From the Archives

Rev. George Kroupa
 
Reverend George Kroupa, a religious from the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, came to the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa in 1940 from Vienna, Austria. His order was targeted as a threat by the Nazi regime that occupied Austria. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Father Kroupa escaped with Father Fanguar, Father Strasser and Father Novak at first to Philadelphia and then to Oklahoma City.
 
Upon his arrival in the state, Bishop Kelley assigned him to The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help as an assistant to Monsignor John Mason Connor. His primary apostolate would be the music of the liturgy.
 
A booklet published commemorating the 50 ^th anniversary of the parish describes his contribution: “With the coming of Father George Kroupa, O.S.F.S., from the musical city of Vienna, the Gregorian Choir was reorganized. Having been trained in the famous Vienna Cathedral Choir, Father George immediately activated a men’s and boys’ choir. It has no peer in the liturgically correct Gregorian Chant. The Cathedral always points with pride to its choir.” As an assistant pastor, he was noted for his extensive work with the sick and the time he committed to ministering to immigrants, having great empathy for their situation.
 
Father Kroupa directed the choir for 24 years until he left the diocese in 1964 to serve as the spiritual director of De Chantel house in Lewiston, NY. In the photo, he is distributing ashes at the cathedral on Feb. 10, 1961. Senior members of the parish recall with fondness the beauty of the liturgical music his direction inspired. He passed from this life on May 7, 1978, and was buried at the Oblate Cemetery in Childs, Md.