Sooner Catholic soonercatholic.org June 6, 2021 archokc.org Go Make Disciples 2021 Ardmore’s St. Mary to celebrate Feast of Sooner Catholic Communications Corpus Christi with outdoor Mass Appeal By Charles Albert Ardmore, all other weekend Masses Tate, parish secretary. “It will be The Sooner Catholic will be cancelled so all parishioners a wonderful opportunity to come to- Dear brothers and sisters may unite for a huge parish out- gether as one after the challenging in Christ, Saint Mary Catholic Church in door Mass and picnic. year we all have experienced.” Ardmore will be celebrating the “I am so excited to celebrate Mass The parish will host spiritual time Staying in touch with Feast of Corpus Christi in a very outdoors and look forward to enjoy- together, a good meal and games each other and our faith different way on June 6. ing fellowship with all of our pa- during this past year was At 10 a.m. at Regional Park in rishioners at the picnic,” said Patty continued on page 5 paramount to the well-being of our families and for the preservation of our sense of community and Church. Rachel’s Vineyard offers The Communications Office for the archdiocese played a major part in our post-abortion healing success as we used new avenues to bring the Good By Eliana Tedrow News of Jesus Christ to the The Sooner Catholic people of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Please consider a gift to the 2021 Sooner Catholic achel’s Vineyard, a Communications Appeal worldwide ministry of and help us continue to Priests for Life, offers provide up-to-date news, a healing first step for timely information and women and men who crucial formation across have been involved in various communications abortion. platforms for the people of RThe weekend-long retreat provides the archdiocese. opportunities for discussions, spiritual exercises, prayer and reflection. Com- Sincerely yours in Christ, bined with the Sacrament of Reconcilia- tion, a memorial service honoring their child(ren), and a Mass of Resurrection, this confidential weekend opens the door for participants to experience God’s love, forgiveness and compassion. Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley Because of the emotional numbness Archbishop of Oklahoma City and secrecy that often surrounds an abortion experience, conflicting emotions both during and after the event may re- Find more information main unresolved. These buried feelings on the back page of this can surface later and may be symptoms issue! of post-abortion trauma. A Rachel’s Vineyard retreat is an opportunity to examine one’s abortion experience, identify ways loss has im- pacted one’s life, past and present, and acknowledge unresolved post-abortion pastoral care and faith-based outreach programs. feelings. Sally Crowe Nash, co-coordinator of Rachel’s Vine- Two local retreats are offered annually, one in En- yard in Oklahoma City, began her work in 2010 after glish and one in Spanish, including access to a li- she said she was inspired by reading an article on the censed counselor and priest on-site as part of the courage of its founder, Dr. Theresa Burke. program. “I think the most important thing to communicate to Currently, Rachel’s Vineyard has grown to more people is that the Rachel’s Vineyard ministry is about than 1,000 retreats annually, is held in 49 states and restoration. It is a beginning of healing that is not just 70 countries, with for women, but for anyone who has been involved in many new sites in abortion.” RACHEL’S VINEYARD development. Nash said many people suffer long-term damage According to from abortion, which is a solution to pregnancy they their national are told is convenient, maybe expedient at the time, (405) 438-0265 website, Rachel’s but oftentimes leads to regret with long-standing con- Toll-free (877) 476-3463 Vineyard healing sequences. [email protected] models are used “This is a very Christian, Catholic way of approach- rachelsvineyard.org by mental health ing (healing after abortion). Everyone can receive professionals, forgiveness from Jesus; that is the real heart of the English retreat – June 15-20 post-abortion message.” Spanish retreat – Oct. 29-31 ministries, crisis Catholic Pastoral Center pregnancy centers, continued on page 7 2 June 6, 2021 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic June 6, 2021 3 Put Out Into the Deep Archbishop Coakley’s statement Luke 5:4 Find more news on the on the 100th anniversary of the The Precepts of the Church: website Tulsa Race Massacre The Sacrament of Penance By Sooner Catholic Staff “On June 1, 1921, 34 square blocks of still profoundly affects our culture and con- Additional coverage of Tulsa’s prosperous Greenwood community tinues to harm its victims and corrupt the Church and archdiocesan were reduced to rubble when thousands