ANTLERS — Worshippers gathered under a big tent in a grassy field next to St. Agnes Church on Saturday morning for the tenth monthly pilgrimage Mass as part of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. 

  The yearlong pilgrimage has drawn big crowds as it makes its way across the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. Because the capacity inside St. Agnes Church maxes out at about 100, a roomy tent was set up outside the building. An estimated 250 people attended with perfect weather.
  Priests from across the Southern Vicariate joined Bishop David Konderla in celebrating the Mass in English and Spanish. The pilgrimage theme for October – justice and protection for immigrants and victims of trafficking – was reflected in hymns and petitions. 

  “We should ask God for the grace to be able to think of ourselves as His child and to look at others and see the child of God in them,” Bishop Konderla said in his homily.
  Priests heard confessions in the open field prior to Mass. Volunteers from parishes in Antlers, Hugo, Boswell and Durant directed traffic, sang in the choir and passed out sack lunches to departing pilgrims. St. Agnes parishioner Joyce Brooks was excited to welcome so many visiting Catholics to rural Oklahoma. “Don’t forget us. We’re here,” she said.
  In the early hours before the pilgrimage Mass began, youth from the Choctaw Nation Youth Advisory Board worked diligently to set up tables, chairs, and accessories beneath the big tent. The young leaders voted unanimously to serve at this event, choosing it as one of the ways they could give back to their community. 

  At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Konderla invited all pilgrims to identify the female saints depicted on the stained-glass windows inside the church and be among the first three to win a prize. Winners hailed from Antlers and Tulsa: Carrie Peña and Dolores Parades of St. Agnes Parish, and Kathy Sands of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish.

  The Jubilee Year of Hope monthly pilgrimages continue Nov. 1 at Sacred Heart Mission in Heavener. The theme will be Missionaries & Those Who Have Not Yet Encountered Jesus Christ. For more information about future pilgrimage sites and the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, click here.  

  BOLEY — Joined by a small contingent from the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, Bishop David Konderla celebrated Mass at the John Lilley Correctional Center last Thursday afternoon. This was the bishop's first visit to the minimum-security facility in rural Okfuskee County. 

  The bishop was joined by Fr. Robert Duck who pastors parishes in Henryetta, Holdenville, and Okemah, and serves as Vicar Forane for the Eastern Vicariate; and Fr. Khiet Nguyen, Chaplain for Prison Ministry and Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Serving at Mass were Dcn. Alan Mikell of Tulsa, Director of Prison Ministry for the diocese; and Dcn. Stephen Dunbar of Krebs.

  Bishop Konderla began his homily with a provocative question, "Suppose I told you I knew where there was a box with $100 million in it here in the state of Oklahoma. Would you be interested in knowing where that box is?" He went on to explain that clear instructions and directions would be needed to find such a treasure.

  "This is a way to think about God's law and what we hear in the first reading today referred to as the book of the law. In other words, the scripture," said Bishop Konderla. "The scripture tells us how to get to that thing that matters more than anything else in the world. A personal and deep relationship with God that lasts eternally in this life and all the way into the life of heaven."

  The Mass attracted approximately 30 inmates dressed in orange to the prison chapel. Several of those who attended were not Catholic but curious. Many of the non-Catholics came forward to receive a blessing from the Bishop Konderla. One Catholic inmate, named Patrick, said that regular Mass at the facility initially began with only himself and one other detainee in attendance but it has steadily grown in numbers.

  The minimum-security facility is designed to house up to 820 detainees, many of whom may be nearing the end of their sentences within the state correctional system. Unlike other medium or maximum-security facilities, detainees were more or less free to come and go across the facility which, except for the high razor wire fence surrounding it, resembled a high school campus with plenty of green space shaded by mature sycamore trees. The bishop and the contingent from the diocese mixed freely and conversed with several detainees, many of whom were eager to greet and shake hands.

  Also in attendance was State Rep. Jim Grego, a rancher and Catholic parishioner from Wilburton; and Frank Gregory, chaplain for the detention center.

  SHAWNEE — Right Reverend Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey invites Catholics from around the state to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Abbey's founders, Fr. Isidore Robot, OSB and Br. Dominic Lambert's, OSB. Their arrival in Indian Territory on Oct. 12, 1875, signaled the beginning of a permanent Catholic presence in what would become Oklahoma. 

  On Sunday, Oct. 12, a Mass to commemorate the beginning of the Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary will be held at 10 a.m. in the Abbey Church with a luncheon following on the Abbey Grounds. RSVPs are appreciated for Mass and lunch so that organizers can plan accordingly. Those planning on attending, who haven't yet responded, are asked to please email Theresa Bragg at tabragg@monksok.org.
  The following day, on Monday, Oct. 13, the Abbey will continue the celebration with the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Diocese of Tulsa. Mass will be celebrated at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City at 4. p.m.
  Special guests on Monday will include Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Papal Nuncio to the United States; Archbishop Peter Wells, the Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand and Cambodia and Apostolic Delegate to Laos; Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa, numerous other Bishops, Abbots, Priests, Deacons, and representatives of several religious communities from around the world.
  Both the Sunday and Monday Mass will be livestreamed and links will be available at www.monksok.org and on Facebook. 

  These two events officially launch an 18-month celebration of the sesquicentennial. A series of celebrations to commemorate the significant stages of the foundation story will culminate on June 7, 2027 —the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of full monastic observance at Sacred Heart Mission.

  HARTSHORNE — Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hartshorne celebrated 130 years of history on Saturday with an afternoon Mass followed by a picnic on the lawn of the spacious parish grounds.

  This was the second Mass celebrated by Bishop David Konderla that day. Earlier that morning he had also celebrated the monthly pilgrimage Mass in Antlers. As is his custom, the Bishop presented his homily in both English and Spanish to the approximately 150 who were gathered.

  "This is a day when we had the opportunity to attend the mass twice, because this morning we had a mass for our jubilee, right? A Jubilee of Hope," said Bishop Konderla. "And today we are celebrating the Holy Rosary. Here is the Rosary that I have in my bag every day. It's a simple one, with 10 beads. This is the Rosary that I carry with me every day."

  He explained that he kept a simple Rosay with him at all times so that he could pray at any time, even while driving.

  "The Rosary is a very simple prayer, but then that's the point," said the Bishop as he began the homily. "We heard in the Gospel recently Jesus say, unless your heart becomes like that of little children, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. The Rosary is very simple, and that's the reason why it's good, because Jesus was saying in the Gospel that unless our heart becomes like a child, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. It's because, as children, we can accept what the Lord says, with our kindness, because He loves us."

  A great many families with young children were in attendance. Following the Mass, large inflatable toys awaited them outdoors, along wth an abundance of hamburgers, hot dogs, street tacos, Italian food, and more. Parishioners gathered at long tables underneatch the shade of tall pine trees to enjoy the food and fellowship.

  In his comments at the conclusion of the Mass, church pastor Fr. Leonardo Medina reminisced about the growth and physical improvements at the parish and he thanked parishioners for their support and dedication.