e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Diocese to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe Coronation with Mass, Solemn Procession
TULSA — To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Queen of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, Bishop David Konderla will celebrate Holy Mass on Friday, August 14 at Holy Family Cathedral.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Tulsa, where the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Expiatory Temple is located, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and is planning additional events in conjunction with the Mass in August, including a solemn procession and a visit to the Diocese of the image of the Holy Child of Atocha from Plateros, Mexico.
Father Elmer Rodriguez, pastor of SFX, is organizing the procession to immediately follow the 6 p.m. Mass at HFC. The procession is expected to travel a route from the Cathedral in downtown to the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Expiatory Temple. Parishes are encouraged to bring images and statues of Marian devotion or patron saints to the Mass and Procession
"We invite all Catholics of the Diocese of Tulsa to a demonstration of love for our Queen and Mother (and) the diversity of children united in her love," said Father Rodriguez. "To commemorate this anniversary, we will have the visit of the Holy Child of Atocha. The image of the Holy Child will be available to visit parishes that wish to receive it and extend an invitation to attend Holy Mass at the Cathedral."
The image will be available within the Diocese from Friday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 16. On August 14, the image of the Holy Child will be present at the Cathedral for the Mass and procession to the Shrine that evening.
"We encourage those attending this Holy Mass to apply for the plenary indulgence, fulfilling the conditions prescribed by the Church, either on this day or any other day of the year," said Fr. Rodgriguez. "We warmly encourage all parishioners to take part in this special grace-filled opportunity."
In 2031 the Church in the Americas will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego in 1531.
• 20th Anniversary of Coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Queen of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma
• Holy Mass, 6 p.m., Friday, August 14 at Holy Family Cathedral
• Immediately following Mass, a Solemn Procession will travel to the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Francis Xavier parish.
• Image of Holy Child of Atocha from Plateros, Mexico will be displayed at locations within the Diocese from August 7-16.
• Plenary Indulgence offered for those fulfilling conditions (see details by clicking here.
Recap of USCCB Plenary Assembly
ORLANDO, Fla. - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathered recently for their Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando, Florida, where the bishops concluded the semi-annual event with a special Mass consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The assembly, June 10-12, began with the bishops sending prayers and a message to the Holy Father. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley addressed the body of bishops for the first time as Conference president. He was followed by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States, who delivered his first plenary address to the U.S. bishops since Pope Leo XIV appointed him nuncio earlier this year.
During the plenary, the bishops held a canonical consultation on the causes of beatification and canonization for the Servant of God John Rick Miller, and for Monsignor Joseph Francis Buh. By a voice vote, the bishops affirmed the advancement of both causes of beatification and canonization on the diocesan level.
Two of the action items the bishops voted on during the plenary were put forth by the USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship:
- The bishops voted 184 in favor, 1 against, and 0 abstentions to approve elements of a new edition of the Lectionary for Mass. The approval of this requires a two-thirds vote of the members of the USCCB, with subsequent confirmatio and recognitio by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
- They also voted 187 in favor, 0 against, and 0 abstentions to approve the 2025 Roman Missal-Liturgy of the Hours Supplement. The approval of this requires a two-thirds vote of the members of the USCCB, with subsequent confirmatioby the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
The bishops voted 179 in favor, 22 against, and 6 abstentions to approve revisions to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive set of procedures originally established by the USCCB in 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.
This revisions address elements of the Charter that the bishops determined to be in need of improvement or further development and align with the Charter’s original intention of safeguarding minors, underscoring the bishops’ continued commitment to addressing the prevention of abuse and ensuring the structures continue to be in place to respond to allegations.
In putting forth these revisions, the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People emphasized their attempts to balance its care of and sensitivity to victim-survivors, with an awareness of due-process, the rights of the accused, pertinent aspects of the revised Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, Vos estis lux mundi, and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s Vademecum.
Read Bishop Barry C. Knestout’s introduction of the action item, the final revised text of the Charter, and a Q&A on the revisions.
The plenary agenda also included:
- a reflection on Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Pope John Paul II’s apostolic constitution that guides Catholic colleges and universities on theological and pastoral principles, on the 25th anniversary of its implementation in the United States;
- an update on World Youth Day 2027, to be held in Seoul, South Korea from Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul and General Coordinator for World Youth Day Seoul;
- an update from Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, SEMV, the chairman of the USCCB’s Synod Implementation and Evaluation Task Force;
- a presentation by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre on the feedback received during the bishops’ fraternal dialogues at the November 2025 plenary on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. bishops’ teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics;
- remarks by Bishop William A. Wack on Catholic prison ministry and an invitation to his brother bishops to deepen their engagement with the ministry serving those affected by incarceration and detention;
- an update by Bishop Oscar Cantú on an international pastoral initiative to prepare for the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031.
As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year, the U.S. bishops marked the American semi-quincentennial with a special Mass consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando.
Photos courtesy of USCCB
LEFT: His Excellency Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. addresses the Plenary Assembly. RIGHT: His Excellency Paul S. Coakley, President of the USCCB and Archbishop of Oklahoma City, delivers his first presidential address.
Film Profiles Church's Response to 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
TULSA — A documentary short film about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre will be featured at this year's Circle Cinema Film Festival in Tulsa.
