TULSA — On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, Bishop David Konderla has issued the following statement: 

  "As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, may God continue to bless and prosper our Native American brothers and sisters."  

  Taken from Keeping Christ’s Sacred Promise: A Pastoral Framework for Indigenous Ministry: “The Church in the United States needs its Native members to offer their gifts to the rest of the Church so that all may be mutually edified. Indigenous Peoples’ courage, humility, and respect, inspire the church to hold firm in faith, hope, and charity through difficulties. The vast majority of Indigenous Peoples believe in the Spirit of the Creator. In a world that is increasingly secular, the Indigenous worldview — which recognizes that we are all created and loved by God — stands as a beacon of hope and truth. Indigenous Catholics witness to the rest of the Church about the need to see God in day–to–day life. In a culture consumed by materialism, Indigenous Peoples’ focus on the supernatural is inspirational. The Church must use all available resources to evangelize and form this part of the Body of Christ. Native people themselves are best positioned to pass on the faith to their families, in imitation of the Indigenous, holy men and women who have come before us.”

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  Formally recognized by presidential proclamation in 2021, Indigenous Peoples' Day — or in some states referred to as "Native American Day" or "American Indian Heritage Day" — is set annually for the second Monday of October to coincide with the existing federal holiday, Columbus Day. The date is intended to highlight the history and contributions of Indigenous peoples and to honor the culture and resilience of Native American communities. The State of Oklahoma and the City of Tulsa designate the second Monday in October as Native American Day.

  

  OKLAHOMA CITY — Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City and Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa will join Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B, along with other bishops, abbots, priests, deacons and representatives of religious congregations from around the world in celebration of Mass today with His Eminence Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. 

   The Mass, in honor of the Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary of the Mission of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma will be celebrated at 4 p.m. today at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City.

  “The celebration of 150 years of history comes around only once,” said Right Reverend Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey, in a story for the Sooner Catholic newspaper. “Given the significance of what began on Oct. 12, 1875, we wanted to involve not only the monastery in marking this sesquicentennial anniversary, but many others throughout Oklahoma and even beyond Oklahoma.”

  BROKEN ARROW — A recent analysis conducted by research writer J.J. Ziegler for The Catholic World Report ranked the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma No. 5 among the 10% of dioceses in the United States that are "proportionally richest in conversions and other non-infant receptions into the Church." 

  According to data published in the 2024 edition of The Official Catholic Directory, 619,775 people entered the Catholic Church in the Latin-rite dioceses of the U.S. during the previous year. The Directory classified 480,905 (77.6%) of them as infant baptisms, 58,628 (9.5%) as the baptisms of minors who are not infants, 29,752 (4.8%) as adult baptisms, and 50,490 (8.1%) as receptions into full communion.

  In a Sept. 12, 2025, special report, Conversions and Receptions into the Church: A Look at the Numbers, Ziegler's research placed Tulsa at No. 5 nationally for the highest proportion of conversions into the Church with one out of every 134 Catholics.

  "In this article, I examine the other categories: the 58,628 non-infant minors and 29,752 adults who were baptized, and the 50,490 baptized non-Catholic Christians, whether adults or minors, who were received into full communion," stated Ziegler in explaining his methodology. "These converts to the faith, and children of converts and reverts to the faith, were often influenced by a priest or parishioner with a missionary spirit."

  Responding to the data findings, Bishop David Konderla linked the diocese’s success in attracting conversions and other non-infant receptions into the Church to a “culture of invitation."

  “I think that many of our parishes have created a culture of invitation,” Bishop Konderla is quoted in the story. “They use everything from social media to physical banners in front of the church, to forming people to make personal invitations to friends, family members, and others to come visit the parish or attend some function,” and “in that way to explore the faith.”

  Bishop Konderla also speculated that there may be a correlation between a desire for a more traditional and rural lifestyle and "choosing to live, or continue to live, in smaller, less populated places." 

  The article also extensively quotes Father Brian O’Brien, rector of Tulsa’s Holy Family Cathedral, and Sarah Jameson, Director of Parish Support for the Diocese of Tulsa. The entire article can be read here.

 

  BROKEN ARROW — The Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma will host 3rd Annual Altar Server Spiritual Retreat at the Church of Saint Benedict, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15.

  Retreat organizers are extending an invitation to all Roman Catholic altar servers, acolytes, clergy, and altar server ministry leaders at their parish to attend this event. Those attending will have the opportunity to listen to engaging talks, explore tables and speak with Religious during lunch and breaks, rest with Christ during Holy Hour and Benediction, and embrace God's Mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation.

  Bishop David Konderla of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma will open the retreat at 10:30 a.m., followed by keynote presenter, Gabriel Castillo representing one of the largest independent Catholic content creators in the world.

  This retreat began in the Diocese of Tulsa in 2023, expanded to include the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in 2024, and this year organizers were able to extend an invitation to surrounding states and beyond. This unique retreat allows those who serve at the Altar of God to join together each year for fellowship, food, and spiritual growth through engaging presentations, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and more. 

  Registration is free but is required. To register, click here.

  As you can see from the news items above, it is an incredibly busy time in the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma. In fact, if you were a participant in the recent Rosary Rally 5K Run/Walk and/or this past weekend's Three Hearts Pilgrimage, you might even be feeling a bit exhausted.

  Yours truly is recovering from my own first, and possibly last, attempt to walk the two-day Three Hearts Pilgrimage, or 3HP for short by participants. Although I was only able to complete approximately 13 of the 35-mile penitential (at times, seemingly existential) walk through the beautiful hills of eastern Oklahoma to Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, I came away humbled and grateful for the experience.

   And I marvel not only at the endurance and suffering — physical, mental and spiritual — of fellow pilgrims, but also at the army (300+) of volunteers who worked diligently behind the scenes brewing hundreds of gallons of coffee starting at 3 a.m., distributing thousands of hot meals late into the night, organizing and coordinating trash removal, luggage transport, providing safety and first aid and water — literally tons of bottled water.

  One observation that gives me profound hope for the future was seeing the sheer number of families with children, and groups of young people, who joyfully participated. There is a strong passion for the Lord Jesus Christ, a desire to honor Holy Mary, a commitment to the family, and a thirst for the Holy Spirit. I saw with my own eyes what a truly incredible event this is, and hopefully, will be for many years to come.

  I neglected to mention Respect Life Month previously in this newsletter, so, I must make amends. According to the USCCB, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month during the month of October. The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities provides materials to help Catholics understand and value the gift of human life and help build a culture that cherishes and protects it. You can access that material here.

  Until next week, thanks for reading!