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Sooner Catholic www.soonercatholic.org May 1, 2016 www.archokc.org Go Make Disciples Refl ections for Mom Celebrating the joy, faith and dedication of mothers on Mother’s Day Mothers are their children’s fi rst was not to be on this earth very knit family. instead I was going to go to heav- cheerleaders, their fi rst experi- long. To her, my father was the In my decision to study for the en with God? She told me “that’s ences with love and the guiding one God picked for her and she priesthood, my mother was a great right,” so I said, “OK, I want to be hand that steers men and women held on to that till her infl uence who always a priest!” on their faith journey in service to death 53 years later. encouraged and Through my mother’s love and others. Here are refl ections from The last two supported me. care, I have come to know the love spiritual leaders in the Archdio- years of her When I was of God more fully. On this Moth- cese of Oklahoma City. life, I had the young, my er’s Day, I will offer Mass for my Happy Mother’s Day! privilege to mother mother and for all the mothers of help take used to the world. Sister Barbara Joseph and care of my take my mom Laverne Alice Mungo mother. She brothers Father Don Wolf and mom My mother was a woman of faith, had devel- and sisters A poem: The Picture hope and courage. She became a oped dementia, to Mass every The picture says it all, four kids widow at the young age of 36 and and through it all week. She also en- on a couch – stair-steps; They had dedicated her life to raising six still carried those vir- CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec. couraged me and my had four kids in fi ve years – that children. She never let her own tues of faith, hope and brothers to attend was – us. We were 8 – 7 – 6 and 5. courage. personal feelings get in the way of religious education I don’t remember the day they took She might have forgotten what family values, teaching of our faith classes, and encouraged me to be it – it was a hasty portrait, a snap- she ate for breakfast, but she nev- and showing love. an altar server at my home parish. shot at the end of a Christmas We continued our Catholic edu- er forgot my father, and raising my We also prayed the rosary daily afternoon a little remembrance of cation, our family summers with siblings. as a family. I was 4 years old when the family. my grandparents, and shopping Happy Mother’s Day in Heaven I told my mother that I wanted It’s the faces – my mother looked in the city, as my mother tried to mom. I have always admired the to become a priest. The reason – happy – really happy; and Dad keep our lives as normal as possi- person you were, independent and why, I told her, was because my – he was the moon to her sun – ble. It was then that she took on capable, and a woman who in- friends told me that the “boogie” refl ecting her glow; This was 50 the role of mother and father for spired many. man was going to get me at night. years ago and there wasn’t much us. So, I ran to my mother and asked – a rented house, two bedrooms; As I became older, I realized Father Cristobal De Loera and the big prize was the dining room just how much of a sacrifi ce she mom Yolanda Velasco her if I became a priest, would the stove where we could roast one made for us and how she val- Yolanda De Loera Velasco is the “boogie” man not get me, and that side at a time when we came in ued marriage even though hers daughter of the late Anastacio and Maria Concepcion. She is one of from the cold – Not poverty – it 18 children. She married my fa- was … simplicity. And there would ther Gumaro De Loera Esparza on be more – More life – 2 more kids; April 20. Just recently, my parents More happiness – you should see celebrated their 38th year wedding the picture of him looking at her anniversary, and I had the priv- they took 10 years after the shot ilege of renewing their marriage on the couch; More pain – they vows that day during Mass. both died early. Coming from a large Catholic But – the picture – you should family, my mother learned the see the picture; It froze us and an importance of always putting God eye blink of our world – a moment fi rst in everything. She used to re- when we could forget – the rest of peat over and over that we cannot the world; So now we can remem- buy “dignity” at the store. That our ber – there was another world dignity was a gift from God that once. When a man and a woman needed to be protected and appre- could be happy with what they ciated. had brought to the world. And I am blessed to have both of my could be happiest – that they had parents here in Oklahoma City. given such a gift by giving the hid- They have provided my brothers den promise you could see – in the and sisters and me with a close- picture. – Jan. 16, 2013 Catholic Charities helps answer family’s prayer After applying to be adoptive par- Then one night, Isaiah told his The birth parents were young and ents through Catholic Charities in Oc- mother, “Momma, I not have a baby unprepared to nurture a baby. They tober 2014, Daniel and Brooke were sister. I have a baby brother.” Aston- chose to place the child for adoption hopeful the call would come soon. The ished, Brooke replied, “OK. But we through Catholic Charities and were couple, who had been unable to have will take whatever God gives us.” The looking for a family who would raise a second child, were ready to share conversation continued the next two their son with values similar to their their love with a new family member. nights, as Isaiah again insisted he own. Catholic Charities helped match Every night they would join their would have a baby brother. them with Brooke and Daniel, and son, Isaiah, in praying for God to Brooke, wishing she too could have a meeting was set between the two bless their family with a new baby. the faith of a child, was still unsure families. As Isaiah grew, he began leading the what to think of this recent develop- “We both had an overwhelming feel prayer, each time asking for a baby ment. Then, on a Wednesday evening ing of love and gratitude for the birth sister. “We will take whatever God in March, they received a call inform- parents who chose to gift our son, gives us,” replied his parents, patient- ing them a baby boy soon would be Connor, to us,” Brooke said. “We ly. available for adoption. continued on page 3 2 May 1, 2016 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic Local May 1, 2016 3 Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 Find more 2016 Priest Assignments “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus” news on the Effective June 28 As we look forward to ordinations in the weeks themselves as Chris- website ahead, I have been refl ecting on the gift and mys- tians. Christians, tery of the priesthood. I am grateful for each of our including priests, are By Sooner Catholic Staff Pastor Special Assignment priests. They are as varied in their gifts, talents and being maligned and backgrounds as one could possibly imagine! The even martyred for their Additional coverage of common denominator in such a diverse group of men witness to Christ. Church and archdiocesan is simply that we are priests of Jesus Christ. I invite you to pray news and events, only on Saint John Vianney (1786-1859), known as the for your priests each www.soonercatholic.org: Curé of Ars, is the patron saint of priests. At fi rst day and to show them glance he would have seemed an unlikely candidate your appreciation and to have had that distinction bestowed on him. He support for their lifelong Archbishop Paul S. Coakley The fi fth annual St. Greg- came from an obscure village in France. He was not commitment of service to ory’s Abbey golf tournament will be Monday, June 20, at Fr. Timothy Ruckel Fr. Brian E. Buettner distinguished by great learning. His poor performance Christ and to his Church. St. Ann, Elgin Director of Vocations in seminary almost prevented his ordination. He was We priests are ordinary men with an extraordinary Lincoln Park Golf Course, (Mother of Sorrow, (Full-Time); In resi- not particularly dynamic, nor evidently much of an mission. We hold this treasure in “earthen vessels.” West Course, 4001 N.E. Apache, and Our dence at The Cathe- administrator. But what distinguished him was his We may disappoint you at times. We may frustrate Grand Blvd., OKC. Proceeds Lady of Perpetual dral of Our Lady of goodness. you at times. But, rather than tear us down by gossip support ongoing education Help, Sterling) Perpetual Help, OKC Through his humility, holiness and apostolic zeal, and criticism, pray for us, encourage us. Like you, we and health care of monks.

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