Sooner Catholic soonercatholic.org May 19, 2019 archokc.org Go Make Disciples Archbishop Coakley dedicates new church in Madill By Diane Clay The Sooner Catholic MADILL – More than 600 pa- rishioners and guests filled the new Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill May 4 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of construction for the growing par- ish community. Archbishop Coakley joined Fa- ther Oby Zunmas, pastor of Holy Cross, and visiting priests and deacons to bless and dedicate the new sanctuary. “You have built something beautiful, something beautiful and noble and worthy of the faith life of this Catholic community. It is a day of celebration; it is indeed a continued on page 5 Archbishop Coakley celebrates Mass on May 4 in the new Holy Cross Catholic Church. Photo Diane Clay/Sooner Catholic. JOURNEY TO THE PRIESTHOOD “When I think of a priest, I think of a father” By Anamaría Scaperlanda Biddick to his devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and The Sooner Catholic his corresponding desire to serve the Lord. His pastor as Saint Joseph in Norman, Fa- he Lord spoke to Deacon John Her- ther Ed Menasco, fostered his vocation. rera in the silence of prayer. It was “Father Ed was very kind and helped me TSpring Break 2012, and Herrera to discern this calling, even prior to receiv- had joined a group of students from Saint ing the call in prayer in a more direct way,” Thomas More in Norman on a mission trip to Herrera said. Biloxi, Miss. Before the mission trip, Herrera’s direction “During our trip, I was drawn to silent had been uncertain. He received an associ- prayer in the chapel for extended periods of ate degree from Oklahoma City Community time. In the midst of the silence, I was very College the previous year, but he was unsure close to the tabernacle and our Lord told me what to do next. He took time off school to he wanted me to work and moved in with friends from Saint be his priest.” Thomas More. The possibility His mom, Laura Herrera, recalled the of becoming a conversation she had with her son about his priest had been vocation. there since he “He said, mom, I don’t want you to freak was age 14, out or get excited; this is not a done deal, rescinding and Dcn. John Herrera will be ordained to the priesthood on resurfacing, due continued on page 9 June 29. Photo provided. Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ is at the heart of 2019 who we are as Catholics. Your gift to the Sooner Catholic Communications Appeal will help support the tools needed for the archdiocese to succeed in its mission of evangelization and discipleship. COMMUNICATIONS APPEAL WWW.ARCHOKC.ORG/SCAPPEAL 2 May 19, 2019 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic May 19, 2019 3 Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 Find more Join Archbishop Coakley in news on the Communication is key website praying a Pentecost Novena I think we all would admit that the past few years tures about persons, By Sooner Catholic Staff have been times of rapid change in our world, in our places and events that to the Holy Spirit nation, in our Church and in our archdiocese. interest and affect us. Additional coverage of In the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City we have wit- It provides editorial Church and archdiocesan nessed the historic beatification of Blessed Stanley opinion, cultural com- Pray with Me! news and events, only on Rother and launched a first-ever archdiocesan capital mentary and author- Greetings in the Risen Lord! In anticipation of the great www.soonercatholic.org. campaign called “One Church, Many Disciples” that itative teaching. More Solemnity of Pentecost, I invite all my brother priests, dea- will support our parish projects, archdiocesan min- than simply reporting cons, religious and lay faithful to join me this year praying a istries and build a shrine for Blessed Stanley – the the news, the Sooner Archbishop Paul S. Coakley To send photos, event a special Novena to the Holy Spirit. The novena will begin United States’ first martyr and priest ever beatified. Catholic has been an information or story ideas, on Friday, May 31, and end on Saturday, June 8. That’s just scratching the surface of the fruits we will important instrument for advancing the evangelizing e-mail [email protected]. