St. Benedict Catholic Church celebrates 125 years

SHAWNEE – Saint Benedict Catholic Church in Shawnee celebrated its 125th anniversary Oct. 9-10. The parish named the celebration the “125 Plus One Anniversary Celebration,” since they couldn’t celebrate the actual anniversary this past year because of the pandemic.

The celebration began with an anniversary Mass at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 concelebrated by the Father Joseph Schwarz, pastor, Father Lawrence Damian, associate pastor, and Father Paul Zahler, O.S.B., of Saint Gregory’s Abbey. The Mass was followed by a potluck dinner at the Benedict Center. Special guests were the Benedictine monks from nearby Saint Gregory’s Abbey.

“Celebrating 125 years is a testament to the faith of the parishioners and their dedication to knowing and loving Jesus Christ,” Father Schwarz said. “God has blessed Saint Benedict’s with many good people who live their faith each and every day. I am blessed to be able to serve God and the wonderful people here.”

During the celebration dinner, the organizing committee gave a presentation on the history of the church with pictures and news clippings through the years. Each family also was given a special gift.

On Oct. 10, the church held an open house from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with guided tours. One area of special interest were the 22 large stained-glass windows that depict different biblical stories and saints. The church also is home to relics of several saints, including those of Saint Benedict, Saint Claire of Assisi, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Pius X, Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.
History of Benedictine monks and Saint Benedict Catholic Church
Even before Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907, Benedictine monks were establishing their presence throughout Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. 

The Benedictine monks first arrived in Oklahoma in October 1875. The monks were from the French monastery of Notre Dame de la Pierre-qui-Vire and they traveled to the Indian Territory at the suggestion of the bishop of Little Rock. 

They first arrived at Atoka in 1875 and began to minster to American Indians and migrating people. After a few months, the pioneer monks settled on land donated by the Citizen Band Potawatomi Indians. They subsequently established Sacred Heart Abbey near Konawa in 1876. They also established a school. 

From their base at the Sacred Heart Abbey, the Benedictine monks worked to spread the word of God to people in the region. The monks would ride on horseback or in wagons across trails. They often endured the hardships of inclement weather, lack of food and accommodation, and countless other inconveniences. Undaunted by these obstacles, the monks established more than 40 Catholic parishes and missions throughout the territory. Many of the present-day parishes in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa established by the monks are still active. 

Among the pioneer monks who arrived from France in 1875 was the charismatic Father Felix DeGrasse, who was instrumental in founding Saint Benedict Catholic Church in Shawnee. 

When the area around Shawnee was opened to white settlers in 1893, the town was officially founded. The construction of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad further spurred the growth of Shawnee.

“It was natural for us to organize a parish to serve the Catholic community that had settled in the newly established city of Shawnee,” Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen said. “Father DeGrasse accepted the assignment with his typical great zeal and success.”

Father DeGrasse became Shawnee’s first missionary priest, often celebrating Mass in the homes of early settlers due to lack of a permanent building. Those settlers included the Timmonses, the Cassidys, the Dierkers, the Gleasons and the Philip Secks. Later on, Sunday Masses were offered at the Welch’s Feed Store located on Main Street.
In 1895, Father DeGrasse spearheaded the purchase of land on Park Street between 9th and 10th Streets. Construction of the first permanent church and rectory soon began, and Father DeGrasse became the first resident pastor.  

The church complex was built in the style of an auditorium and was used by the Sisters of Mercy as a parochial school. The school opened in October 1896, enrolling Catholic and non-Catholic students. 

During school hours, the school was separated from the sanctuary by a curtain. A large pot-bellied stove provided heat and kerosene lamps furnished light. Father DeGrasse named the church Saint Benedict after the founder of the Benedictine Order. 

This was the first time in 25 years that Catholics, who were scattered throughout the area, had a home parish.

Father DeGrasse remained pastor of Saint Benedict until 1898. In addition to Shawnee, Father DeGrasse established parishes in Pawhuska, Guthrie, Ponca City, Perry, Mulhall, Langston and Chandler. He later became abbot of Saint Gregory’s Abbey. 

In March 1903, Father Blaise Haritchabalet, O.S.B., was appointed pastor of Saint Benedict’s. 

The city of Shawnee continued to grow after the turn of the century and the parish grew with it. It wasn’t long before the congregation had outgrown the church building. 

There was a story told that on one Sunday when Father Maurus Fuerstenberg, then assistant pastor, was asking the congregation what should be done about the burgeoning congregation, a long freight train came puffing and whistling nearby. Father Fuerstenberg had to stop and waited patiently until the train passed to continue the discussion. That incident helped parishioners decide to move to a different location and build a bigger house of worship.

Father Haritchabalet arranged for the purchase of the current location (the lot on Kickapoo and Benedict streets). In 1904, a two-story brick rectory was erected on the new site. Attached to the rectory was a large stone garage, which served for some years as an art studio for Father Gregory Gerrer, O.S.B., who had returned from art studies in Europe in 1904. His paintings and art collection later started the Mabee-Gerrer Museum located on the campus of Saint Gregory’s University.

The old church building on Park Street was moved to the new location and used as both church and school.

In 1906, construction of the present church began, and on July 29, 1906, the cornerstone of the new church was laid. The new church was dedicated on May 12, 1907.

Father Haritchabalet remained pastor until 1915, when Saint Gregory’s College opened, and he was appointed the college’s first president. 
Father Robert Maloney, O.S.B., succeeded Father Haritchabalet as pastor. In 1919, the Saint Benedict School building was constructed. The school continued to be operated by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1958, an additional school building was built. The new school building began as Saint Benedict High School, consisting of ninth through 12th grades while the old building was used for grades one through eight. 

The high school was eventually forced to close in 1964 due to dwindling enrollment. The Sisters of Mercy operated the Saint Benedict School until 1974 when they withdrew from Shawnee.

From the founding of the parish by Father DeGrasse in 1895 until 2008, Saint Benedict was pastored by Benedictine monks from Sacred Heart and later Saint Gregory’s. The only exception was Father Zenon Steber, who was pastor from 1901-1902. 

In 2008, after having provided pastoral care for 113 years, Saint Gregory’s Abbey handed over administrative and staffing responsibilities to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. 

“Over the course of more than a century of service in the parish, the monks of Sacred Heart/Saint Gregory’s Abbey have received many blessings through their ministry at Saint Benedict parish,” Abbot Lawrence said. “We are grateful for the support, encouragement and collaboration of the parishioners over the years.”

Abbot Lawrence noted that two of the monks claim Saint Benedict’s as their home parish – the late Father Michael Roethler, O.S.B., who was president of Saint Gregory’s College and pastor from 1991-1995, and Abbot Lawrence, who was born and raised in Tecumseh and was associate pastor of the parish at one time. 

The current pastor of Saint Benedict, Father Schwarz, has been pastor since 2013. He is assisted by associate pastor Father Lawrence Damian and three deacons – David Schrupp, William Thurman and Roy Callison. About 600 families call Saint Benedict their home parish.

Alex Lee is the communications coordinator at Saint Benedict Catholic Church.