e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Inaugural Tulsa Catholic Men's Conference Looks to Joseph
200+ Men Gather for Worship, Adoration, Fellowship
The theme for the inaugural Tulsa Catholic Men's Conference was "Go to Joseph," and speakers focused on the masculine obedience and faithful actions of the saint and Jesus's adoptive father who listened to and acted upon the voice of God.
"We live in a very media-saturated culture, and there's all kinds of voices coming at us," said Bishop Konderla in his morning homily. "So, as we begin this day and as we begin this inaugural annual conference here in the diocese, let us thank God for the gift of his voice and ask him to help us to listen and to respond."
After breakfast and welcoming comments from Bishop Konderla, TCMC Board Chairman Josh Funderburk and Emcee Branson Schroeder, nationally-recognized Catholic speaker Keith Nester gave the first of two keynote addresses to the men gathered. Nester related his story as a former Protestant pastor with more than 20 years of full-time ministry. In 2017, after a 20-year-long discernment process, Nester resigned from his full-time ministry position and joined the Catholic Church. He is now the Executive Director of Down to Earth — a teaching ministry that provides resources for those considering, converting, and growing in Catholicism.
In the afternoon, Fr. John Ezratty gave the second keynote address of the conference, also using St. Joseph as an example of masculine faith and virtue. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Fr. Ezratty was ordained a priest in 2002 and came to the U.S. in 2010 where he served as a FOCUS National Chaplain for seven years. He currently serves as a formator and professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in the Archdiocese of Denver.
The day culminated with a Q&A session including Bishop Konderla, Fr. Ezratty and Mr. Nester, moderated by Branson Schroeder, in which conference participants submitted a wide variety of questions for the panel to answer.
The inaugural TCMC was made possible in part through the title sponsorship of Saint Francis Health System and other sponsors including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Book & Gift Store, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, and the Holy Happy Hour Podcast.
EOC Photos by Chris Rush
USCCB President Condemns Plans for Livestream of Execution
WASHINGTON – Last week, the U.S. Department of War floated the idea that the planned firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan — the man convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009 — would be publicly livestreamed.
In response, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement on Oct. 9, sharply condemning the decision of the U.S. government:
“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan. Our God is the God of life. In no way can Hassan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered. The word of God exhorts us: ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil' (Romans 12:17). The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.
“I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances.”
The execution is scheduled to take place at Fort Hood in Texas on Dec.3 and will be the first military execution by firing squad since the end of World War II. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has not yet made a final decision on live-streaming the execution.
Archbishop Paul Coakley
“In no way can Hasan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.”
Nidal Hasan
North Tulsa Parish to Celebrate 100 Years This Weekend
TULSA — The historic St. Monica Catholic Church in north Tulsa is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday this weekend with a Centennial banquet Saturday night, followed by a High Mass celebrated by Bishop David Konderla on Sunday and the dedication and blessing of a new Centennial Garden.
The Centennial Planning Committee will host the Centennial Banquet on Saturday night, Oct. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Tulsa. The committee is also accepting sponsorships and creating a historical memorabilia souvenir journal online book. A hard copy will also be available. The Centennial Mass will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the parish this Sunday, Oct. 18.
"St. Monica Catholic Church is very proud of the 100 years of service to the community across Oklahoma," the church indicates on its social media announcing the special events. "We are expecting over 200+ guests at our events. There will be many stories about events past and present. We look forward to the reunions and rekindling of relationships."
The north Tulsa parish traces its history to the 1920s oil boom in Oklahoma that saw the migration of “African Americans Catholics from southern Louisiana with French surnames flocked to the area” for farm land or work the oil fields, coal, lead, and zinc mines. African American Catholics drifted away from the faith when they moved to Oklahoma where there were no Catholic churches for them.
