Since becoming the pastor of Saint Joseph in Ada this summer, Father Aaron Foshee’s schedule has been filled from dawn until dusk. After celebrating Mass, he has a list of duties to accomplish, and sometimes does not go back to the rectory until nightfall.
“I am busier than I have ever been,” Father Foshee said with a smile. “I am so blessed to be here. This is my first pastorate, so it is exciting. I am humbled the archbishop thought I was ready to take on this kind of responsibility. It is a large one, but it is life giving.”
From his seminary formation, to his mentors, Father Foshee said he has had help preparing to become the pastor of one of the oldest churches in the archdiocese.
“My mentorships with Father Irwin in Enid and Father Rick Stansberry at Christ the King in Oklahoma City have prepared me for this. Because of their example, because of my education at Saint Meinrad Seminary, I feel confident.”
Father Foshee also serves at Saint Francis Xavier mission in Sulphur. He said the church community is family.
“Saint Francis Xavier in Sulphur is a vibrant community. It is amazing to see we have intentional disciples there, keeping the Church going and evangelizing, bringing the Good News to the people in Sulphur,” he said.
It has been nearly 20 years since Father Foshee and his immediate family converted to Catholicism. Being a former Protestant, he said his love for Scripture was instilled in him as a young boy and said that has helped make him the kind of priest he is today.
“I try to encourage people because we should never be afraid of other Christian denominations. They have things to offer us, and we have things to offer them. It is something we should be hoping for, unifying the Body of Christ. We are supposed to be one flock, one shepherd. God wants that,” he said.
He also gives thanks to Blessed Stanley Rother.
“We are all one Church, and I think that is what all of us in Oklahoma need to realize. We are all here to work toward holiness. I am especially grateful for the example that we have through Blessed Stanley Rother because he is such a unifier for our diocese. No matter where you are in Oklahoma, we have this saint in our midst, who is with us, and is actively assisting us.”
Father Foshee said one of the greatest things about the physical element of Saint Joseph is the bell tower. Because of its height, you can see it from a long distance.
“When you see it, you know you can follow it, and you will come to the church,” he said. We are all supposed to be like that bell tower. By our baptisms, we are called to invite people to receive and to live the Good News. At the end of Mass, when I, or the deacon, say ‘Go, Mass has ended.’ It is not like, ‘OK, we’re done.’ It is that you have received the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. You have received Jesus in Sacred Scripture, you have received Jesus in our community of faith. You have been given the tools. Now go, and do what your baptism has called you to do. Go and make disciples.”
Since the Ada community includes East Central University, other colleges and schools as well as a diverse population, Father Foshee said they have some evangelical potential in Ada.
“We have a German-speaking community, a Spanish-speaking community and an English-speaking community. We have a large community from the Philippines and Vietnam as well as Native Americans. Being able to show people and give them an invitation to our community of faith is one of the potentials I see here. I would love to make Ada and Sulphur an example for the rest of the diocese, that we can do it, they can too.”
Father Foshee asked for continued prayers.
Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.