e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
From Our Bishop...
Christ Jesus is risen! He is truly risen! As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, I pray that we will all find a deep desire to share this good news far and wide. May the Church’s Alleluia ring in your hearts and may the Holy Spirit bring peace to the earth.
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¡Cristo Jesús ha resucitado! ¡Ha resucitado de verdad! Mientras celebramos la resurrección de nuestro Señor, rezo para que todos encontremos un profundo deseo de compartir esta buena noticia por todas partes. Que el Aleluya de la Iglesia resuene en nuestros corazones y que el Espíritu Santo traiga paz a la tierra.Most Reverend David A. Konderla
Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma
Revealing History:
Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery Uncover 134-Year-Old Consecrated Altar Stone
BY CHRIS RUSH
Believed to have gone unseen for generations, a long-forgotten white marble altar stone was rediscovered by the sisters hidden away in the monastery sacristy.
According to Prioress Sister Julia Marie Roy, the stone was originally consecrated by Oklahoma's first Catholic Bishop, the Right Reverend Theophile Meerschaert, on April 21, 1892, as written in pencil on the back of the stone (see photo below). It likely would have been placed atop a wooden altar during Mass more than 130 years ago and used in the chapel of the sisters' mother house located in Guthrie, years before statehood.
"Cleaning and filtering through everything, who knows what you might find? It's kind of like an archaeological dig," says Sister Julia Marie about the process of taking inventory of everything stored in the Tulsa monastery. The Sisters came upon the stone enveloped in a hand-stitched white fabric sleeve.
"We could see through the fabric a little bit and so we just opened up the fabric," says Sr. Julia Marie. " We took a seam ripper and opened up the fabric so we could verify that that's what it said."
There, written in pencil on the back of the stone was the date of consecration by Bishop Meerschaert. Sister Julie Marie then opened to a page in the late historian Father James D. White's book, Diary of a Frontier Bishop, to Bishop Meerschaert's journal entry at the time. "Let me see, 21, April 1892 — it says he was in Guthrie. 'I consecrated 41 altar stones. Started at 6:45 and finished at 12:10, said Mass.'"
Potentially, there are 40 more altar stones like it hidden away at parishes or religious locations throughout Oklahoma. The discovery has prompted reflection within the local monastic community about faith, legacy, and what it means to carry sacred traditions forward as the Sisters prepare for their next chapter.
"We were surprised to find it and, you know, it ties us to those earlier sisters. We always feel like we're connected to them," said Sister Julia Marie "We talk about those early sisters and the timing of it — to find it as we're preparing a milestone move for us — it's really remarkable."
More about Bishop Theophile Meerschaert
He was consecrated a bishop on Sept. 8, 1891, with the title of Vicar Apostolic of the Indian Territory and placed in charge of an area that comprised all of modern-day Oklahoma.
A short biography published by the Oklahoma Historical Society reports that from his initial headquarters at Guthrie, "Bishop Meerschaert traveled throughout the vast pastoral territory, establishing parishes, appointing pastors, recruiting communities of nuns to staff schools and hospitals, and raising funds for his missionary charge."
In 1905, the Holy See rewarded Bishop Meerschaert's efforts by raising the combined Oklahoma and Indian Territories to diocesan status. Still prior to statehood, Bishop Meerschaert took up official residence in Oklahoma City and made St. Joseph's Church there his cathedral.
Bishop Meerschaert maintained a meticulous journal during his life and it was edited and published by the late historian Father James D. White in the book, Diary of a Frontier Bishop, The Journals of Theophile Meerschaert.
More about Altar Stones
A Catholic Altar Stone is a consecrated, natural stone containing saint relics, that were essential for celebrating Mass when altar tables were often made of wood or only temporary in nature. Altar stones were typically a 12-to-14-inch square of marble and were portable or embedded into a wooden altar top. They feature five engraved crosses and a sealed relic cavity at the center.
Altar stones are no longer prescribed by liturgical legislation, but before Vatican II, they were required for altars made of materials other than stone.
EOC Photos by Daniel McCay
Sister Julia Marie Roy, Prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa, holds the recently rediscovered Altar Stone consecrated by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert in April of 1892.
Diocese Observes Holy Week
TULSA — A flurry of sacred and solemn observances — Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Tenebrae, The Mass of the Oils (Chrism Mass), Stations of the Cross, Mass of the Last Supper, Holy Thursday Church Pilgrimage, and Commemoration of the Lord's Passion — marked Holy Week throughout the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma culminating with the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass.
Below, we share just a sampling of photographs taken by our staff during Holy Week with many more photos available for viewing on our diocesan Facebook social media.
The Mass of the Oils (Chrism Mass)
Holy Thursday Church Pilgrimage
Good Friday - Way of the Cross
Bishop Celebrates Easter Vigil Mass
BKHS Holds Day of Mercy
TULSA —Bishop Kelley High School held its annual Day of Mercy last Tuesday morning with hundreds of students participating in Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, confession and worship.
Held in the BKHS Gymnasium by candlelight, students and faculty experienced large group Adoration, student prayer, worship music, and a reverent atmosphere. School leaders say the event provides students with a quiet, visually compelling setting focused on reflection, faith, and renewal leading up to Easter.
"I am blessed with two holy and intelligent priests at my parish who explain the Scriptures with clarity and depth. Their homilies help me understand the readings in ways I could not on my own. Often, they also share the life of the saint of the day whose example challenges and inspires me to live more faithfully. For me, there is no simpler or more beautiful way to worship God than by setting aside thirty minutes for daily Mass."— Lauren Ngo
— Carol Schmitz
— Teresa Prall
— Mary Schafer
— Lauren Ngo
Parishioner of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Tulsa
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“I desire to place Christ as the center of my life, but struggle with distractions when I pray. Somehow, I have learned to overcome that at daily Mass. I realize for me to grow in my faith, the place to accomplish that is to prioritize receiving the Eucharist and to feed my soul. I also find it fruitful to have a reason every day to ask God forgiveness of my sins as I prepare to be worthy of that gift. And a more practical effect was when I first arrived in Stillwater, attending daily Mass helped me connect to fellow parishioners.”— Carol Schmitz
Parishioner at St. Francis Xavier, Stillwater
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“Many beautiful things have unfolded since we began attending daily Mass. We’ve witnessed a growing participation in daily Mass, including families who aren't parishioners, and even some non-Catholics. Often, all it takes is a simple invitation to 'pray and play.' Fostering community doesn’t need to be elaborate or stressful. Just come as you are. Come to daily Mass.”— Teresa Prall
St. Therese Catholic Church, Collinsville
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“I know some feel that their ability to pray at Mass is compromised by the presence of young children, but the forming of children in the faith is its own kind of (exhausting) prayer. What I try to do when I am wandering around outside the church with them (children) is to unite myself with the tabernacle within the walls and offer the impossibility of the situation and loss of human respect as a sacrifice for souls. Despite the disruptions we have caused, I have never had a parish priest of this diocese ever show displeasure or annoyance at our presence. I truly believe God wants me to keep coming and let my little children come to Him."— Mary Schafer
Parishioner of Holy Cross, Wagoner
EOC File Photo
Very Reverend Emmanuel Nduka celebrates Sunday Mass at the Parish of St. Mary in Barnsdall just days after a devastating tornado struck the Osage County town in 2025.
Meet a Seminarian...
From the Editor...
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
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