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.