From the church's online history: "On February 28, 1926 Father Rooney met with twenty-five Catholics at Holy Family rectory who were eager to spread the gospel among the blacks of North Tulsa. A mission society was formed with Father Rooney as spiritual director. The members went through training before starting to evangelize. They rang door bells and began talking about the Catholic faith to anyone who would listen. Catechism classes were started for the future converts to the faith."
"A delegation from the community called on Bishop Kelley to establish a church and school. Father Rooney was appointed the first pastor and mass was held in various buildings in the Greenwood area. The new church was given the name St. Pius V but was later changed to St. Monica. Holy Ghost sisters would run the school and in 1928, Holy Ghost priests would staff the church. Father James McGuire would be the first Holy Ghost priest to take over from Father Rooney. In 1930, Father Daniel P. Bradley was appointed to serve St. Monica Parish. Because of segregation and separate but equal (policy) in the school system, the Holy Ghost sisters were replaced by the Sisters of the Holy Family from Louisiana in 1939."
"In 1936, the church and rectory buildings were completed. The first mass was said by Father Bradley August 23, 1936 and the church was dedicated by Bishop Kelley September 27, 1936."
For more history of the church, go to: https://www.stmonica-tulsa.org/history.html
Local Author Publishes History of Catholics in America
TULSA — A local college professor and author specializing in intellectual and scientific history recently released an encyclopedic history book examining the rich history of Catholics in America.
Russell M. Lawson is a professor at Tulsa Community College and the author or editor of five encyclopedias. He describes his latest work as "a response to those who have denigrated the work of Catholic missionaries in America, accusing them of intimidating, hurting, even enslaving the American Indians throughout North America."Lawson's research, however, shows that on the contrary, the Jesuit, Franciscan, Dominican, and other missionaries of different orders who came to America in the 1500s, 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s sought to bring peace, love, faith, and redemption native people groups.
"The amazing sacrifices of these men and women are memorable and inspirational for today, when many of us are called to respond to the Great Commission," says Lawson. "The missionaries teach us that lay missionary work today is about spreading and teaching the love of Christ in all of our everyday activities."
Beginning with North America's contact with three imperialist powers (Spain, France, and England), the narrative account tells the story of how Catholicism became and continues to be part of the basic religious and cultural fiber of North America. The book follows a narrative chronological and thematic format, focusing on people, events, practices, social and cultural phenomena, and institutions. People discussed include the well-known, such as Christopher Columbus and Junipero Serra, and the not-so-well-known, such as Juniper Berthiaume and Jean Louis Berlandier.
With 32 chapters divided into seven parts and all drawing on primary sources, this book engages with topics such as the overwhelming violence against Indigenous people and the religion's role in wars, politics, and modern-day culture.
GUEST COLUMN
Wisdom: God’s Great Gift to Us
BY FATHER ERIC HOLLAS, OSB
Who can know God’s Counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? — [Wisdom 9:13]
When I heard this read at a recent liturgy, my initial reaction was not very positive. This was no help in answering life’s big questions. Armed with words like these, how am I supposed to confront an infinite and eternal universe? How am I supposed to relate to a God who is so great, while I am so minuscule? Does God take even the slightest notice of me?
Then I recalled a parallel passage from I Corinthians 2: 16. “Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice?” That too left little hope to cling to. It had me asking whether we are alone and must fend for ourselves in this vast universe. Is this all there is?
These are just some of the questions that Jesus sought to answer. For starters, contrary to currents in pagan thinking of the day, Jesus tells us we are not left to the fates. The zodiac does not determine our lives, and the horoscope provides no answers or consolation. On top of that, we are more than mere specks of dust floating in the cosmos. We are in fact noble beings created in the image of God, and what we do for the least among us we do for Jesus.
Lest we think that Wisdom 9:13 offers the last word on the subject, then, it’s important to read on. Later, in verses 17-18, is the nugget of insight that gives hope and purpose to life. It’s the rebuttal of the notion that we are nothing in this vast universe. “Or whoever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your Holy Spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.” (Wis 9: 17-18)
Therein is the hope that sustains us in good times and bad. So the next time we’re tempted to give up on life and surrender ourselves to the fates, that’s an excellent moment to give God a call. God gave to us wisdom and the Holy Spirit, precisely for these occasions. Equipped with them, we are worthy conversation-partners for God.
