From the Archives

The Rt. Rev. Monsignor Bernard Mutsaers arrived in Oklahoma in 1900 by way of Tilburg, Holland. He was one of several priests from that area who came to Oklahoma for the adventure of missionary work. Although he left the state after 20 years of service, he left a mark as a leader and trusted confidant to Bishop Meerschaert.

His first assignment was that of assistant at Kingfisher. Seeing his obvious intellectual abilities, he was appointed the rector of Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Guthrie in 1901 as the vicariate (the designation of the territory before Oklahoma became a diocese in 1905) was still 
headquartered there. 

Monsignor Mustsaer’s personnel file is packed with letters written to Bishop Meerschaert (who was in Europe recruiting clergy) that are mostly light and breezy and even a bit gossipy. They are delightful time capsules as he reflects on life on the prairie. 

The good monsignor had a surprising gift for the English language since it is his second language. From a letter dated June 3, 1905, from Guthrie: “Last month school closed, and we had a glorious picnic and everybody got sunburned. … We had a delightful time.” He continued, “The streetcars are running since a week. It is very handy and a useful convenience; last night I took my first ride on it and it was a smooth one.” 

He even refers to a reformed “horse thief” who fell 14 feet while trying to rid the bell tower of pesky pidgins. Thankfully he did recover. From the mundane occurrences of daily life, he reflects on the more serious: “We have had here in Oklahoma terrible storms, of the one in Snyder, O.T., I send you an illustration; 117 persons were killed or died from their injuries sustained in the storm a few days later. It was a terrible catastrophe.” 

Such was life in early Oklahoma, and it was relished by Monsignor Mutsaers. He succeeded the legendary Father Idelphonse Lanslot as rector of Saint Joseph Cathedral in Oklahoma City in 1906 and continued as such until 1920. He participated in and witnessed much growth during 
the period and was an able and competent pastor.

In 1920, he expressed the desire to study canon law in Rome. Since he was never incardinated into the Diocese of Oklahoma (he was on loan from the Diocese of Bois-le-Duc), he received permission from both bishops. After his studies were completed, he devised the novel idea of 
seeking to serve as Bishop Meerschaert’s procurator (his representative) in Rome. Rome was not enamored with the idea, however.

Returning to Tilburg, he decided to stay and never returned to Oklahoma. The rigors of working and serving in a foreign country had been taxing. In a later missive to Bishop Meerschaert (1921), he spoke of discouraging a relative from immigrating to America and to wait until “conditions ameliorated.” He is not clear what those conditions were.
 
Bernard Mutsaers left this life on July 24, 1929, in Tilburg surrounded by his loving family.