Second wind for refurbished pipe organ in Woodward

Beautiful music filled Saint Peter Catholic Church in Woodward on a recent Sunday afternoon. The source was a pipe organ concert celebrating the dedication of the church’s newly refurbished instrument.

Around 125 people from Saint Peter and its missions attended the event on Sept. 18. Noah Smith, a student at the University of Oklahoma, played pieces ranging from J.S. Bach and Franz Schubert to the popular hymn “Pan de Vida.”

Saint Peter’s pastor, Father Cristobal De Loera, noted that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said the purpose of music in the liturgy “is above all to glorify God and lead us to holiness.”

“The investment in this instrument is an investment in our liturgies,” said
Father De Loera. “We are asked to celebrate our liturgies with the active participation of the faithful, and a good pipe organ enables and encourages this participation.”

The Reuter organ was installed in 1980 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Catholic Church in northwest Oklahoma. It had gone mostly unused, however, since the passing of the previous organist about a decade ago.

Father De Loera learned of the pipe organ during his first visit to Woodward after being assigned there as pastor in 2021, and he encouraged the parish to pursue its renovation. 

“He said, ‘We need to use that every week,’” said Peggy Kitchens, music director at Saint Peter. “He said, ‘We have to – it’s a pipe organ.’”
Several fundraisers over the previous year helped cover the cost of the refurbishment, as did a Parish Life Grant from the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma. The organ received all-new components that allow it to be used to its full potential once again.

Father De Loera added that the church houses what is believed to be the only pipe organ in Woodward.

“Our parishioners have been very supportive of this project and we express our gratitude,” he said. “With this support, we have an instrument that can sustain our liturgies for generations.”

Owen Canfield is associate director of gift planning at the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma.