e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Locals Attend Beatification Mass of Blessed Fulton Sheen in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS, MO. — Dozens of faithful from the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma joined approximately 50,000 others in St. Louis last week to attend the Beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at The Dome at America’s Center on Sept. 24. Hundreds of priests, deacons, religious, and seminarians from around the country were also in attendance for the rare and historic occasion.
As reported by EWTN, which televised and livestreamed the Mass, Pope Leo XIV issued a papal decree granting that Fulton Sheen “may henceforth be called blessed.” Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, acting as the pope’s legate, read the apostolic letter at the Mass in St. Louis. Blessed Fulton Sheen’s feast day will be Dec. 9, the anniversary of his death. The date also marks the first appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego in 1531.
Below are a just a sampling of the photographs submitted to Eastern Oklahoma Catholic by local parishioners who attended the historic occasion. Additional photos are posted on diocesan social media, including Facebook.
Ascension St. John Hosts Free Health Outreach at Catholic Charities
Initiative Offers Health Screenings, Care Coordination, Local Resources this Saturday
TULSA — Ascension St. John will host its next community health event this October as part of the Bedrock Initiative, an ongoing effort to expand access to care and connect Tulsans with preventive screenings, health education and local resources.
The free walk-in event will take place this Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon at Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, 2450 N. Harvard Ave. in north Tulsa.
Adults age 18 and older can receive wellness exams, preventive health screenings, blood sugar and glucose testing, cholesterol screenings, prescription refill orders and care coordination for further testing or specialist care. Vision screenings and dental exams will also be available. Services are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The first 125 attendees will receive a free meal and a bag of groceries. Attendees can also connect with local healthcare providers and community organizations to learn about programs, services and resources available throughout the Tulsa community.
“Health care is strongest when people can access the resources they need close to home,” said Dr. Janel Pasley, program officer with the Ascension St. John Health Equity Initiative. “By bringing care teams and community partners directly into Tulsa neighborhoods, we can help people better understand their health, connect them with resources and take the next step toward the care they need.”
The October event builds on previous community health outreach through the Bedrock Initiative. Community organizations will be on site to provide information about additional community services and resources. Health services are reserved for adults, but families with children are welcome to enjoy the Kids Zone at the event.The Bedrock Initiative reflects Ascension St. John’s mission to bring health, healing and hope to all and its continued commitment to expand access to care across Tulsa.
Ascension St. John operates seven hospitals and more than 90 healthcare clinics and facilities, while employing nearly 8,000 associates across northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas. In fiscal year 2025, Ascension St. John provided more than $130 million in total community benefit and unpaid costs of Medicare services, including care of individuals living in poverty.
For more about the Ascension St. John Bedrock Initiative, click here.
Relational Workshops to be Held at Multiple Parishes
Program Equips Couples with Essential Skills
TULSA — Communio — a nonprofit ministry that trains and equips churches to share the Gospel through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family — is partnering with 10 parishes in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma to bring the RelateWell institute to the area for weekend relationship workshops.
The RelateWell Relationship Curriculum is a nine-session, research-based, biblically sound program designed to equip couples with the essential skills for healthy communication, emotional regulation, emotional maturity, forgiveness, and effective problem-solving. Attendees can bring their spouse, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend, or even a friend to attend these informative workshops.Developed by Dr. Richard Marks, RelateWell is an exploration into not just the skills for healthy marriage but, more importantly, how emotional maturity is essential to live and love maturely. This is explored through the core values of love: Humility, Respect, Empathy, and Goodwill, and the emotional stages of development where participants learn the differences between infantile adults, child adults, adolescent adults, and mature adults. Scripture provides many principles for healthy relationships, but only emotionally mature adults can fully practice these principles. RelateWell emphasizes that becoming a mature, loving partner is the key to sustaining a lifelong, fulfilling relationship. Participants can expect to learn:
Through communication and emotional relationship skills, attendees learn to protect their relationships by identifying and understanding priority relational needs, gaining greater understanding and insight into personal and family history, and knowing and understanding the power of forgiveness and its restorative impact.
RelateWell is built on the belief that a thriving marriage is centered on “Us”, not just the individual. When “Us” wins, everyone benefits—the couple, their children, and future generations.
For more information, or to register for a RelateWell Workshop at a parish near you, click here or scan the QR code below.
Cascia Hall Celebrates 100th Birthday
'1926 Day' Festivities Include Centennial Time Capsule and $100,000 Day of Giving
TULSA – Cascia Hall Preparatory School officially marked 100 years of Catholic education in Tulsa last Thursday — designated as "1926 Day."
