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October 23, 2025
Oklahoma City parish celebrates centennial
Catholics started filling the pews long ago at what would become Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.
And they haven’t stopped, although the mode of transportation has certainly changed.
According to the church website, “in 1906, before we were a parish, Catholics came by horseback and covered wagon for Sunday Mass at the Bishop’s chapel.”
On Oct. 4, the Feast Day for the parish, Saint Francis of Assisi celebrated 100 years with parishioners gathering for a centennial Mass and Oktoberfest celebration that included inflatables, live music and dancers and food. Several parishioners wore t-shirts to mark the church’s special occasion.
The beginning of the church started before Oklahoma was a state. It was in 1925 that Bishop Francis Kelley established the parish, which is the present-day parish hall. The first two pastors at the church were Jesuits, focusing notably on education, charity, humanitarian acts and global policies. Father Van den Hende became pastor in 1927 and established the parish school on 15th street and Youngs Blvd. By 1935, the current pastor, Father Van der Griten, renamed the parish school to Rosary School, after the Dominican sisters who attended Rosary College in River Forest Illinois.
The present church, the Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi was built as soon as the war ended. The finished church was dedicated May 22, 1947, by Bishop Eugene McGuinness, and the original date for the dedication was scheduled for Oct. 4, 1946.
Charles L. Monnot was the architect for the colonial style church. The church was completed with Pink Tennessee marble, white Italian marble statues, Bedford blocks and Saint Meinrad sandstone lent solidarity to the structure topped with a red tile roof. The stained-glass windows depicted the scenes in the life of Saint Francis.
Over the years, the school and church have seen many updates; with the most recent improvements being the parish hall renovation, a Family Life Center, church addition, additional school classrooms/playgrounds, parking and landscaping. Throughout the years, the basic structure of the church has remained the same.
Archbishop Coakley celebrated the centennial Mass, tracing the parish’s humble beginnings forward during his homily.
“We’re celebrating 100 years of parish life,” he said, “it started with small beginnings that were strengthened by the Lord and strengthened by the faith of people like Bishop Meerschaert, Bishop Kelley and the sisters who came to support the school that was established. These small beginnings have ultimately led us here today. Saint Francis of Assisi has grown to be a flourishing, strong, model parish in our archdiocese.”
He also noted that “all God asks of us is to be faithful.”
During the centennial Mass celebration, parishioner Cecilia Mandewo shared her thoughts on the day and its significance.
“It’s a blessing to attend a church named after Saint Francis of Assisi, because of his heart toward animals and nature,” Mandewo said. “He is not only a saint known for preaching to animals, but he also had a heart for those who were unseen and on the margins of society.
“Having Saint Francis of Assisi as our patron saint also gives us the opportunity to embody those characteristics.”
Now, 100 years later, the church continues to grow and serve the community. The current priest, Father John Paul Lewis, said he wants to see more unity, and that his hope for the future is that parishioners would continue to grow and continue to think about the needs that are not met, and how we as a parish can continue to serve others.
Father Lewis said he would like to “see people reach out more and grow and walk in faith together.”
But most of all, he said his hope for the future of parishioners at Saint Francis is to continue to encounter the Lord.
Courtney Southerland is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Archbishop Coakley celebrated the centennial Mass for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Oct. 4 in Oklahoma City. Photos Chris Porter.