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e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine

Father Adrian Meneses Ordained to Priesthood

TULSA — Most Rev. David Konderla, Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, was joined by dozens of priests, deacons, and religious at Holy Family Cathedral on Friday evening as Deacon Adrian Meneses Duarte was Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

The cathedral was packed to overflowing with every seat occupied. Dozens of the faithful stood at the back and sides, in the entry foyer, and on the front steps of the church to be a part of the momentous occasion.

Upon the testimony of his worthiness, Deacon Meneses was formally accepted for ordination to the Priesthood by Bishop Konderla and greeted by enthusiastic applause from all those gathered. After solemnly making his vows, the laying on of hands, and prayers, Father Meneses was formally vested by Father Jose Maria Briones, pastor of St. Thomas More in Tulsa. The Presentation of the Gifts was made by Meneses' parents and family members.
In his homily for the occasion, Bishop Konderla spoke of the newness of life through Christ Jesus and directly addressed the new priest. "As a priest, God willing, you will celebrate many thousands of Sacraments. You can only do this because Christ touches you through this Sacrament, making the power that you exercise always new because it is always His."
"Your first Mass will be new, but so will your hundredth Mass, and so will your thousandth Mass, and so will your last Mass when you are old," continued Bishop Konderla. "All of them will be new, and all of the Sacraments that you celebrate will be new because through each of them, Jesus renews His creation."

A video recording of the Presbyteral Ordination Mass can be viewed by clicking here.

The newly ordained Father Meneses celebrated his first Mass of Thanksgiving at his home parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee, on Saturday. Father Brian O'Brien, rector of Holy Family Cathedral, presented the homily.

"Father Adrian, you are not the Savior, but you will act in His name. You will stand in His place when you say, 'I baptize you,' 'I absolve you,' 'I anoint you, 'This is my Body,' 'This is my Blood.' You will do these things for your people — but none of this will make God love you more," said Fr. O'Brien. "You will do these things, serve your people, bring God to His people and His people to God, as a response to the love God already has for you. That love has been poured into your heart since the day of your baptism in Mexico in April of 1988."
Father Meneses, who graduated from Saint Meinrad Seminary in Indiana with a Master of Divinity in May of 2025, has served as a Transitional Deacon at St. Pius X parish in Tulsa since his ordination to the Diaconate last spring. He will continue his service at St. Pius X as Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor).

For a brief biographical profile of Father Meneses, click here. A more expansive feature profiling his journey to the priesthood was recently published online by Aleteia. Click here to read his inspiring story. Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine will publish an expanded story on his ordination in its March edition.

EOC Photos by Daniel McCay

Archbishop Coakley, President of USCCB, to Meet with President Trump Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, in his capacity as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was expected to meet with President Donald J. Trump today at the White House.
The private meeting, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time in the Oval Office, was to be closed to the press, according to the president's public schedule. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City confirmed the meeting with the president and others in Washington D.C. as part of the Archbishop's further introduction as the new president of the USCCB.

Archbishop Coakley, who was elected president of the USCCB in November, stated recently in a news report for the Catholic News Agency that he was anticipating speaking with President Trump in “the near future.”

"Undoubtedly, the question of immigration is going to come up,” he said in an interview on CBS News’ Face the Nation on Dec. 21. “I think we have opportunities to work together. We have opportunities to speak frankly with one another.”

Last November, the USCCB issued a special message on immigration in which the bishop's stated, “We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.”

Courtesy Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of USCCB

Courtesy of The White House

President Donald J. Trump

Former Cascia Hall Instructor, Father Roland F. Follmann, O.S.A., Dies at Age 92

BROKEN ARROW — Father Roland (Roly) F. Follmann, O.S.A., died on Jan. 3, 2026, at the age of 92, in Crown Point, Indiana. His passing was announced by Very Rev. Bryan Brooks, Vicar for Priests for the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma, early last week.

A Chicago native, Father Follmann professed vows in the Augustinian Order in 1952 after graduating from Villanova University. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1960.

He spent nearly 60 years serving various capacities in Augustinian schools, including twice at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa — the first time in the early 1970s, and then later from 2004-2017, teaching theology and serving as a college counselor.

Due to declining health, Father Roland moved to the assisted living center at Montereau in Tulsa in 2018. In 2024 he relocated to the Augustinian healthcare community in Crown Point, Indiana.

A funeral Mass for Father Roland was held at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, Illinois, on Saturday, Jan. 10. Burial will take place on Jan. 17 in Kewaskum, Wisconsin. An official obituary is published online here.

Fr. Roland F. Follmann, O.S.A.