When life seems overwhelming and empty, then, take those questions to God, and ask “Why, oh Lord?” God’s more than happy to chat. In fact, God’s been waiting to hear from us, and God’s more than delighted to supply some answers. There’s one last caution, however. They may not be the answers we had expected, but usually they are more than we ever imagined.
Father Eric Hollas, O.S.B. is a Benedictine monk and priest of Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minn. He holds a PhD in medieval studies from Yale University, and he has served on the faculty and staff of Saint John's University in Minnesota. He serves as a chaplain in the American Association of the Order of Malta, and publishes a weekly blog at www.monkschronicle.wordpress.com.
Getty Images/Godong
SAINT OF THE MONTH
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher
1811-49 / Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
BY CANDACE BRYANT-LESTER/FAITH CATHOLIC
Frederick Buechner, the American author and theologian once said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
In many ways, these words perfectly describe the life and vocation of Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher who, from a young age, deeply desired to join her four siblings in pursuing a religious vocation, and who, along the way, discovered the overwhelming need for education in rural Canada of the early 1800s. These two realities came together to shape her life and legacy in profound ways.
Although Eulalie Durocher aspired to be a religious sister at the age of 16, poor health prohibited her from entering a convent in Montreal. She went on to assist one of her brothers at his parish not only as a secretary and housekeeper, but with pastoral ministry too. As she welcomed new priests, taught catechism to children and cared for the poor, she discovered how very few people had much education and how great the need was for religious training.
Finally, in 1843, when Eulalie was 32, she was asked by the Bishop of Montreal to take a leading role in founding a new community focused on educating Canadian girls. Under the direction of an Oblate priest, Eulalie joined with two other women to found the new congregation named the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She took the religious name Marie-Rose. Despite the many obstacles they faced, Sister Marie-Rose and her companions built five convents and succeeded in bringing faith and education to girls across the province of Quebec.
According to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sister Marie-Rose added music, drawing, English, and home economics to the base curriculum to prepare the girls for their adult lives. She established a boarding school and the fees paid by the parents of its students financed free education for poor students.
Sister Marie-Rose died at age 38 and was beatified in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher; By Carisima Dabrowska - Centre Marie-Rose, Public Domain
From the Editor...
We learned over the weekend that Pope Leo XIV would be undergoing surgery for a lung nodule in the coming days. In response, the USCCB has issued a statement and called for the faithful to be in prayer for the Holy Father as he deals with health concerns.
"The bishops of the United States join with the faithful and all people of good will in praying for his good health," said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, President, USCCB. "May the hand of Pope Leo's surgeons be guided by the divine physician Jesus Christ. Please find a moment today, as I will, to offer a prayer for Pope Leo and his care team."
Today, Oct, 12, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, Carlo died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. He was beatified in 2020 and canonized in 2025.
Congratulations to Josh Funderburk and fellow board members for a successful launch of the inaugural Tulsa Catholic Men's Conference this past Saturday. The day-long event drew more than 200 men to hear some incredible keynote speakers and participate in breakout sessions, Mass, Adoration and more. As Bishop Konderla pointed out, the event is not intended to replace the longstanding annual mens' conference in Oklahoma City (March) but rather provide an additional option to men of eastern Oklahoma. Thanks also to title sponsor Saint Francis Health System for their generous support.
A couple of big events are happening this weekend as the annual Three Hearts Pilgrimage takes place Thursday through Saturday near Tahlequah and culminates with Mass at our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey with honored guest celebrant Archbishop Salvatore Cordilione of San Francisco on Saturday afternoon. Also this weekend, Bishop Konderla will celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Monica Catholic Church in north Tulsa as the parish marks its centennial.
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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