From the Archives

Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Hennessey’s early history involved critical players in the life of the Church in America and in Oklahoma.
Starting in 1890, the intrepid missionary Father Felix de Grasse came to celebrate Mass at the new township twice monthly at the Rock Island Railroad section house.

The summer of 1891 saw the coming of Father Joseph Beck, who rented a room at the section house and continued the work of Father De Grasse.
The following year on Nov. 13, Bishop Meerschaert dedicated the new church under the patronage of Saint Joseph. At this juncture, the town had become the launching point for the newest land openings such as the Cherokee outlet in 1893. Consequently, the population grew, but it also became home to a group of African Americans who had arrived from Kentucky who happened to be Catholic. 

So then, the church was built with funds from the inimitable Mother (later Saint) Katherine Drexel. Mother Katherine was the daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia banker, and she used her inheritance to serve African Americans and American Indians. Since the community was primarily African American, she gave the lion’s share of the funds to make the church a reality for the then princely sum of $1,000. 

The archive of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is privileged to house a substantial amount of the correspondence between Bishop Meerschaert and Saint Katherine. One of the most intriguing letters is dated 1894 and involves Hennessey. She is not pleased to learn that the black parishioners are being shuttled to the back of the church, a common practice that had no place in the church. Her distress is evident and states very clearly that “if this situation is not rectified, I want my $1,000 returned.” The ultimatum was not lost on Bishop Meerschaert and the practice ceased at least for a time.

This unique arrangement surprisingly worked, but certainly was not without tension. In 1902, Holy Rosary Catholic Church was built for the African American community and operated until 1941 when attendance evaporated.

The building’s usefulness did not end as it was moved in 1946 to Enid to become Saint Elizabeth’s Chapel for black Catholics. 

Saint Katherine’s influence is keenly felt in Oklahoma as she was responsible for funding several American Indian schools as well as providing for the erection of parishes for African Americans. Oklahoma’s first bishop worked closely with this holy and remarkable woman and partnered with her in her quest for justice and disseminating the Gospel to all people.