e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
West Side Parish to Mark 100-Year Anniversary
What started a century ago as a mission of Holy Family parish to serve the hardworking blue-collar community on Tulsa's west side has grown into a successful parish of 240 families and a pre-K through 8th grade school serving more than160 students.
In 2024, Bishop David Konderla approved decrees culminating with the merger of the Zomi-Burmese speaking congregation of the former Tonu Maria Siangtho Lungtang (Immaculate Heart of Mary) parish with the English-speaking congregation of St. Catherine. Tonu Maria had been established in 2012 to serve the pastoral needs of Tulsa's Burmese immigrant community. The two parish communities had shared the same facilities for several years prior to the merger.
The combined parish celebrates Mass in either English or the Zomi language throughout the week.
According to parish history, the first Church of Saint Catherine was erected on the rowdy, bustling west bank of the Arkansas River in the spring of 1925 to serve Catholics who worked for oil refineries and the Frisco Railroad. By September of that year, the church attained parish status and was located at 905 West 23rd Street, encompassing the Red Fork, Carbondale, Oakhurst and Garden City communities.
When the city widened 23rd Street to facilitate the building of a bridge across the Arkansas River it required not only a large part of the church property but also the land where the current entrance of the church had been.
In 1949 the Precious Blood Fathers purchased the tract of land on which St. Catherine now stands. The school building and rectory were constructed in 1955. The community continued to grow over the next 25 years, and by the 1980’s Saint Catherine was a prospering parish. In September of 1986, the long-awaited new Church construction was completed, and the school gained the space of the entire building that it had once shared with the church.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Monte Cassino Begins Centennial Year with Founder's Day
TULSA — Bishop David Konderla joined students, faculty, staff, and administrators as well as friends and families at Monte Cassino last Thursday morning as the independent Catholic Benedictine school officially kicked of its centennial year with a Founder's Day Mass and reception.
Concelebrating the Mass were Father Jack Tierney, OSA, new headmaster at nearby Cascia Hall Preparatory School; and Father Vince Fernandez, school chaplain. Following Mass, a short history video of the school was presented and the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monestary who founded Monte Cassino in 1926 and governed the school during its first century were acknowledged with applause by those gathered.
The Benedictine Sisters transferred control of the school to its governing board last year and subsequently sold their 14.67-acre monastery property to the school earlier this year. The Sisters will relocate to a new property near Skiatook once construction at their new monastery is completed.
At Thursday's event, a Centennial Recognition plaque of acknowledging the Bishop's blessing upon the school, as well as a Governor's Commendation from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt were presented to the school.
Monte Cassino also held an All-School Centennial Celebration on Friday and plans several other events this fall marking its 100-year anniversary including a Centennial Birthday Party, Centennial Block Party in conjunction with Cascia Hall and Ascension St. John Hospital, and Centennial Golf Tournament. It all culminates with a Centennial Gala in May. For more information, go to: www.montecassino.org
A short film celebrating the school's centennial can be viewed by clicking here.
EOC Photos by Daniel McCay
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Fr. Jack Tierney, OSA, Installed as New Headmaster at Cascia Hall
TULSA — Father Jack Tierney, OSA, was officially installed as the 14th Headmaster of Cascia Hall Preparatory School during a ceremony at the school Thursday morning. Fr. Tierney arrived in Tulsa earlier this summer and succeeds Brother Philip Cook, OSA, at the private Augustinian school.
Later that evening, Bishop David Konderla attended Solemn Vespers celebrating St. Nicholas of Tolentine, which was presided over by Very Rev. Tom McCarthy, OSA, Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinians — a position formerly held by Pope Leo XIV when he was known as Fr. Robert Prevost, OSA. Priests, Deacons and several members of Religious communities within the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, including Father Philip Anderson, OSB, Abbot of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, were also in attendance for the gathering at St. Rita Chapel on the school campus.
Cascia Hall Preparatory School is currently celebrating its centennial year. The school was founded in 1926 by the Order of St. Augustine. Originally, the school was a day school and boarding school for young men in grades 7 – 12. In 1986, to adapt to the changing needs of the local community, Cascia Hall became a co-educational day school for students in grades 6-12.
The school is still owned and operated by the Augustinians at its original 40-acre campus in Midtown Tulsa. Cascia Hall opened its doors to a total of 25 students in August, 1926, and six young men comprised its first graduating class in 1929. Today, the total enrollment is closer to 545 with graduating classes of approximately 85-90 young men and women each year.
For more information about the school, go to: www.casciahall.com.
EOC Photos by Daniel McCay
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New Copper Cross Blessed at Holy Family Classical School
TULSA — On Friday, Bishop David Konderla blessed a newly fabricated 5-foot-tall copper cross that will adorn the top of the Holy Family Classical School building in downtown.
