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Sooner Catholic Serving the People of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Volume 35, Number 19 * October 12, 2008 Cardinal McCarrick Visits Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY – Archbishop Beltran recently hosted a longtime friend when Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick visited the Archdiocese. During his stay, Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington D.C., celebrated Mass at Bishop McGuinness High School. Following Mass he enjoyed an informal chat with students. Archbishop Beltran and Cardinal McCarrick then visited the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial and Saint Joseph's Old Cathedral. The two friends also made the drive to Okarche and the gravesite of Father Stanley Rother where both men prayed for the canonization of the slain Oklahoma priest. They later visited Holy Trinity Church where Father Rother was baptized and where a statue is dedicated to his memory. On Tuesday afternoon, Cardinal McCarrick spent two hours in an informal session with priests at the Catholic Pastoral Center. About 30 Oklahoma priests attended and later enjoyed dinner with the Cardinal. This was Cardinal McCarrick's first visit to Oklahoma. Inside Oliver Douberly Celebrates Twenty Years at the Cathedral Of Our Lady 16 2 Sooner Catholic ● October 12, 2008 The Good News Sooner Catholic Most Reverend . Come Lord Jesus Eusebius J. Beltran Archbishop of Oklahoma City Saint Joseph Church, Ada his example brought people to God. Publisher Annual Hispanic Mass This is his great gift to us. By living October 4, 2008 always in the Presence of God, not There is no My dear Brothers and Sisters in trying to seem important, Saint substitute Ray Dyer Christ: Francis has led and continues to lead Editor What a beautiful day for the people to God. for the Hispanic community of our Archdio- His love of poverty and his Eucharist Cara Koenig decision to live a life of radical cese to celebrate this annual gather- Layout/Design/ ing. I am very pleased to see people poverty is truly in opposition to our because the here from many parishes and towns materialistic society. He desired Eucharist is Photographer of the Archdiocese. I welcome all of nothing since he depended upon Archbishop you to Saint Joseph Parish here in God for everything. Thus today he God Himself. Beltran Mauro Yanez Ada, Oklahoma. I thank Father continues to attract people who have Hispanic Editor Rusty Hewes and his people for host- much in the line of possessions but of God. God sees us. He loves us. He ing this year’s celebration. I thank find no internal peace or joy. Again, blesses us. Like Saint Francis, who Sister Rosario and her staff and all his example teaches us that we can was always aware that he was in Ammanda McCabe who have worked so hard preparing have true happiness and fulfillment God’s presence, we too must have Staff for this day. Your work, your prayers in the Lord alone. that same awareness. Nature, family and your dedication make this a Finally, Saint Francis had a and friends and all of creation can 7501 Northwest Expressway great spiritual, cultural and enjoy- great respect for nature. He recog- and should help us be aware of God’s able gathering. Thank you. Thank nized that God is the Creator of presence. But the most direct help Oklahoma City, OK 73132 you and God bless you. everything. He loved all living things we can ever have to become good (405) 721-1810 Fax: (405) 721-5210 Today is the Feast of Saint — plants, animals and people. He and holy and faithful people of God is e-mail: [email protected] Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis is loved all life but especially human the Holy Eucharist, the celebration Mailing Address: P.O. Box 32180 one of the most popular of all saints. life created in God’s image and like- of Mass. He is revered not only by Catholics ness. Because of Saint Francis’ love The Holy Eucharist is the sacra- Oklahoma City, OK 73123 but also by many people of other of life and respect for God’s creation, ment of the Body and Blood of Jesus. religious beliefs. In fact, he is re- he is very popular today. With a re- In Holy Communion, Jesus gives Visit us online through the spected even by people who have no newed consciousness about the envi- Himself to us. “Take My Flesh and formal religious affiliation. ronment, people see Saint Francis as eat It,” He says. “Take My Blood and Archdiocesan Web Page at A detailed study of the life of a prophet and an example. drink It.” www.catharchdioceseokc.org. Saint Francis reveals a man of great In each of these three instances, There is no substitute for the character. He was indeed