Redland Catholic

Cause for Canonization of Fr. Stanley Rother

The cause for canonization of Father Stanley Francis Rother will be officially begin October 5, 2007. 

At 7 p.m on October 5, 2007, Archbishop Eusebius Beltran will celebrate Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Fr. Rother's home parish in Okarche Oklahoma.  Immediately afterwards he will commission the Canonizaton Committee for the Cause of Saitnhood for Reverend Stanley Francis Rother.   

More details on the Archdiocese of OKC's Fr. Stanley Rother page and here.

This is an important step in a long process.  Here is the prayer approved by Archbishop Beltran for Fr. Rother's cause:

Heavenly Father,
source of all holiness,
in every generation you raise up
men and women heroic in love and service.

You have blessed your Church
with the life of Stanley Rother,
priest, missionary, and martyr.
Through his prayer, his preaching,
his presence, and his pastoral love,
you revealed Your love and Your presence
with us as Shepherd.

If it be Your will,
may he be proclaimed
by the universal church
as martyr and saint,
living now in your presence
and interceding for us all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Exhibits and farewells

*The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is hosting an exhibit called "Pinturas de Fe: The Retablo Tradition in Mexico and New Mexico" through April 29, 2007.  From the website:

This exhibit presents the popular Hispanic religious art tradition of retablos, which began in Mexico and the American Southwest in the 18th century.

If the interactive preview on their website is any indication, the paintings are stunning - I am looking forward to seeing this exhibit.  If I get a chance to go I'll try to blog more about it.  More about retablos here.

*Frs. Tharp and Hamilton (priests of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City) have decided to close their blog in order to better perform their other duties.  Farewell Ragemonkeys and may God bless you!

Shout Out- Catholic Men's Conference in Oklahoma City Feb 24, 2007

The Oklahoma Fellowship of Catholic Men will hold their 11th Annual Men's conference in Oklahoma City will take place at Bishop McGuinness High School on February 24th, 2007.  The time has past for early registration but it looks like it's worth it.  The theme this year will be "Feed my Sheep Be Courageous: Protect and Provide," and there will be a holy hour and an opportunity to go to confession.  In addition, they will have some nationally recognized speakers: Steve Ray (author and apologist), Father Jacobi (pastor of St. Eugene's in Oklahoma City), Peter Herbeck with Renewal Ministries (not Renew), and Kevin Burke (co-founder of Rachel's Vineyard).  Click here to register.

p.s - The Conference will end with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Beltran.

More good news about vocations...

Twenty four men were ordained to the permanent diaconate at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City on November 3rd.  Two of these men are at my home parish.  Check out the Sooner Catholic Online for more information.  Archbishop Beltran's Christmas message was in the issue of the Sooner Catholic that I recieved today, I will post a link when it's available online.

Good news from Tulsa!

Now, back to Oklahoma (which my blog is supposed to be about...)

The Diocese of Tulsa has purchased land across the street from the the city's only abortion clinic.  Lifesite news, Catholicnewsagency.com, and the Tulsa world all have articles about it:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=8260

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06121309.html

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=061211_Ne_A1_Abort51536

From Bishop Slattery:

"Our message is that life is sacred from the moment of conception, and that we have to be consistent. We cannot simply stand by and allow abortions and say nothing.

"For us, to say nothing would be terribly wrong.

"We always deal in the present. We don't judge people. We take them as they are."

US Ambassador to the Vatican

Last night's news broadcast had a feature on Francis Rooney, the US Ambassador to the Vatican, who happens to be from Oklahoma.  Check out the video to learn a little more about him, as well as the embassy's web site.

Road trip!

There seems to be a lot of buzz on the blogosphere, namely the Curt Jester and American Papist, about the Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption of Clear Creek in Hulbert, OK.  Apparently there is a big fund-raising event this weekend, Raymond Arroyo will be speaking at the Marriott in Tulsa on Saturday, and High Mass will be sung at the Monastery in the Crypt Chapel on Sunday, followed by a picnic lunch.   

I have never been to a Tridentine Mass before, so I don't know if it would be a good idea for me to attend this weekend.  I will think about it, it might be better to attend a Mass at St. Michael's before attending Mass at this monastery.  I have been wanting to go visit for a long time, I just don't know if the right time is now.  I have a couple of days to think about it.

**UPDATE - after spending time in Adoration last night (a local parish has Exposition/Benediction on Wednesdays) I think Our Lord wants me to focus on discernment right now, and arrange another visit with the Little Sisters of the Poor.  So, I won't be visiting Clear Creek this weekend.  Instead, I am going to see about planning another trip to Kansas City in a couple of weeks when I have a long weekend.  I very much want to visit Clear Creek and check out the Tridentine Rite, but I will plan on doing so another time.

Eucharistic Healing Service

Father Ralph DiOrio was here Sunday the 15th for a healing Mass.  Check out this video for the story of a healing that apparently took place there.

Respect Life Sunday - Archbishop Beltran's message

I know I'm late on this one... last Sunday was Respect Life Sunday for Catholics.  The Sooner Catholic featured an excellent letter from Archbishop Beltran, which included an examination of conscience:

Do I really believe in the inherent dignity of all human persons? 

Do I realize that I have a grave responsibility to respond personally to the needs of our brothers and sisters?

Have I personally acted by volunteering at Catholic Charities or Birth Choice or St. Vincent dePaul or at the clinics or at my parish outreaches? 

Am I generous with my time and my efforts as well as my money to support and help works and movements that are pro-life and generate an attitude of respect for the dignity and estimable value of the life of every individual human being?

Go here for more, and click the Archbishop's picture to read the whole message.  If a diffferent message comes up, click the link for "Past Good News in the left sidebar.  It looks like the folks at the Sooner Catholic are working to keep the website up-to-date, they even have a podcast now, I'll have to check it out!

Taking the veil

Since the focus of this blog is supposed to be the Church in Oklahoma, here is some good news!

On September 8th at the Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph in Piedmont, OK, Sister Maria of the Good Shepherd professed her final vows and recieved the black veil!  Archbishop Beltran celebrated Mass, with Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB from St. Gregory's Abbey and Father Gregory Ross, OCD, Provincial of the Oklahoma province of St. Therese concelebrating.  Sixteen other priests concelebrated as well.  There are some pictures in the September 24th issue of the Sooner Catholic, hopefully the sisters will have them up on her website soon (I hesitate to scan them since they are copyrighted and won't turn out well anyways).

This community lives in enclosure (although sometimes I see their sisters at my grocery store) and wears a modified Carmelite habit.  I guess they don't take the black veil until final profession.  They are a small community (I think most cloistered communities are) but are getting young vocations (Sister Maria graduated High School in 1999 and entered in 2001) and seem to have a healthy range of ages in their monastery.  Another Sister, Sister Agatha, made her first profession last year (she still wears a white veil).  They make altar breads as a means of financial support.

Here is a prayer for vocations from their website:

Heavenly Father,
you renew the Church
in every age by
raising up religious women
to bear witness to you.

Fill the hearts of young women
with a spirit of courage and love,
and enliven in them
an awareness of their vocation
that they may hear your call.

May those you have
chosen to serve you
provide by their way of life
a convincing sign
of your kingdom
for the Church
and the whole world.

Amen!