Leaving the 99 for the one

Many people leave the Church for various reasons. In his parables, Christ gave very clear instructions on how Christians should deal with returning “lapsed members.” Christ wants prayers for the lost, and Lent is a great time for those prayers.   

In Luke 15:1-32, the Prodigal Son returns. People should not judge but celebrate the return. On April 30, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday. 

Good Shepherd Sunday celebrates the return of one sheep to the flock.

Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Sulphur

Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sulphur celebrated the return of Mary (Kay) Fike after a 40-year absence from the Catholic Church. She met her ex-husband when she was about 18, was baptized and became fully involved in the Mass. However, her marriage did not last, and she was later divorced.  

Fike said, “I remained in Iowa, feeling alone, embarrassed by the marriage failure, and depressed. I was isolated from the Church.”  

Fike moved to Oklahoma to be near her son and grandchildren and get a fresh start. She worked and retired as a certified nurse associate. She tried many different churches in the Sulphur area before finding Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church. 

During her 40-year absence from the church, Fike said, “I made many wrong choices and went looking at all the wrong places. What I was really missing was the Mass and the Holy Eucharist.”

She added, “When I found Saint Francis, I tried sitting over by the side but people like Rosalina kept telling me to sit in the main congregation with them, I felt so warm and welcome. Tremendous peace came over me. That was seven years ago!”

She sings regularly in the choir, helps with Altar Society and now works with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. 

Finally, Fike recommends two publications: “The Daily Mass: The Testimony of Catalina,” and “Heaven, Hell and Purgatory: Diary of Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska.”  

“For Catholics, these publications who have lapsed or who don’t understand what is going on at Mass, it will give them a better appreciation of what Christ did for us,” Fike said. 

Holy Cross Catholic Church, Madill

Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill recently celebrated the return of Fanny Guevara. Guevara, a young mother, had fallen away from the faith more than once. Guevara had her first “lapse” between the age of 18-22 when she was trying to find her way.  

She ultimately found her way back to the Church, however the trappings of “social media” made religion seem irrelevant.  

“Despite pleadings from my family, social media and my friends seem to be more important,” Guevara said. 

“My husband’s faith journey was similar to mine. However, things really changed when I got pregnant and my family urged me to meet Father Raul Sanchez, pastor at Holy Cross Catholic Church. All of a sudden, the most important thing in the world was that our daughter is to know Jesus and the sacraments. We both want her under the protection of Christ and the Church. Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill and Father Sanchez have welcomed us back with open arms.”

Finally, Guevara has simple advice for young people and families with society’s peer pressure and caught up in social media: “Shut your phone off and talk to Jesus.”  

Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.


Photo: Fanny Guevara and family. Photo provided.