Real Life Disciples: Summer 2021 – Apla’s Camino!

For my column this month I’m doing something a little different, let’s call it a “triad” of topics. I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to share about several new things happening in the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis: the end of probably one of the most challenging school years ever, an update on Vision 2030 and a new summer prayer pilgrimage starting this year – the “Apla’s Camino.”

End of the school year
Hello summer! My wife and I recently celebrated the graduations of two of our children, one from 8th grade and the other from high school. It’s been a time of big transitions for our family, and lots of joy as our children start new chapters in their lives.

These events provided a nice endcap to what has been a difficult year for everyone. As I sat through the graduation ceremonies, though, I kept thinking about our teachers and principals and the amazing effort they gave this year. And, that effort was often in the face of constant criticism. There seemed to be no possible way this past year to make everyone happy; no matter what decisions were made; someone was always upset.

The kind of daily determination it took to show up every day often amid their own fear was nothing less than heroic. As this school year comes to an end, let’s celebrate our teachers and principals! Make sure you go out of your way to thank them for their valiant efforts.

Vision 2030
During the past month, the secretariat has begun traveling across the archdiocese for several deanery meetings with pastors and their Parish Discernment Teams. These meetings have been growing in both impact and numbers.

Our latest gathering was at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ada where we had more than 40 people in attendance. You can find more information about a Parish Discernment Team on our website at archokc.org/vision2030pdt. As restrictions from COVID-19 are lifted, and people are coming back to Mass, it’s time to get back to our planning and implementation efforts with Vision 2030.

That’s what these gatherings are all about. The Office of Parish Leadership Engagement, led by Larann Wilson, is reaching out to pastors and key leaders surrounding them to assist with tailoring the Vision 2030 Pastoral Plan to their unique parish community.

I asked her to share some thoughts about these gatherings in her own words:

“As Archbishop Coakley released his pastoral plan, “Vision 2030,” in December 2019 pastors throughout the archdiocese embraced the vision and were ready to initiate the necessary steps to build a culture of conversion and discipleship ... and then COVID-19 happened. Quickly, Masses were no longer publicly celebrated, parish ministries were suspended and our Catholic school students were taught virtually. Parishes faithfully navigated through these uncharted waters. Though the pandemic tested our faith on various levels, it also provided us with a unique opportunity.

We see, now more than ever, that the call to missionary discipleship is of upmost importance and the archdiocese is responding. Throughout the months of May and June, secretariat staff and new Vision 2030 coaches are hosting deanery gatherings, introducing pastors and their parish discernment teams to an implementation process uniquely designed for them.

Teams are being led through a four-phase process that will contribute to lasting change in parish culture. Over the course of a year, the Vision 2030 coaches will accompany pastors and their teams in helping them assess where they are as a parish, define where God is calling them, organize how they will get there, and implement and prepare for abundant fruit. As we all root ourselves in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we boldly anticipate a new Pentecost throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.” 

Apla’s Camino
I saved the most exciting for last. During the month of July, we are launching a new prayer pilgrimage in the archdiocese called the “Apla’s Camino” to pray for the archdiocese and the intercession of Blessed Stanley Rother. “Apla’s” was the affectionate nickname given to Blessed Stanley by the Mayan descendants of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. It means “Francis” in their native language Tz’utujil.

Many of you are probably familiar with the term “camino.” The archbishop has told many stories about his camino journeys in Spain. The Camino de Santiago, translated “the Way of Saint James,” is one of the oldest Christian pilgrimages in the world. We are creating our own “camino” right here in Oklahoma!

We will have four religious sisters from the Disciples of Our Lord Jesus in Prayer Town, Texas, leading us on a journey from Boise City to Madill, from Altus to Newkirk, culminating at the property for the new Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine.

These teams will be visiting every parish, mission, Catholic school, every Catholic Charities outpost, every Catholic organization throughout the archdiocese during Blessed Stanley Feast Day month in July. We will be praying specifically for three things: for the grace of conversion, for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and for an advance of the mission of the Church.

There will be all kinds of opportunities for people to join these teams, pray with them both in person and virtually, and do your own mini-version of the camino for yourself. There’s even going to be a seven-church pilgrimage option that you can do to obtain a plenary indulgence from the archbishop!

There many more details than I have the space to share here. You can find more information and constant updates on the Apla’s Camino on our website: archokc.org/aplascamino. Check it out to see how you can get involved and join us in prayer this July!