Saint Francis.
“We are grateful to the Oklahoma Legislature for supporting Saint Francis and trusting us to build a trauma program designed for the long term," said Bynum. "By partnering with OSU to train the next generation of physicians, we can ensure Oklahomans will continue to receive this level of care for decades to come.”
What Makes Saint Francis Trauma Care Distinct:
• Training the next generation: A unique public-private partnership with the OSU Medical Authority, created and funded by the Oklahoma Legislature, allows Saint Francis to contribute to the education of future physicians, ensuring the program’s sustainability for decades to come.
• Legacy of excellence: For 65 years, Saint Francis has invested in eastern Oklahoma’s health, establishing a history of setting the standard in trauma, pediatric and critical care.
• Pediatric capabilities: As the only hospital in the region with pediatric specialties, including a pediatric emergency center, Saint Francis provides advanced trauma care for both adults and children, supported by the area’s only dedicated children’s hospital.
Saint Francis Hospital serves patients from across the state and beyond. More than half of Saint Francis trauma patients come from rural communities, where access to specialized care is limited.
“Level I verification affirms that world-class trauma care is not reserved for the largest metropolitan areas,” said Dr. Cliff Robertson, president and CEO of Saint Francis Health System. “It is available here in Tulsa, and it is built to grow and sustain for the future.”
Photo courtesy Saint Francis Hospital
Confraternity of Christian Mothers Celebrates 175th Anniversary
BY JEAN YAEGER
TULSA — Families came together recently for Mass and friendship at Holy Family Cathedral on Saturday to mark the 175th anniversary of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers.
The confraternity, founded in France in 1850, has active chapters at four parishes in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. Its mission aims to instruct and inspire women in virtues for the sanctification of themselves and their children. The confraternity welcomes all women, including those discerning marriage.
The Saturday, Sept. 13, Mass celebrant Bishop David Konderla pointed out in his homily that the child Jesus learned from and depended on Mary. “We think about the dignity God bestows on the vocation of mother and wife,” he said.
Deanna Hodgson is president of the chapter at Holy Family, where 67 members are enrolled currently. Joining four years ago gave Mrs. Hodgson a supportive, faith-filled, vibrant community rooted in prayer and the sacraments, she said.
Each monthly meeting includes Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, Reconciliation and a time for sharing testimonies. Homilies typically contain an exhortation to encourage the Confraternity members. Formation through the confraternity bears fruit in the lives of women as they fulfill their ordinary tasks – even changing diapers, she said.
“The culture of the home suffers if you’re not tapping into the wisdom and grace of mothers,” Mrs. Hodgson said.
Through the communion of saints, she said, enrollment in the confraternity links women around the globe and across time. Members in heaven pray for members on earth.
“The women who started the confraternity 175 years ago are still winning graces for us,” she said.
Local chapters can be found at Christ the King, Holy Family Cathedral and Most Precious Blood parishes in Tulsa, and Immaculate Conception in Pawhuska.
Saint of the Month:
St. Paul of the Cross
1694-1775 | Feast: Oct. 20
BY CANDACE BRYANT-LESTER
FAITH Catholic
Paolo Danei, founder of the Passionist Congregation, was born in northern Italy in the 17th century into a family that struggled to meet their daily needs. The second of 16 children, Paolo was one of only 6 who survived infancy.
At the age of 19 Paolo read Francis de Sales’ Treatise on the Love of God, which had a profound impact on him. This book, coupled with the instruction he received from Capuchin priests, caused him to undergo a deep conversion. He became convinced that God was most easily found in the passion of the Lord.
Despite the offer of a promising arranged marriage and a sizable inheritance, Paolo refused both in order to keep his life focused on the Lord. Through prayer, Paolo came to understand that he was called to start a religious order.