Local Catholic filmmaker Kevin Stephenson's film, 1921, is an award-winning, short documentary that illuminates the Catholic Church's protection of African Americans during the tragic 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Father John Heiring of Holy Family and parishioners volunteered to assist victims who needed food and shelter in the immediate aftermath of the worst outbreak of racial violence in the city's history.
The film features interviews with local Church historian Michael Malcom and his research into this dark chapter of Tulsa history. Malcom serves as Communications Director at Holy Family Cathedral.
Stephenson is president of Faith Based Films, LLC, and also serves as a Catholic deacon at Tulsa's Church of the Madalene. He directed and produced the film, and wrote the original music. Originally from the East Coast, Stephenson says he got the idea for making the film after first hearing about 1921 events in Tulsa during a National Black Catholic Conference in 2020 and then later speaking with leaders in the local Black community and Church.
"The theme or the takeaway is it's not about black or white," says Stephenson. "It's about people who feel called by the Holy Spirit to do what's right in a time of crisis.
That's the story and I also hope it will prompt peace so it stops this polarization that divides communities."
Stephenson said he hopes that his short film will be a launchpad for a future full-length project on the infamous events that ravaged Tulsa's historic Greenwood District and North Tulsa neighborhoods.
It was previously announced that another Catholic filmmaker, Manny Marquez, will also have a film, The Pursuit of Happiness, a documentary about the Religious Sisters of Mercy, shown at this year’s Circle Cinema Festival on the same date.
Both films will be shown as part of a block of short documentary films at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, July 19 at Circle Cinema.
Saint Francis Health System Launches Newsletter Geared to Healthy Living
Four parish communities — Saint Mary, St. Thomas More, and Christ the King in Tulsa, as well as St. John/St. James in Bartlesville – were initially selected as part of the pilot program to distribute printed versions of the healthcare newsletters, A Healthier Tomorrow, in both English and Spanish. However, the free newsletter is also available electronically to everyone. To view the newsletter in its entirety, click here for English or here for the Spanish version.
"This information reflects a shared calling between our organization and the community to care for the whole person — body, mind and spirit," states the introduction to the inaugural publication. "Guided by faith, we believe God calls us to be good stewards of our health so we can live fully and serve others well."
The goal is to reach Catholic families, parishes and schools across Eastern Oklahoma by promoting health and wellness as part of caring for God’s gift of life and body.
"Together, we are committed to ensuring our communities have access to trusted information, meaningful support and compassionate care. By walking alongside you and your families we hope to light the way to a healthier tomorrow."
Over the next several weeks, the Diocesan Communications Department will also make portions of A Healthier Tomorrow newsletter available on social media.
McAlester Hosts 2026 Southern Vicariate Rosary Congress
Photos courtesy of St. John/McAlester
MCALESTER — St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church recently hosted the 2026 Southern Vicariate Rosary Congress — a day of worship, fellowship, and growing deeper in our devotion to Our Lord through the Rosary. Guest speakers included Father Bryan Ketterer, Father Sean O’Brien, and Sister Ana Maria Aguilar. The one-day event which took place on Saturday, June 13.
Ascension St. John Centennial Gala Raises $1.2 Million
TULSA — Celebrating a century of care, the Ascension St. John Centennial Gala raised approximately $1.2 million for the St. John Centennial Fund.
According to ASJ leaders, these contributions from donors will directly support the St. John Medical Center facility refresh plan, empower its associates, and elevate the overall patient experience and ensure Ascension St. John continues to deliver exceptional care for generations to come.
The original St. John Hospital was founded in Tulsa by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in 1926 to care for the sick. The hospital was built on a strawberry patch with 50 beds available for patients in need and scheduled to open February 22, 1926.
Today, Ascension St. John offers high-quality emergency, primary, and advanced specialty care at seven hospitals, six urgent care facilities, and 400 healthcare providers in northeast Oklahoma.
For more about Ascension St. John's 100 years of history, go their webpage by clicking here. The print edition of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine will also prominently feature a cover story package on 100 years of Catholic healthcare in Tulsa in its July/August issue. The magazine is scheduled to begin arriving in mailboxes early next week.
Photos courtesy of Ascension St. John
From the Editor...
Three members of our Chancery family were honored last week as they begin new chapters: Dr. Karlo Broussard, Staff Apologist; Dr. Richard Meloche, serving the Catholic Schools Office; and Barbara Pilgrim, our Insurance Administrator.
As previously reported, Dr. Broussard and family are relocating to Columbus, Ohio, which will become the new headquarters for Catholic Answers. Dr. Meloche departs to become the founding Headmaster of St. Monica Catholic Academy in Edmond. And Mrs. Pilgrim is retiring after giving many years of faithful service in our Finance Office.
During a farewell luncheon last Thursday, Bishop David Konderla shared words of appreciation and presented gifts to each of them in recognition of their service to the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.
During a farewell luncheon last Thursday, Bishop David Konderla shared words of appreciation and presented gifts to each of them in recognition of their service to the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.
Our prayers go with each of them and their families during this time of transition.
Until next week, thanks for reading!Chris Rush
Editor
From left to right: Dr. Richard Meloche, Barbara Pilgrim, and Dr. Karlo Broussard.
"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
This weekly e-newsletter is sponsored in part through the generous financial support of
