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BALTIMORE – At their annual Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore the week of Nov. 13, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) elected a conference secretary and chairmen for six standing committees. The conference secretary also serves as the chairman of the Committee on Priorities and Plans.

Father Andrew Gerard MacAulay, a longtime beloved priest for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, died peacefully on Nov. 6, 2023, at Saint Ann Assisted Living Center in Oklahoma City. He was 94.

The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is scheduled for July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis, Ind. It will serve as the launch for the fourth, and final, stage of the Eucharistic Revival initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

With the passing of Father Gerard MacAulay on Nov. 6, an era of Oklahoma Church history officially concluded. He was the last connection to the Prince Edward Island priests who came to serve in Oklahoma –initially due to the influence of Bishop Francis Kelley, himself a native of the Canadian province.

A Very Giving Christmas is a gift distribution program for low-income families from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The program takes different approaches based on the community and the familial need.

On Nov. 2, All Souls Day, parishioners of the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague held a special prayer service to commemorate the souls of the faithful departed. The day began with a Mass and holy hour, Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet for the souls of the deceased parishioners, members and pilgrims to the Shrine.

Bishop Andrew Cozzens, who is leading the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, provided an overview of the effort during remarks at the November gathering of the Assembly of Catholic Professionals.

The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) is announcing the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection, scheduled in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City on Dec. 16 and 17.

When I boarded my flight to Kolkata, India in January 2023, it was reminiscent of a similar journey I had taken in August 1995, but little did I know then that Saint Teresa of Kolkata’s influence would be with me up until today. Over the past 30 years, I have documented many aspects of the saint’s legacy, but it has been in this past year that I can truly say that I have a much deeper understanding of what it means to be a Missionaries of Charity sister, first through my interview with Sister Mary Joseph, M.C., the newly elected superior general of the order and then most recently in Poland interviewing Sister M. Prema, M.C., who served as superior general for 13 years. As Sister Prema, M.C., told me in August, “It was a decision.” That decision was one in which each of the sisters has devoted herself completely and for life to Jesus Christ.

November is the month dedicated to prayers for vocations. Each year, the archdiocese promotes the annual Seminarian Education Appeal to the faithful, asking for financial support for the formation of future priests.  Currently, 18 seminarians for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City attend several different seminaries across the U.S. and in Rome. 

On May 21, Archbishop Coakley celebrated his 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination, and 12 years of service as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Archbishop Coakley shared advice and encouragement to current seminarians and young men discerning the priesthood.

Many men feel a call from God to serve the Church through the Sacrament of Holy Orders – to serve the Church faithfully as a priest. Others feel called to the Sacrament of Matrimony – to help their spouse get to Heaven and raise a family with Catholic values. Those who enter the married life can still serve in an ordained ministry, however, and men interested in leadership in their parish can become a deacon. Men can discern that call through the archdiocesan Permanent Diaconate Program.

What is the Parental Choice Tax Credit? Beginning in tax year 2024, a refundable income tax credit is allowed for certain Oklahoma taxpayers who pay, or expect to pay, tuition and fees to an eligible private school on behalf of an eligible student. An eligible taxpayer is someone who is subject to the tax laws of the state of Oklahoma, and who is a biological or adoptive parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, legal guardian, custodian or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of the eligible student.

November is Native American Heritage Month. It’s a time to honor the sacrifices and contributions of American Indians to their country, their community and their faith.

Families with school-age children won a significant victory earlier this year when the Oklahoma Legislature approved the use of state income tax credits to help with education costs.

In 1971, a bright, young bishop named John Quinn arrived in Oklahoma, eager to serve Catholics in the diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Quinn, a California native, made an impact on church history in Oklahoma when he became the first archbishop of Oklahoma City the following year.

Two days and eight hours after Theresa Hohenberger and Marilyn Freund climbed into a sedan in Atlantic, Iowa, (halfway between Omaha and Des Moines) they were standing among the 1,000 faithful waiting outside to get a seat to the dedication Mass of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City. 

It was inevitable. The Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa had become unwieldy in its size and a more reasonable arrangement became a necessity. Since the erection of the Diocese of Oklahoma in 1905, two years before statehood, and the subsequent name change in 1930 to the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the entire state was under the care of one bishop.

Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee will host a series of monthly Days of Reflection on the Eucharistic Revival throughout 2023. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Archbishop Paul Coakley on Aug. 22 announced the rescheduling of the Mass and dedication of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine to Friday, Feb. 17, to ensure all non-construction items are ready, and necessary staff members are in place for the shrine to open immediately following the dedication.