Communication is key

I think we all would admit that the past few years have been times of rapid change in our world, in our nation, in our Church and in our archdiocese.
 
In the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City we have witnessed the historic beatification of Blessed Stanley Rother and launched a first-ever archdiocesan capital campaign called “One Church, Many Disciples” that will support our parish projects, archdiocesan ministries and build a shrine for Blessed Stanley – the United States’ first martyr and priest ever beatified. That’s just scratching the surface of the fruits we will see because of this campaign to which the people of the archdiocese have responded so generously.
 
We also are in the middle of a pastoral planning process called Vision 2030, which will develop strategies based on my recent pastoral letter, “Go Make Disciples! Building a Culture of Conversion and Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City,” that will guide us for the next 10 years or more. On a much more sobering note, we have once again been thrown into confusion by the clergy abuse crisis that continues to challenge the Church, especially its leaders, to do better in protecting the young and transparently responding to allegations of abuse.
 
One of the important means of staying abreast with all that is happening in our Catholic world has been the Sooner Catholic, our award-winning archdiocesan newspaper. It was Archbishop Quinn who established the Sooner Catholic in 1974 to serve the new Archdiocese of Oklahoma City when the state was divided into two dioceses. He recognized the importance of a local Catholic newspaper to share news and information and to strengthen our sense of communion with one another across our vast archdiocese.
 
The Sooner Catholic continues to report news of things happening in our parishes and schools, in Oklahoma, and throughout the world. It offers features about persons, places and events that interest and affect us. It provides editorial opinion, cultural commentary and authoritative teaching. More than simply reporting the news, the Sooner Catholic has been an important instrument for advancing the evangelizing mission of the Church.
 
Just as our secular newspapers have had to adapt to survive, the Sooner Catholic continues to adapt to changing tastes, needs and trends in communication technology and in our local church. These days, there are regular Spanish pages in each issue of the Sooner Catholic. In addition to a colorful biweekly newspaper for every Catholic household in the archdiocese, the Office of Communications also maintains the archdiocesan website, multiple social media platforms and the mobile phone app.
 
The Sooner Catholic is supported by the annual Sooner Catholic Communications Appeal. The appeal also supports local Catholic radio stations, helps maintain the website and even helped make possible the award-winning documentary on Blessed Stanley Rother that premiered at his beatification Mass.
 
It is easy to take for granted many of the things that make up the rhythm and fabric of our lives. Perhaps the Sooner Catholic is one of those things.
 
Please support the Sooner Catholic Communications Appeal and help us continue to provide up-to-date news, timely information and crucial formation across various platforms for the people of this archdiocese. Thank you for your generous support!