“Protests, Prayer and Putting Faith into Action”

Lecture series makes stop at Norman parish April 20

NORMAN – Sister Veronica Higgins, a consecrated religious sister with the Carmelite Order of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus, will give the 2022 Agnes and Herbert True Family Lecture at 7 p.m. April 20 in Heiple Hall at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, 100 Stinson Ave. in Norman. The title of her talk is "My Story: Protests, Prayer and Putting Faith into Action." The event is free and open to the public.

"God has no hands but ours. We are the instrument through which he touches the lives of others, bringing healing and comfort to those in need," she said. "In our 21st century world, we need to remind each other that, together, we can bring peace to each other and the world by being present to those in need and recognizing the gift of each other."

Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, Sister Veronica remembers being required to use separate public facilities like water fountains and being barred from visiting local amusement parks. During her college years, she joined protest movements sweeping the country, most notably the civil rights movement. The Carmelite Sisters, however, embraced her as a member of a large extended family, she said, and with them, she never personally felt discriminated against.

"Sister Veronica offers a much-needed perspective on the rich history of African American Catholicism, some of which is difficult but necessary to hear," said Father Jim Goins, pastor of Saint Thomas More.

Sister Veronica is best known as an exceptional educator, principal and music minister. Her extensive musical training has helped her support multiple parishes with crossing cultural bridges. She currently serves as case manager for adults with intellectual disabilities at The Center of Family Love in Okarche.

Masks will be required to protect Sister Veronica as well as the sisters, and The Center of Family Love residents with whom she works.

The Agnes M. and Herbert True Family Lecture series brings a Catholic intellectual or artist to the University of Oklahoma campus each year to deliver a public lecture on a topic of university-wide interest. 

Sponsored by Saint Thomas More Catholic Church and Student Center and the Catholic Student Association, the series is funded in part by an endowment established by the Trues' three sons who all graduated from OU.

For more information, contact (405) 321-0990.


Photo: Pauline, from The Center of Family Love, and Sr. Veronica Higgins. Photo provided.