e-newsletter companion of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine
Bishop Issues Call to Holy Orders:
Deacon Joseph Yosten Called to the Priesthood, Seminarian Jim Southard to Transitional Diaconate
BROKEN ARROW — His Excellency, The Most Reverend David A. Konderla,
Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, has issued Calls to Holy Orders for two men of the Diocese.
Reverend Joseph Edward Yosten, who has served as a permanent deacon of the Diocese at the Parish of Christ the King in Tulsa since 2023, is called to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Following the passing of his wife, Deacon Yosten entered priestly formation at St. Meinrad Seminary in 2025.Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, has issued Calls to Holy Orders for two men of the Diocese.
"With praise and gratitude to Almighty God, I would like to invite you to the ordination of our son and brother, Deacon Joseph Yosten to a sharing in the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ, through the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the imposition of hands," said Bishop Konderla in issuing the Banns of Ordination.
Also, Seminarian James Patrick Southard is called to ordination in the Diakonia of Jesus the True Servant as a "transitional" deacon. Southard is in the 4th Configuration of study at St. Meinrad Seminary and, God willing, will later be ordained to the priesthood."In a spirit of joy and with gratitude to Almighty God, I would like to invite you to the ordination of our son and brother, Jim Southard, to a sharing in the Diakonia of Jesus the True Servant by calling down the Holy Spirit and the imposition of hands," said Bishop Konderla.
Both men are scheduled to be ordained at 6 o'clock in the evening on Friday, December 18, 2026 at Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Tulsa. Vespers will take place the night before at 6 p.m., Thursday, December 17. An informal reception and First Priestly Blessing will follow Friday night's Ordination Mass in the Cathedral's Heiring Auditorium.
As is customary, if there are any concerns or objections to these men regarding the advancement to Holy Orders, (cf. cc 1043 and 1015 S2), contact Fr. Duy Nguyen, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, at 918-307-4909 or fr.duy.nguyen@dioceseoftulsa.org
Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre Gather in Tulsa
Southwestern Lieutenancy Holds Annual Meeting Attended by 18 Bishops and Archbishops
TULSA — Eighteen bishops and archbishops, as well as priests and deacons joined Knights and Dames of The Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as the Southwestern Lieutenancy held its 2026 Annual Meeting here over the weekend. The Southwestern Lieutenancy is comprised of dioceses within the Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas region and this year's event, hosted in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, included nearly 800 attendees.
The event, which began Friday and concludes Monday included liturgies, investiture, presentations, and fellowship in support of the organization's mission in the Holy Land. The weekend culminated with an Investiture Ceremony and Mass Sunday afternoon at Holy Family Cathedral, followed by an evening reception and dinner.
At the conclusion of the Sunday afternoon Mass, the principal celebrant, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, KGCHS, Grand Prior and Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, ceremonially transferred leadership to His Excellency, The Most Reverend Paul Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, who will begin a four-year term as Grand Prior. Archbishop Coakley is also currently serving as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In his closing remarks, Cardinal DiNardo thanked Bishop David Konderla and the Diocese of Tulsa for hosting the annual meeting.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a pontifical order of knighthood charged with supporting the Latin Patriarchate and the Christian presence in the Holy Land. For more about the history, purposes, and activities of the Order, click here.
EOC Photos by Chris Rush
Walkers Face Rain, Wind, Cold During Three Hearts Pilgrimage
Honored Guest Archbishop Cordileone Celebrates Concluding Pontifical High Mass
CLEAR CREEEK ABBEY — Unlike previous years in which participants endured record-breaking heat, this year's pilgrims persevered against intermittent rain, an overnight windstorm and early morning cold temperatures during the 2026 Three Hearts Pilgrimage.
More than 2,500 pilgrims from multiple states around the U.S. initially gathered at camp Thursday afternoon in rural eastern Oklahoma. After an overnight camp mixed with rain and wind gusts that damaged some tents, Day 1 of the walk began at first light Friday morning following a 5:30 a.m. Mass held under the pre-dawn stars. The wind subsided and the sun eventually broke through as Day 2 of the walk concluded Saturday afternoon at Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey with an outdoor Pontifical High Mass celebrated by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Salvatori Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco.
"What a joy for us to celebrate this concluding pilgrimage mass in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph. The perfect union of the three hearts models for us is the full dignity that family life is meant to have in God's plan," said Archbishop Cordileone in his homily. "You have arrived here after much sacrifice and perseverance — tired, aching, sweating, dirty. But I imagine after two nights camping out in the elements, there have been hardships, but there have also been joys along the way. That is because you have journeyed together. This is the wisdom of communion, living in the way that God created us to live. And the joy of the pilgrimage finds its culmination in its completion, ending here in God's greatest gift of all, His Son present to us in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar."
Following Mass on the shaded grounds of the Abbey, which is currently in the final stage of its planned construction, weary pilgrims were refreshed with a parting meal.
The annual Three Hearts Pilgrimage guides thousands of participants through a rigorous terrain of country roads for 35 miles to offer their physical and spiritual sacrifices for the defense of the traditional family and the sanctity of life. For more information, go to: www.threeheartspilgrimage.org
EOC Photos by Chris Rush
St. Monica Parish Celebrates Centennial with Banquet, Mass
TULSA — Historic St. Monica Catholic Church in north Tulsa celebrate its 100th birthday this past weekend with a Centennial Banquet on Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown.
On Sunday, Bishop David Konderla joined St. Monica pastor Fr. Celestine Obidiegwu to celebrate High Mass at the historically black parish which has strong ties to the Greenwood District. That was followed by a dedication and blessing of a new Centennial Garden.