of souls of those in whom it lodges. We must As we come out of the COVID desert and re- also to assist us in the news and events, only on white citizens – absorbed by hate and in- seek a conversion of heart and recognize turn to more normal routines, I thought it might process of conversion soonercatholic.org. tent on destruction – stormed the neighbor- our neighbors as brothers and sisters who be timely to offer reflections on the Precepts of and sanctification hoods at the sound of a whistle, looting and Christ calls us to love as he loves us. the Church. These precepts (think “guardrails”) begun in Baptism. The a For all peoples of the burning homes and businesses, and kid- Let us pray that Jesus provides the grace that I have reflected upon in my last two col- Sacrament of Recon- Archbishop Paul S. Coakley earth. May the grace of napping, terrorizing and killing hundreds we need to overcome the evil of racism and umns, highlight the connection between living ciliation reconciles forgiveness and the peace of of innocent African American men, women to build a just society, so that prejudice an upright moral life and the spiritual strength us with God and the Christ take the place of the and children – among them prominent and animosity will no longer infect our we draw from the Church’s liturgy and sacra- Church, but it also provides the healing grace sins of hatred and oppres- bankers, business owners and doctors. minds or hearts but will be replaced with ments. and remedies we need to overcome the harmful sion. We pray to the Lord. a love that respects the dignity of every As the Compendium of the Catechism of the and even deadly effects of sin. It strengthens us Lord, hear our prayer. As we reflect on this act of violence in our Catholic Church puts it, “The five Precepts of the and keeps us vigilant in our battle against temp- state 100 years later, the scourge of racism human person.” Church are meant to guarantee for the faith- tation and human weakness. a The Secular Discalced ful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of There are, of course, different degrees of sin Carmelites of the Blessed Vir- prayer, the sacramental life, moral commitment depending on their gravity and effects. Venial sin gin Mary of Mt. Carmel and and growth in the love of God and neighbor” damages our relationship with God and weakens St. Teresa of Avila, Oklahoma (431). The second and third Precepts of the our resolve against further sin. Mortal sin, as the City community, will have a With praise and thanksgiving to the Church, which concern our reception of the name implies, is deadly. It is a grave violation of retreat, “St. Joseph Protector BMCHS announces 2021 Eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) and the God’s law, robbing the soul of divine charity and of Carmel” 8:30 a.m. - Noon you are formally invited to attend Eucharist, clearly set such minimum standards. destroying the life of grace within us. June 19 at Little Flower Distinguished Alumni of the Year We cannot neglect these without seriously hin- In order to commit a mortal sin, three elements Catholic Church in the Cen- dering our progress in the Christian life. In this must be present: the act or omission must be tro Guadalupano building article I’ll reflect on the second precept. grave, we must know it is gravely wrong and we behind the church, 1125 S. The Ordination Bishop McGuinness Catholic High sented to someone who could not be The second Precept of the Church states, “You must choose to do it anyway. All three elements Walker Ave. in Oklahoma School awarded David Chansolme, more deserving, especially during the shall confess your sins at least once a year” are required. City. Conference speaker is to the Sacred Order M.D., a 1989 gradu- last year,” said Carly (CCC 2042). This precept is aimed particularly at In order to be forgiven, we must have genu- Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte ate, with its Distin- Wilson, President of the those who are conscious of grave sin so that they ine sorrow for our sins, turn away from them Luna, O.C.D. Visitors who of the Priesthood guished Alumni of the Bishop McGuinness can be properly disposed and worthy to receive and turn again to God. This means we also will are interested in the charism of Year Award during Alumni Executive Com- the Eucharist (in accord with the third precept). resolve to avoid such sins in the future. Those of Carmel are welcome. Con- the 2021 Commence- mittee. “David Chan- The question arises: Is once a year enough? Re- who have committed mortal sin must receive the tact Letty Silva, O.C.D.S., at JONATHAN BRANNON LEPAK ment Ceremony on solme has demonstrat- call that these precepts are concerned with the Sacrament of Penance and be reconciled to God (405) 706-4817, or Susan May 19.