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June 1, 2023In 1971, a bright, young bishop named John Quinn arrived in Oklahoma, eager to serve Catholics in the diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Quinn, a California native, made an impact on church history in Oklahoma when he became the first archbishop of Oklahoma City the following year.
A dynamic and influential leader in the Church, Quinn recognized the importance of having a platform to communicate and connect with Catholics in Oklahoma. The last formal diocesan newspaper, The Oklahoma Courier, ceased publication in 1969, leaving parishioners without a form of mass communication. In 1974, Quinn reestablished the publication of a newspaper for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. He named it “the Sooner Catholic,” and published the first few issues in pamphlet form.
Nearly 50 years later, the Sooner Catholic continues to fulfill Archbishop Quinn’s mission by offering Catholics a way to stay connected and engaged with their faith. Available in both paper and digital format, the Sooner Catholic is distributed to registered parishioners in the archdiocese of Oklahoma City, at no charge. Currently, it reaches around 40,000 Catholic households.
George Rigazzi, archivist for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, described the importance of a publication that provides a deeper connection to the Catholic faith.
“The Sooner Catholic has been a vital voice for the archdiocese over the years,” Rigazzi said.
Rigazzi started reading the Sooner Catholic in 1981, when he moved to Oklahoma City after graduating from the seminary.
“What struck me is that it always gave some personality to the people that work in the church,” Rigazzi said.
Rigazzi explained how the different facets of the newspaper allow Catholics to form a deeper human connection with fellow parishioners and parish staff.
“Profile stories, contributions from writers, the bishop's column - they all help with the teachings of the Church. And it allows us to see how others are involved with their faith outside the parish,” Rigazzi said. “Our history is rich and complex and interesting. The Sooner Catholic helps us understand who we are and where we are going.”
Articles that highlight the history of the archdiocese are also of particular interest to Judy Reilly, a parishioner at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.
“As I read the stories of the events and colorful personalities that have contributed to the growth of the Church in Oklahoma, I feel a deep connection to our past, and am hopeful about our future,” Reilly said. “I also read with interest the stories about people - laity and clergy - who are a part of the history we are currently making.”
Mary Smith, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Okarche, enjoys reading the Sooner Catholic because of the way it connects her to other Catholics in the state.
“I love seeing the great things always happening throughout the community in the name of our faith,” she said.
Avery Holt, interim editor of the Sooner Catholic, described the newspaper as an important resource for sharing information throughout the archdiocese.
“The Sooner Catholic is one of the many important tools we use as an archdiocese to spread the good news of Jesus and help to fulfill Archbishop Coakley’s vision of building a culture of conversion and discipleship,” Holt said. “We have a very active and vibrant group of communities in all of the parishes, and it is a joy to see so many on fire for the faith and living it out.”
The Sooner Catholic accepts news, story ideas and information about events taking place in parishes, schools and ministries throughout the archdiocese.
“We love to help promote the good work happening in our archdiocese,” Holt said.
Submissions may be sent to communications@archokc.org.
Sally Linhart is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: (above) Judy Reilly, a loyal reader of the Sooner Catholic and parishioner at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Photo provided.