With the support of his bishop, Paolo attended a 40-day retreat in 1720 during which he drafted a rule for his religious community. Members of the order (which was initially called “The Poor of Jesus”) would lead a penitential life and encourage others to trust in God’s love manifested through Christ’s passion. He relocated to Rome in order to await approval for his new order, and ended up helping to establish a new hospital there.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1727 in St. Peter’s Basilica, and thereafter became a traveling preacher. He was a gifted preacher and was known for moving criminals, and even soldiers hardened by war, to tears when speaking to them of God’s love.
The Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ was formally approved in 1741. Today, the Passionists serve in 61 countries, continuing Paolo’s mission of spreading the love of Jesus Christ crucified.
By Plet philippe - Public Domain
San Pablo de la Cruz
1694-1775 | Festividad: 20 de octubre
Paolo Danei, fundador de la Congregación Pasionista, nació en el norte de Italia en el siglo XVII, en el seno de una familia que luchaba por cubrir sus necesidades diarias. El segundo de 16 hermanos, Paolo fue uno de los 6 únicos que sobrevivieron a la infancia.
A los 19 años leyó el Tratado del amor de Dios de Francisco de Sales, que le causó un profundo impacto. Este libro, unido a la instrucción que recibió de los sacerdotes capuchinos, le hizo experimentar una profunda conversión. Se convenció de que a Dios se le encontraba más fácilmente en la pasión del Señor.
A pesar de la oferta de un prometedor matrimonio concertado y una cuantiosa herencia, Paolo rechazó ambas cosas para mantener su vida centrada en el Señor. A través de la oración, llegó a comprender que estaba llamado a fundar una orden religiosa.
Con el apoyo de su obispo, en 1720 asistió a un retiro de 40 días, durante el cual redactó una regla para su comunidad religiosa. Los miembros de la orden (que inicialmente se llamó “Los Pobres de Jesús”) llevarían una vida penitencial y animarían a los demás a confiar en el amor de Dios manifestado a través de la pasión de Cristo. Se trasladó a Roma para esperar la aprobación de su nueva orden y acabó ayudando a establecer allí un nuevo hospital.
Fue ordenado sacerdote en 1727 en la Basílica de San Pedro y a partir de entonces se convirtió en predicador itinerante. Era un predicador dotado y era conocido por conmover hasta las lágrimas a criminales, incluso a soldados endurecidos por la guerra, cuando les hablaba del amor de Dios.
La Congregación de la Pasión de Jesucristo fue aprobada formalmente en 1741. Hoy, los Pasionistas sirven en 61 países, continuando la misión de Paolo de difundir el amor de Jesucristo crucificado.
From the Editor...
The October/November issue of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic began arriving in mailboxes late last week. Leading off, you'll see Bishop David Konderla's regular column in both English and Spanish. Beginning with this issue, Bishop Konderla has launched a series of columns entitled "Families on Mission" in which he examines the importance of the Domestic Church for the mission of Jesus Christ in the world. Additional columns will follow over the next several issues of the EOC. We will also make these columns in this series available digitally on our website here.
Nothing but rave reviews of this year's second annual Tulsa Catholic Women's Conference held this past weekend. Approximately 750 women attended and the one observation that comes shining through is "joyful." As editor, I could clearly see that joy as I reviewed dozens of photos taken at the event for publication. Congratulations to everyone involved. Now, the challenge is for the men of the diocese to put on a similar event. It is already in the works, and we'll keep you posted as plans unfold.
Of note, we are very pleased to announce that Saint Francis Hospital has been designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons. Saint Francis joins Ascension St. John, which earned the designation earlier this summer, as the only two hospitals in the region offering the highest level of trauma care to patients. Our Catholic healthcare systems here in eastern Oklahoma are truly second to none.
Our colleague, John Helsley at the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, has written a very nice remembrance of Archbishop Emeritus Eusebius Beltran for our sister publication Sooner Catholic. Here's the link to that story online. The December issue of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic will also include the full obituary and additional photos of Archbishop Beltran during is time here as Bishop of Tulsa.
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
This weekly e-newsletter is sponsored in part through the generous financial support of
