Golden Jubilee Archdiocesan Web Page at He Created Us Through the Cooperation of Our Mother and Celebration
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Sooner Catholic Serving the People of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Volume 36, Number 11 * May 30, 2010 GGoollddeenn JJuubbiilleeee of Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran By Ray Dyer The Sooner Catholic OLOG — Close to 1,000 people gathered under a massive tent at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Camp for the May 15 celebration of the Eucharist. The Mass was the centerpiece of an eventful day in which Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran celebrated his 50th anniversary of love and service as a Roman Catholic priest. And though the Oklahoma skies had released torren- tial rains and deadly, damaging winds earlier in the week, on this day the heavens held back. “We are one in Christ” was the message spelled out by the colorful Vietnamese liturgical dancers during their beautiful presentation of the offertory gifts. With family and friends taking part, Archbishop Beltran celebrated Mass as fellow bishops, along with several seminary class- mates, con-celebrated. Dozens of priests from throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa took part in the Eucharistic celebration that opened with the reading of a letter of congratulations and celebration from Pope Benedict XVI. “As priest you were appointed a minister of continued on Page 8 Archbishop Beltran elevating the Host during his jubilee Mass. The chalice before him is his original chalice given to him for his ordination. It was re-plated for his jubilee. 2 Sooner Catholic ● May 30, 2010 The Good News Sooner Catholic Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran . Homily for 50th Anniversary Archbishop of Oklahoma City OLOG Catholic Youth Camp Publisher May 15, 2010 How absolutely grateful I am to God Who called me to the Ray Dyer My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Editor It is very humbling to hear the words of our Holy priesthood. I thank Him Father, Pope Benedict, greeting me through his kind and for the wonderful 50 years Cara Koenig thoughtful letter. He has written, as you just heard, on the occasion of my 50th jubilee of ordination to the priesthood of priesthood He has Technology/ which we are celebrating today. Whether by plan or by already given me and re- Photographer chance, the Holy Father actually signed the letter on April commit myself to 20, exactly 32 years to the day I was ordained a Bishop in Mauro Yanez Tulsa! continuing priestly service Archbishop Hispanic Editor A priest, as the Holy Father just told us, is appointed a for whatever days and Beltran minister of divine grace, love and mercy. A priest is the 7501 Northwest Expressway servant of God who ministers to God’s people. Thus for me years He grants me for I some 50 years ago and for young men today, the call of God am a priest forever. Oklahoma City, OK 73132 to priesthood was and is both humbling and mysterious. (405) 721-1810 Fax: (405) 721-5210 God alone is eternal. He alone has no beginning hood. Thus they are ordained so that they might serve e-mail: [email protected] because He is life itself. He has created everything else that Him by serving and leading all people to life everlasting in Mailing Address: P.O. Box 32180 exists. The crowning glory of His creation is the human heaven through the proclamation of the Gospel and the Oklahoma City, OK 73123 person because He created human beings in His own celebration of the sacraments. Image and Likeness. He created us out of love and made us As one of those called to be ordained to priesthood, I capable to receive His love and to love Him in return. God Visit us online through the stand humbly and gratefully before the Lord and before gave each of us the gift of life when, according to His plan, all of you who are joining me today for my golden jubilee Archdiocesan Web Page at He created us through the cooperation of our mother and celebration. I thank you for your presence here today and www.catharchdioceseokc.org. our father. We did not purchase our life nor did we earn it for all your many kindnesses and assistance to me over or in any way bring it about. Human life is an absolute gift this long period of time. It has been a time of great bless- from God created by Him for a purpose. The Divine Plan for The Sooner Catholic (USPS 066-910) is ing and much joy. us is to know, love and serve God on this earth so that published biweekly except for once in July As I briefly reflect on the past, I remember that someday we could live with Him forever in heaven. Saturday morning, May 14, 1960, at Christ the King and twice in December by the Archdiocese Through this simple but of Oklahoma City. profound plan of God and His Cathedral in Atlanta, Ga. After creative action, human beings eight years of seminary forma- possess an intrinsic value and an tion, I knelt before my bishop The newspaper is not responsible for inherent dignity. who, through the imposition of unsolicited material. hands, ordained me a priest of When sin entered our world, Copyright © 2010 Sooner Catholic God further revealed His plan for Jesus Christ. That ordination us. He said: “I will send My Son ceremony ratified the call I had and He will save you.” This received from God. I stood up Subscription rate: $20 per year for all promise of salvation was fulfilled an ordained priest of God by who are not members of the when Jesus Christ, the eternal the grace and power of the Holy Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Son of God, the High Priest of the Spirit. I was still the same Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma energetic, skinny young man Universe, after living, suffering City, OK 73125. and dying on this earth, rose from that I had been before, but now the dead. Then, the Church which I was a priest of God forever. POSTMASTER: Send address changes He had constituted and which Little did I know then that 18 to the Sooner Catholic, P.O. Box He had sanctified with His Holy years later, again through the 32180, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Spirit was born as the priestly same biblical gesture, I would people of God. From this new receive the fullness of the creation of God’s priestly people, priesthood of Jesus Christ. How the mission and ministry of Jesus absolutely grateful I am to God is proclaimed to the whole world. Who called me to the priest- Through baptism, people of all hood. I thank Him for the backgrounds, cultures and na- wonderful 50 years of priest- tions share in this priesthood and hood He has already given me life of Jesus. and recommit myself to contin- The Sooner Catholic is And by the institution of uing priestly service for what- supported through the Jesus, some of His people are also Then Monsignor Beltran being installed as ever days and years He grants Archdiocesan Development Fund. called to the ministerial priest- Bishop of Tulsa. me for I am a priest forever. May 30, 2010 ● Sooner Catholic 3 A Look Back Over 50 Years of Priestly Service Editor’s Note: This tribute was gotten themselves into, still not know- given by Bishop Anthony Taylor at ing what future twists and turns their the end of Archbishop Beltran’s life would take, but willing to do what Jubilee Mass. faithfulness to God required, even at When Jesus called his first disci- the cost of persecution and martyr- ples to leave everything and follow dom. him, telling them that he would now When young Eusebius Beltran make them “fishers of men,” they had first responded to Jesus’ call to enter no idea what they were getting into. the seminary and follow him, he had At first they were part of an exciting no idea what he was getting into. The new movement that was gathering 1950s were a very optimistic time in steam, and then the crowds that had the Church — the seminaries were full been so enamored of Jesus began to to overflowing with idealistic young fade away as his message became men eager to serve the Lord and more challenging and controversial — convents were bursting at the seams for instance, when in the Bread of Life with novices and young sisters. In discourse Jesus began to talk about 1960 when young Mr. Beltran became eating his body and blood, many of Father Beltran, three-fourths of the those who had been following Jesus teachers in Catholic schools were nuns said, “This talk is hard to accept, who and 54 percent of Catholic students Bishop Taylor gives his remarks at the Archbishop’s Mass. can endure it?” and abandoned him at were in Catholic schools. Vatican II that point. But when he asked the 12 had not yet occurred, Mass was still in being part of exciting new movements endure it?” — later the issues would be whether they were going to abandon Latin and the South was still segre- that were gathering steam: the first abortion, the death penalty, immigra- him too, Peter answered for all when gated, including the Georgia of the years after Vatican II were an exciting tion and even community organizing. he said: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Atlanta Diocese for which he was time in the Church, as was the Civil But when Jesus asked Father Beltran You have the words of eternal life!” ordained, and miracle of miracles: Rights movement that was finally whether he was going to abandon him And so they continued to follow there was a Catholic in the White beginning to enjoy some hard-won too, we all know how he responded: Jesus when it was no longer easy to do House! successes following the March from “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have so.