Holy Family Cathedral Rector Father Brian O’Brien selected the date because of its deep significance in the history of the school: on September 11, 1899, at its original campus at Third and Elgin, inaugural classes were held for the institution that would eventually become Holy Family Classical School. For more about the history of the school, click here.
"This event marks a meaningful step in the Cathedral restoration project following the 2023 Father’s Day storm damage,” said Monica Conro, director of operations for Holy Family Cathedral. "To the best of our knowledge, the previous cross had been in place since the building was constructed.”
A representative of the construction company managing the extensive roof replacement project at the cathedral property said the cross would be lifted and fixed in place atop the school building sometime this week and be done in such a way that it would last another 100 years.
Holy Family Classical School currently has an enrollment in excess of 260 students from PreK to 12th grade.
Funeral Mass for Deacon Ray Wallace Set for Tuesday
MUSKOGEE — The funeral Mass for Deacon Wenum Ray Wallace will be celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee, with Father John O'Neill presiding. Wallace, 78, of Fort Gibson, passed away on Sept. 5.
Deacon Wallace previously served in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City before his retirement. He then moved to Fort Gibson where he continued his diaconal ministry in Muskogee which included working with inmates at the Eddie Warrior and Jess Dunn Correctional Centers.
A Rosary is scheduled 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Muskogee. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15, also at the church. Committal prayers and inurnment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Gibson National Cemetery with military honors being observed.
The family is requesting, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in Dcn. Ray's name to Catholic Charities Muskogee, 1220 W Broadway St., Muskogee, Oklahoma, 74401.
To read the complete obituary, click here.
Deacon Ray Wallace
Aug. 26, 1948 - Sept. 5, 2026
Eternal rest grant unto 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. Amen.
Mass for Healthcare Professionals Set for October 3
TULSA — Physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, caregivers, administrators, and all those serving in any area of the healthcare profession, are invited to attend White Mass at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, at Holy Family Cathedral.
The annual Mass is held on behalf of professionals healthcare workers and their families. Healthcare workers are encouraged to wear their white coats, scrubs, or the appropriate uniform and color representing their healthcare profession.
Most Rev. David A. Konderla, Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma will celebrate the Mass and offer prayer for all those who serve in the ministry of healing. The White Mass, so named for the color traditionally worn by those in the healing profession of medicine, gathers healthcare professionals under the patronage of St. Luke to ask God’s blessing upon patients and caregivers alike.
A reception will follow the Mass. Please RSVP to: sweber2@saintfrancis.com.
The White Mass is a special initiative presented in collaboration with Saint Francis Health System, Ascension St. John, and the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.
Stand For Life Event Planned for October 4 at St. Thomas More
TULSA — Area Catholics and fellow pro-life Christians from across the community will gather for Life Chain 2026: Stand For Life — a public, peaceful and prayerful witness for the protection of human life — on Sunday, Oct. 4 at St. Thomsas More Catholic Church.
Life Chain is held annually in more than 600 cities, bringing people together in a peaceful witness for life. Families are encouraged to participate, and signs will be provided as those gathered stand together in prayer, hope and love as a witness to the dignity and sacredness of every human life.The local event kicks off at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the east side church, 2720 S. 129th E. Ave. in Tulsa. Participants will gather with the Pro-Life Ministry at St. Thomas More for prayer and activities until 3:30 p.m. From 3:30–5 p.m. participants will together along the sidewalk for a peaceful, public witness filled with prayer for an end to abortion and a greater respect for every human life.
For more information about the local Life Chain event, contact Cathy Miller at 918-697-9763, or: www.dioceseoftulsa.org/other-pro-life-opportunities.
October is Respect Life Month and can be observed by parishioners joining in praying the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual Respect Life Month Novena from October 22 - 30. The USCCB provides free the daily prayers for the Novena in both English and Spanish. For more information, go to: https://www.usccb.org/prolife.
From the Editor...
With school activities now kicking into high gear, the calendar is full as we enter the fall season (yes, fall-like weather will eventually come). Of unique interest is the number of centennial celebrations we have this year in the Diocese of Tulsa: Cascia Hall Preparatory School, Monte Cassino School, St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church, St. Monica Catholic Church, and Ascension St. John Hospital. There was obviously a lot of good things happening in 1926 and there's a lot of wonderful things happening in 2026 too!
Women, if you haven't already signed up for this year's Tulsa Catholic Women's Conference, you're just about out of time. The third annual event begins this Friday evening with a social at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in south Tulsa. The conference then resumes all day Saturday with several dynamic guest speakers. For more information, go to their website at: https://tulsacatholicwomen.com/
That's all for now. If your parish or ministry has a special event coming up, we'd like to help spread the word. Contact us at: communication@dioceseoftulsa.org.
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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