The private Augustinian school opened its doors on Yorktown Avenue on Sept. 24, 1926. In honor of the milestone, students, faculty, and staff gathered for a Centennial Time Capsule Ceremony following all school chapel.
Students unearthed a time capsule from 2001 which included old newspapers, VHS tapes with a message from Fr. Henry Spielmann, O.S.A., a Nokia cell phone, 75th gala program, "As One Struggling Christian to Another" written by Fr. Ted Tack, O.S.A., shirts from 2001, and a Cascia Hall blazer patch.
Student Council President Maggie Butler also led the presentation of a new 2026 time capsule. Items included the basketball net from the boys basketball state championship win, science research pin, Kairos cross, and a face mask.
The anniversary date was also recognized with a Day of Giving. The goal was to raise $100,000 for the One Cascia Annual Fund. This year, donations had twice the impact with a generous matching gift of $50,000 from a Cascia Hall alumnus. The drive ended up breaking goal by raising $109,806.
In addition, all students and faculty were encouraged to show their love for Cascia Hall that day by sporting their favorite Cascia attire — whether worn years ago by a parent or grandparent or contemporary. The concept is "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something special to you.”
A series of festivities surrounding Cascia’s 100th birthday previously kicked off during a joint Centennial Block Party with fellow centenary institutions, Ascension St. John Hospital and Monte Cassino School.
Photos courtesy of Cascia Hall
ABOVE: Students examine artifacts from unearthed time capsules. LEFT: Father Joseph Roccasalva and students celebrate the school's 100th birthday.
Pastor Leaving Most Precious Blood Parish
Parochial Vicar Father Elijah Mundattuchundayil, FSSP, will assume duties as Pastoral Administrator effective October 1.
"We are grateful for the time Fr. Kick served in our diocese and wish him many blessings," said Father Gary Kastl, Vicar General for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. "Please pray for Fr. Elijah and the Most Precious Blood community during this transition period."
Most Precious Blood Parish is an Apostolate of the Fraternity of St. Peter (Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri), offering the Traditional Latin Mass. The FSSP is active in 39 dioceses in the United States and eight in Canada. The FSSP has 112 priests working in 54 apostolates.
Most Precious Blood Parish, formerly known as the Parish of St. Peter, is a Roman Catholic Parish located in west Tulsa that follows the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Mass. For more information about the parish, go to: www.mpbptulsa.com
Fr. Caleb Kick
Fr. Elijah Mundattuchundayil
Goal: 1 Million Children Around the World Praying the Rosary
Pope to Launch Global Event on October 1
VATICAN — On October 1, between 700 and 1,000 children from parishes and schools in Rome will gather together with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican Gardens to mark the start of the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative promoted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
Inspired by the message of Our Lady of Fatima and the words of Saint Padre Pio — “The world will change when one million children pray the Rosary” — the campaign has grown into a worldwide prayer movement, involving schools, parishes, dioceses and families on every continent.The initiative began in 2005 in Caracas, Venezuela, when a group of children praying the Rosary sparked inspiration for a worldwide movement. Today, it connects millions of young believers across continents.
This year, for the first time, the campaign will take place over an entire week, from October 1-7, allowing dioceses, parishes, schools, communities and families around the world to choose the day best suited to their pastoral circumstances, while remaining united in the same intention of prayer for peace and unity. The week will culminate on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Parishes, schools and communities wishing to participate are encouraged to organize prayer groups where they live. For more information, or to sign up, click here.
From the Editor...
This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a Catholic men's gathering on the grounds at Our Lady of Clear Creek Monastery near Hulbert.
While attending High Mass on Friday morning, some of us noted that the celebrant wore purple (or violet) instead of the typical green chasuble associated with Ordinary Time. We asked about it and one of the more knowledgeable men among us explained Ember Days — three days of fasting and abstinence observed four times a year at the changing of each of the four seasons.
"In the traditional Roman liturgy (1962 Missal), the Ember Days (Quattuor Tempora) are special days of prayer, fasting, and gratitude that mark the changing of the seasons," according to rasinghearts.com. "They are a quiet but powerful part of the Church's heritage — especially cherished wherever the Traditional Latin Mass is offered."
Last week's Ember observance by the monks at Clear Creek was officially the Ember Days After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Although these ancient days of observance are no longer part of the Catholic liturgical calendar in the United States, the next seasonal Ember observance is Advent – Ember Days in Preparation for Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 16; Friday, Dec. 18; and Saturday, Dec. 19.
I also found useful articles on Ember Days by Fr. Anthony Stephens CPM at theCatholicthing.com and at CatholicAnswers.com.
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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