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October 22, 2020Monsignor Everard van der Grinten witnessed nearly a half century of growth of the Church in Oklahoma after arriving from Holland in 1910. He was a key player in that growth as he worked throughout Oklahoma, ending his career in Langley, Okla.
A recruit of Bishop Meerschaert, Father Van (as he would come to be known) answered the call to mission territory and began his ministry in Sterling. He served as assistant pastor at Duncan, Goltry, Saint John Indian School at Hominy Creek and received his first pastorate with the establishing of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muskogee. This appointment was not without its problems through no fault of his own.
Muskogee already had an established parish in Our Lady of the Assumption, existing since 1891. In October 1920, Bishop Meerschaert declared that a second parish would be established on the west side of the city much to the chagrin of Father Joseph van Hulse, pastor of Assumption.
Historians called the situation a “misunderstanding” with few details as to what the “misunderstanding” was. It is fair to say that Father Van walked into a proverbial hornet’s nest.
The matter went to the Apostolic Delegate in Washington and Father Van Hulse’s opposition was overruled. The chancellor, Father James McGuire, read the decree erecting Sacred Heart from the pulpit at Assumption on Jan. 30, 1921. With tension still present, Father Van began in earnest to accomplish what needed to be done. The first church was finished by Sept. 1 of the same year and the school was operative as well. He remained pastor until 1933 and was sent to Saint Francis of Assisi in Oklahoma City.
Saint Francis was established in 1925 and was connected to the bishop’s residence. Seeing the needs of a growing community, he embarked on a building campaign with his work coming to fruition, opening the new school in the midst of World War Two in 1944. His crowning achievement would the beautiful church completed in 1947. The Southwest Courier, the diocesan newspaper at the time, gushed, “It is one of the most striking colonial churches in the southwest.” He was pastor for 20 years and his mark is keenly felt today.
An active man and sportsman, he was the first priest to earn a private pilot’s license in 1936. He owned his own plane and continued to fly until age grounded him. Two other priests followed in his footsteps as pilots: Father Herman Schaefers and Father Joe Kolb. Father Kolb flew for a number of years and, sadly, Father Schaefers was killed in a plane he was piloting in 1967. His aunt was a passenger and also perished.
Father Van’s dedicated service was honored with him being named a monsignor in 1953. Monsignor van der Grinten died in December 1963 with his funeral Mass at his beloved Saint Francis Catholic Church.
