St. Gregory’s Abbey celebrates 150 years

On Oct. 12, 1875, two intrepid monks from the French Benedictine monastery of Saint Marie of La Pierre-qui-Vire set foot for the first time in the mission territory entrusted to them. Father Isidore Robot, O.S.B., and Brother Dominic Lambert, O.S.B., finally had arrived at a destiny and mission that was long in the making – a destiny and mission that eventually would evolve not only into Saint Gregory’s Abbey, but also into the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

“The celebration of 150 years of history comes around only once,” said Right Reverend Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey. “Given the significance of what began on Oct. 12, 1875, we wanted to involve not only the monastery in marking this sesquicentennial anniversary, but many others throughout Oklahoma and even beyond Oklahoma.”

The monastic community and guests will observe the arrival of the founding monks on Sunday, Oct. 12 with a Mass at 10 a.m. in the Abbey Church. Most Reverend Jonathan Licari, O.S.B., Abbot President of the American Cassinese Congregation of Monasteries, will preside the Mass and will be joined by numerous other Benedictine abbots, representatives of other monasteries, and Oblates of Saint Gregory’s Abbey. The day will conclude with celebration of Solemn Vespers at 4 p.m. in the Abbey Church. The public is invited to attend.

The sesquicentennial of the mission of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma will feature a Solemn Mass at 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City. His Eminence, Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Papal Nuncio to the United States, will preside, with Most Reverend Paul Coakley, archbishop of Oklahoma City, Most Reverend David Konderla, Bishop of Tulsa, leaders of American Indian nations and clergy from across the state joining the monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey and representatives of other monasteries actively participating in the liturgy.

“We invite all people of good will to participate in this celebration of our faith and history,” Abbot Lawrence said. “We hope that the Sesquicentennial Mass will be an occasion to give thanks to God for the graces of our history and for the people of faith who have gone before us.

“We hope also that it will be a moment to celebrate our identity in Christ and be inspired to continue to mission of the Church in this part of the world with renewed faith and missionary zeal.”

The sesquicentennial celebration offers an opportunity to reflect on all that’s taken place in the life of the Church in Oklahoma. And what’s to come.

“Our community has responded to many needs over our first 150 years of history. By God’s grace and the support of many people, the dedicated monks of each generation have produced great fruit in the areas of pastoral ministry and education,” Abbot Lawrence said.

“We now are in a new period of history, and we continue to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the needs of the Church, and the voices of a new generation, to discern how we now are being called to serve the mission of the Church.”