Oct. 20, 1933 - Jan. 3, 2026

—

Eternal rest grant to 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.

Vicar General Announces Status Updates for Pair of Priests

BROKEN ARROW — Father Gary Kastl, Vicar General for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, recently provided status updates for a pair of diocesan priests — one returning from sabbatical and the other one beginning a sabbatical.

Father Richard Cristler, who most recently served as pastor of St. Joseph in Muskogee, has returned from his six-month sabbatical. He will be assisting with sacramental and pastoral care needs of both St. Thomas More and Saint Francis Xavier parishes in Tulsa until he receives his next assignment from Bishop David Konderla starting in July 2026.
Father Jim Caldwell completed his service as a chaplain at Saint Francis Health System on Dec. 31, 2025, and began his six-month sabbatical on Jan. 1. He will also be given a new assignment by Bishop Konderla upon his return to the Diocese in July 2026.
"Please keep both of these fine priests in your prayers," said Father Kastl. "May the refreshment of the sabbatical renew their priestly hearts."

New priest assignments for the Diocese are typically announced by the Bishop in early April.

Fr. Richard Cristler

Fr. Jim Caldwell

Adoration Community Launches First Saturday Devotions at Ascension St. John Chapel

TULSA — The Adoration Community at Ascension St. John Chapel launched its inaugural Five First Saturday devotions on Jan. 3, and will continue for the next several months.

As requested by Our Lady of Fatima, the Five First Saturday devotions include Confession, Mass, Reception of the Holy Eucharist, Praying the Rosary, and Meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Tony DeGance and Debbie Durkee co-manage the adoration activities at the chapel.

“With the encouragement of Father Chris Alar of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, we sought to replicate what the Marian Fathers have done for many years at their Stockbridge Massachusetts home,” says DeGance. “With music and song, and with an ardent desire to honor Our Lady, we have brought to life the First Saturday devotion here in Tulsa. We pray a meditative spiritual Rosary that includes song. We make real the act of reparation. We offer Confession during the Rosary that follows the Mass. We encourage all those who are serious about their First Saturday devotion to come and join us.”

All are welcome at each of the First Saturday devotions each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Ascension St. John Chapel at the main hospital campus in Tulsa. Each month a different mystery will be prayed, and pipe organ music is played at the refrains and closing hymn.

“What a blessing to pray the Rosary with beautiful meditations from Scripture as we adore Christ in the monstrance,” says Tammy Fugate Baldauff of Sacred Heart in Skiatook. “Thankful to have a convenient time and place for First Saturday devotions that not only fulfill all requirements but also has handouts and musical accompaniments after each decade. There was so much I loved about today’s devotions!”

Alice Poh of St. Therese in Collinsville agrees. “I was so grateful to attend Adoration, Mass and the First Saturday devotions at the Chapel today,” says Poh. “The Scriptural Rosary prayed together before the Blessed Sacrament was such a blessing. I loved every moment of it.”

Ascension St. John Chapel allows for Eucharistic Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is located in the Ascension St. John Medical Center complex at 21st and Utica on the first floor of the hospital. For more information, contact Debbie Durkee at ‭(918) 724-8201‬, or go to: https://stmichaelradio.com/chapel-of-peace/

The Five First Saturday devotions are one of the principle points of the Fatima message, according to information provided by America Needs Fatima. “The devotions center on the urgent need for mankind to offer reparation and expiate for the many injuries that the Immaculate Heart of Mary suffers from the hands of both impious and indifferent men.”

Photo courtesy of Cathy Miller

Tulsa Catholic Men's Conference Coming in October

TULSA — Men of the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma are encouraged to save the date for the inaugural Tulsa Catholic Men’s Conference coming this Fall.

The one-day event is planned from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, at Tulsa's Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center.

Organizers say the Tulsa Catholic Men’s Conference will "bring an encounter with God’s universal love through the Church to the men of eastern Oklahoma. Participants will experience generous hospitality, receive high-quality formation, and unite in worship."

Early Bird ticket sales of $69 each are set to go on sale March 1-31. Sale of regular priced tickets at $79 each will begin on April 1. Ticket prices include a continental breakfast and lunch buffet.

Guest speakers and additional program details will be announced soon. Watch for future announcements here and on diocesan social media posts.

From the Editor...

Due to the early deadlines required for magazine publication, Bishop David Konderla's public schedule is frequently updated after the print version of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine has gone to press. Such is the case with the most recent January/February issue as several additions and deletions have been made to his schedule. Some events may have had their dates or times changed, while some events have been removed from the calendar altogether.

Here is the updated January/February calendar as it currently stands with newly added or changed events highlighted in red: