Confirming the masses

With a trip to Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Guymon on June 18, Archbishop Coakley wrapped up a busy confirmation season that saw him travel to all corners of the archdiocese.

The first confirmation Mass of 2023 was Jan. 29 in Elk City, where young people from Saint Matthew Catholic Church in Elk City and Saint Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Sayre were anointed by the archbishop.

From then until June 18, Archbishop Coakley celebrated 40 confirmation Masses, driving more than 4,000 miles.

This year included special confirmation celebrations at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, which opened in February.

On March 26, the shrine hosted the confirmation class from Blessed Stanley Rother’s home parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Okarche.

On April 23, students and families from seven parishes – Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Saint Gregory Catholic Church in Enid, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hollis, Saint Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Moore, Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry, and Saint Philip Neri Catholic in Midwest City – filled the shrine to overflowing for confirmation.

The same happened on May 7, when the shrine welcomed the confirmation classes for 12 parishes and missions – Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sulphur and Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ada, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Hobart, Saint Andrew Dung Lac Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Chandler, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in El Reno and Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Union City, Saint Mary Catholic Church in Ardmore, Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and Saint Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Jones, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Konawa.

The archbishop used these special occasions to remind the youth that they first received the gift of the Holy Spirit at their baptism. But through confirmation, “we take on a greater responsibility for our own faith,” he said. “You came here as disciples ... but you leave here as missionary disciples, as witnesses to Jesus Christ.”


Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.