News - April 2021 RSS Feed

WASHINGTON (CNS) — As Catholic colleges grapple with how to reopen in the fall, many are already saying they will require their students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and some schools are also mandating that staff members be vaccinated.

The John Paul I Vatican Foundation announced the recovery of a collection of the late pope’s writings.

WASHINGTON - The 58th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated by the Catholic Church on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, commonly referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations unites the faithful in praying for those currently discerning and living out vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life.

WASHINGTON – Following the verdict in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota today, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued a statement.

El 17 de marzo de 2020, el Arzobispo Coakley tomó la difícil decisión de suspender misas públicas y liturgias en la Arquidiócesis de Oklahoma City en respuesta a una pandemia global en rápida expansión. Desde entonces, se ha aprendido mucho sobre cómo reducir la propagación de COVID-19 y, a partir del 29 de marzo de 2021, todos los residentes de Oklahoma mayores de 16 años son elegibles para recibir una vacuna COVID-19.

El Arzobispo Coakley ha nombrado la primera Semana de Agradecimiento a los Sacerdotes en la Arquidiócesis de Oklahoma City. La semana brinda una oportunidad para que los feligreses, las familias y las parroquias digan "gracias" a nuestros sacerdotes por todo lo que hacen y por reconocer todo lo que han hecho durante el año pasado. La Semana de Agradecimiento a los Sacerdotes comenzará cada año el Domingo del Buen Pastor. Este año, será del 25 de abril al 1 de mayo. Se exhorta a cada parroquia a promover la semana y dar gracias a sus sacerdotes de la manera que prefieran.

On March 17, 2020, Archbishop Coakley made the difficult decision to suspend public Masses and liturgies in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in response to a rapidly expanding global pandemic. Since then, much has been learned about how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and, as of March 29, 2021, all Oklahoma residents age 16 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Archbishop Coakley has instituted the first annual Priest Appreciation Week in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. During this week, which will start on Good Shepherd Sunday each year, parishioners and families are encouraged to do something to thank their priests from writing a thank you note to spending time in adoration. This year, the week will be April 25 - May 1.

Losing a child at any stage of pregnancy can be devastating for expectant parents and their families. For some grieving parents, loss can be more painful when medical facilities dispose of their infant's remains without consulting the family.

Millions of Christians around the world suffer and are targeted because of their faith. According to Open Doors, a non-profit organization that supports persecuted believers in more than 60 countries, in just the past year (2021 World Watch List reported) there have been:

Enduring more than their share of hardship, the people of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Union City have persevered and prospered for more than 120 years. In the beginning, it was largely a German and Czech community.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The board of directors for the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma announced April 12 it has hired Owen Canfield to serve as the new associate director for gift planning.

EL RENO – For the 25th year, Sacred Heart Catholic School will host a school festival and fundraiser. The event, Redbird Roundup, will be in place of the annual Taste of Sacred Heart event.

Willow Pregnancy Support is building a new Rose Home to house up to eight pregnant women and their children. To accommodate residents, the new Rose Home will include eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a classroom, a playroom and a custom kitchen.

Have you been wanting to go on a retreat, but cannot because you cannot get away from work, family obligations or COVID-19 fears? This book – “33 Days to Greater Glory: a total consecration to the Father through Jesus based on the Gospel of John” – by Father Michael Gaitley, M.I.C., can help you. It can be a 33-day retreat. There are short reflections and Scripture readings from the Gospel of John.

The groundbreaking ceremony included a welcome, a blessing over the project site and construction by Abbot Benedict Neenan, O.S.B., followed by the ceremonial turning of the shovels and a photo to commemorate the event.