Bishop Konderla's Sunday homily sprang from the Gospel reading of Matthew 22:15-21 in which Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees about Roman taxation. He asks for a coin and replies, "...repay to Caesar what belongs to Ceasar and to God what belongs to God." Bishop Konderla said that the silver in that coin may pass away, but those who are faithful will remain with God."When all the silver in the universe is gone, we will still be in joy with God and each other in the life of heaven," said Bishop Konderla. "That's a wonderful thing for us to think about as we begin the second hundred years of this parish."
At the close of the Mass, Fr. Celestine thanked Bishop Konderla for his presence and everyone who was in attendance for the special celebratory events.
"Today is indeed the day the Lord has made," said Fr. Celestine. "We are rejoicing and we are glad in the power of God. We are proud of this moment, celebrating one hundred years of the faith."
A relic of Saint Monica was gifted to the parish by Cascia Hall Preparatory School in recognition of the centennial milestone.
A video recording of the Centennial Mass in its entirety is available at the parish Facebook page here. The event was also covered by NewsOn6 Reporter Kim Jackson who reported from Sunday's Mass. Her personal social media report can be seen by clicking here.
Saint Francis Health Celebrates Return of Emergency Care to Eufaula
EUFAULA — A decade after Eufaula lost its local hospital, Saint Francis Health System is celebrating the return of emergency care to the community and announcing plans to expand its new emergency department.
Today, SFHS celebrates "Restoring the Pulse" with a ceremony and blessing of Saint Francis Eufaula and the new Warren Clinic Eufaula location. The ceremony was attended by SFHS leadership, Eufaula Mayor James Hickman, State Representative Tim Turner, and local healthcare providers and community members.
Saint Francis Eufaula opened its doors this summer, becoming the only 24/7 emergency department in McIntosh County. Now, with the support of a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant, Saint Francis plans to expand the facility to meet the community’s healthcare needs.
The emergency department currently provides: 24/7 emergency care; On-site laboratory services; Imaging services, including X-ray and computed tomography (CT); Stabilization and treatment of serious illness and injury; Direct access to specialists and resources across Saint Francis Health System; Coordinated transfers for inpatient, surgical, trauma and specialty care when needed.
The $3 million grant will fund six additional emergency department rooms and construction of permanent imaging space for CT, X-ray and ultrasound. These imaging services are already available to patients through temporary mobile units. Bringing these services permanently into the facility will streamline care and increase the emergency department's capacity to serve local patients.
The new emergency department and adjacent Warren Clinic location also strengthen the community's connection to the broader Saint Francis network. Patients requiring inpatient or specialty care have access to Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee, while those needing the highest level of trauma care can be transferred to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
Ascension St. John Owasso Marks 20 Years of Service in Community
OWASSO — Earlier this month, the administration and staff at Ascension St. John Owasso gathered to celebrate the hospital's 20-year anniversary in the community.
“It’s 20 years of service to people who ultimately get high-quality care close to home,” President Mark Clay said in a Business Spotlight posted on the City of Owasso's social media page. “It’s amazing to see.”
During its longstanding tenure, the Owasso hospital has grown to provide 24/7 emergency care, a level IV trauma center, a C-section suite, and an ICU/progressive care unit, to name a few additions. It has also broadened its radiology care, cardiovascular and urology preventive care, and general surgical care for life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
Ascension St. John has earned several accolades during its 20-year in Owasso, most recently earning the highest distinction from U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for treating patients with pneumonia for the second year in a row.
Ascension St. John Owasso operates a 24/7 emergency care and a level IV trauma center. The hospital also delivers cardiovascular and urology preventive care as well as general surgical care for life-threatening injuries and illnesses using advanced robotic assisted technology. Ascension St. John Owasso offers lab tests and all-digital diagnostic imaging for mammograms, CT, MRI, and bone density. The Women’s Health Center OB-GYN doctors specialize in caring for your health at every stage of life.
Ascension St. John is celebrating its centennial year during 2026 as the region's first Catholic hospital founded in Tulsa in 1926.
Photos courtesy of Ascension St. John Owasso
From the Editor...
I returned late Saturday afternoon from a wonderful, but quite tiring experience at the 2026 Three Hearts Pilgrimage. I did not make the walk this year but rather volunteered with the campsite team. David Nolan's crew, many of them family members and fellow parishioners from Guthrie, have been doing this for several years and have it down to a science. The amount of pre-planning and timely execution required to pull off such an event every year is impressive to behold.
Although attendance (approximately 2,500) was down a bit from past years— possibly attributable to questionable weather conditions — the event was incredibly moving to watch unfold over the weekend. Director Marcus Robinson and an army of dedicated staff and volunteers provide for a safe and truly meaningful pilgrimage "offering our physical and spiritual sacrifices for the defense of the traditional family and the sanctity of life."
By the time pilgrims completed the two-day, 35-mile trek the weather cleared and made for an absolutely beautiful Pontifical High Mass on the grounds of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey. Guest Celebrant Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco gave a very topical and timely homily to all those gathered. I will not soon forget the experience.
A bit of inside baseball for those who pay attention to (or even care) about such things: Beginning today we are changing the dateline for all news coming from Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey to CLEAR CREEK ABBEY. Although the Benedictine monastery lies within the postal footprint of the nearby town of Hulbert, it is clear by now that the Abbey is very much its own distinct community. A more precise dateline location seems appropriate and more accurate — at least within our local Catholic media sphere.
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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