a person of his humility, his love of poverty and Eucharist because the Eucharist is The Sooner Catholic (USPS 066-910) is integrity. Saint Francis seems to his respect for nature, Saint Francis God Himself. Although we are not attract people because of three exerted his influence upon people worthy to receive the Body and Blood published biweekly except for once in July attributes. These are his humility, who otherwise might never have of Jesus, like Saint Francis, we come and twice in December by the Archdiocese his love of poverty and his respect for turned to God. with humility and love. We come to of Oklahoma City. nature. Today we, who gather here on receive Holy Communion, not be- Humility is a virtue in which a this Feast of Saint Francis, should cause we are good and deserve this person seeks truth. A humble person also be inspired. Through Saint sacrament, but because God is good. The newspaper is not responsible for therefore acknowledges that God is Francis we are brought into God’s It is His special gift to us. It is the unsolicited material. the author of all good. A humble presence. Through him we can live a gift of Himself coming to live in us Copyright © 2008 Sooner Catholic person realizes that everything we simpler but more profound life. and with us. This is Jesus who gives have comes from God. There is no Saint Francis shows us where true us life and leads us to life everlast- inordinate pride or false claim in happiness and peace can be found ing. Subscription rate: $20 per year for all such a person. Saint Francis was and that is in God alone. In faith and with confidence, let who are not members of the that kind of a person. Therefore, his Just like all other people in the us respond humbly — Come Lord Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. preaching, his writing and, above all, world, we are always in the presence Jesus! Come! Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma A group of City, OK 73125. Oklahomans led by Archbishop Beltran were recent pilgrims in the Holy Land, visiting Israel and Jordan. They are shown here with His Beatitude Fouad Twal, the Latin The Sooner Catholic is Patriarch of supported through the Jerusalem in his Archdiocesan Development Fund. parlor on Sept. 17. October 12, 2008 ● Sooner Catholic 3 Saint Vincent de Paul Raises Funds to Help Less Fortunate of Area NORMAN — The South Central footprints containing the Beatitudes District Council of the Society of St. and short prayers. Blue and white Vincent de Paul celebrated the 175th balloons added to the festive appear- anniversary of the founding of the ance of the area. society with a Walk for the Poor. It The goal was to raise $10,000 for began with Mass and dinner at the the poor of the Moore, Norman and Pastoral Center on Friday evening, Purcell areas, however, the donations Oct. 26. Archbishop Beltran was reached $22,000. This will be divided presented with an official Walk for the equally between Our Lady of Victory, Poor T-shirt. The following morning St. Andrew’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Mark’s more than 500 people gathered at All and St. Thomas More. Saint’s Catholic School in Norman for Council president Ed Marsom the one-mile walk. extended his thanks to all the The master of ceremonies was members that have worked so hard on Joseph Castiglione. Father Thomas the project, as well as to all of the out- Boyer blessed the walk with an inspir- standing contributors. Marson said ing prayer and Alex Court sang the that it came at just the right time, as National Anthem as well as several two of the conferences were no longer beautiful spiritual songs. able to help the less fortunate that Students of All Saint’s had came to them because they were out of decorated the path with signs and funds. Walkers raised some $22,000 in the Walk for the Poor. Beginning Experience Helped Heal Pain of Lost Relationship By Paul Fagiano failed relationship nearly destroyed counter was for people just like me, solitude to reflect my most inter- For the Sooner Catholic me. Knowing the detachment often seeking to discover more about personal thoughts and feelings to associated with divorce, I assumed themselves and desiring to forgive acknowledge what I had endured in Pain, both physical and emo- the Catholic Church would turn and let go of the pain. my life. The weekend concluded on tional, is what I was dealing with away from me in my most desperate Sunday afternoon with a private prior to learning about Beginning I found myself driving to the time of need. I was astonished to Mass including a special blessing Experience. The emotional pain was Pastoral Center on Friday evening learn of the Beginning Experience for each of us.