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our archdi- see because of this campaign to which the people of mission of the Church. ocese and God desires to grant this. We only have to ask. a the archdiocese have responded so generously. Just as our secular newspapers have had to adapt Quo Vadis Days 2019 I have shared many times with you that this has been a Are you considering the We also are in the middle of a pastoral planning to survive, the Sooner Catholic continues to adapt to constant prayer of mine since my installation as your arch- priesthood? Quo Vadis Days process called Vision 2030, which will develop strat- changing tastes, needs and trends in communication bishop. I have prayed earnestly for a new Pentecost for our 2019 is July 28-31 at Our egies based on my recent pastoral letter, “Go Make technology and in our local church. These days, there archdiocese. Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Disciples! Building a Culture of Conversion and are regular Spanish pages in each issue of the Sooner I invite you all to join me this year. This is a unique time Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City,” Camp. It is for young men in Catholic. In addition to a colorful biweekly newspaper for our archdiocese. We are in the midst of the canonization that will guide us for the next 10 years or more. On a for every Catholic household in the archdiocese, the high school and college who process of Blessed Stanley Rother and all of us are praying much more sober- Office of Com- prayerfully are discerning regularly that someday soon he will be declared a saint. We ing note, we have munications their vocation. More infor- are in the final stages of what has been a very successful capital campaign, “One Church once again been also maintains mation coming soon at www. thrown into confu- the archdioc- okcvocations.com/events/ Many Disciples,” and we have been engaged for more than 18 months in a pastoral plan- sion by the clergy “Please support the Sooner Catholic esan website, quo-vadis-days. ning process called Vision 2030, identifying the pastoral priorities and strategies that will abuse crisis that Communications Appeal and multiple social guide our efforts during the next 10-12 years. As we prepare for Pentecost, let’s pray together for a greater outpouring of the Holy continues to chal- help us continue to provide media plat- lenge the Church, forms and the Spirit in our archdiocese, and for God’s abundant blessings as we chart the course for the especially its lead- up-to-date news, timely mobile phone future! Come Holy Spirit! ers, to do better information and crucial formation app. in protecting the The Soon- young and trans- across various platforms for the er Catholic is Reverend Wilbur E. Moore (1992-2009). parently responding people of this archdiocese.” supported by He served to allegations of the annual Pentecost Novena Rev. Wilbur Emery Moore died as associate abuse. Sooner Catholic May 12, 2019, at Saint Ann Nurs- pastor of One of the im- Communica- @archokc ing Home in Oklahoma City. He Saint Mary, portant means of tions Appeal. was age 90. Father Moore was Tulsa (1957- staying abreast with The appeal Archdiocese of born March 6, 1929, in Duncan, 1965). In all that is happening in our Catholic world has been also supports local Catholic radio stations, helps Oklahoma City Okla., to Harry and Lucy (Haas) addition to the Sooner Catholic, our award-winning archdiocesan maintain the website and even helped make possible Moore. After graduating from serving par- newspaper. It was Archbishop Quinn who established the award-winning documentary on Blessed Stanley Arquidiócesis de Duncan High School, he attend- ishes, Father the Sooner Catholic in 1974 to serve the new Archdi- Rother that premiered at his beatification Mass. Oklahoma City Fr. Wilbur E. Moore ed Saint Thomas Seminary in Moore served ocese of Oklahoma City when the state was divided It is easy to take for granted many of the things that Denver, Colo., where he earned as chaplain into two dioceses. He recognized the importance of a make up the rhythm and fabric of our lives. Perhaps HOW TO PRAY THE NOVENA a master’s degree in theology. He at Joseph Harp Correctional Cen- local Catholic newspaper to share news and informa- the Sooner Catholic is one of those things. was ordained May 25, 1957, in ter in Lexington, Okla., as regional tion and to strengthen our sense of communion with Please support the Sooner Catholic Communica- 1) Start with the Sign of the Cross. Oklahoma City by Bishop Eugene vicar for the archdiocese, on the one another across our vast archdiocese. tions Appeal and help us continue to provide up-to- 2) Pray the opening prayer. McGuinness. Seminary Board and as the de- The Sooner Catholic continues to report news of date news, timely information and crucial formation 3) Read the sequence verse and scripture passage for the day. Father Moore faithfully served things happening in our parishes and schools, in across various platforms for the people of this archdi- Links to each day can be found at archokc.org/pray.