St. Gregory in Enid celebrates 50 years

“We Remember! We Celebrate! We Believe!” was the 50th anniversary celebration theme for Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Enid held Sept. 5. 

The day began with a rosary followed by Mass celebrated by Father Mark Mason that featured musicians who have participated at the parish through the years. Parishioners participated in a bizarre presented by the Altar Society, games, a potluck dinner and an ice cream truck.

Saint Gregory was founded on Sept. 4, 1971, with the first celebration of the Eucharist taking place in the Knights of Columbus Hall with Father Robert Siebs presiding. The parish purchased land and began building a church.  

A building committee was formed to examine the needs, objectives and resources of the new church. A new priest was assigned, Father Larry Gatlin, who led the parish in the construction of the present church building.

The design reflects an active and unique expression of faith in the new community; simple, warm, and native to the Southwest, adaptable to the traditional and new concepts at work in the Catholic Church, and flexible enough to accommodate the various activities of the church at work in the community. The design also was expandable for growth.

That growth came in 1982 when the church was expanded to include the parish hall with a large kitchen, basement classrooms and a nursery. Much needed square footage was added to the original structure, which enabled parishioners to hold religious education classes in the newly created basement.

In 2009, the church sanctuary and classrooms were remodeled. The current sanctuary was updated with the altar being centered and the marble backdrop placed in 2018.

On April 28, 2021, Archbishop Coakley blessed the new perpetual adoration chapel in the northeast corner of the church building.


Photo: St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church charter members at the 50th anniversary celebration Sept. 5 in Enid.
Front Row: Dee Cunningham, Jean Shaw Mochan, Cheryl Cummings Severin, Rita Suttmiller, Cy Suttmiller, Tim DeClerck, Judy Briner.
Back Row: Kyle Cunningham, Kara Cunningham Hopkins, Keith Cunningham, David Briner, Mary Briner Nofire. Photo provided.