Vol. 1, No. 3 MonksOK From Abbot Lawrence When the founders of our community entered Indian Territory in 1875, they could not have imagined what the future held in store for them. They had come into a vast territory to minister to peoples whose cultures and languages were completely different from those of their French homeland. To meet such a daunting challenge, they were animated by their fervent faith and their equally fervent desire to combine a strict monastic tradition with the missionary idealism of the 19th Century. As additional monks arrived, the pioneering Benedictines established a monastery, several schools, and pastoral ministry to a Catholic community that was widely dispersed throughout Indian and Oklahoma Territories. The monks travelled near and far by train, buggy, horse and even by foot to serve the People of God with Word and Sacrament. This is an important part of our heritage as a community. Throughout our history we have reached far beyond the “walls of the monastery” in order to serve the needs of the Church and of our brothers and sisters in Christ. And although our means of transportation have changed, we continue to cover much of the same territory as did those original French monks. In March and April we celebrated Today, three of our monks continue to serve as residential pastors in particular our annual spring Oblate meetings here parishes. We also provide ministry to Tinker Air Force Base every day of the week. In ad- at the Abbey and at St. Benedict Parish dition to this, monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey take to the roads of Oklahoma each weekend in Montebello, CA. Each gathering fea- in order to minister at parishes and military bases that are in need of substitute priests or tured celebration of Mass, a discussion of chaplains. This weekend ministry is in addition to other responsibilities that the monks spirituality and Abbey news, and fellow- have during the week at St. Gregory’s Abbey and University. ship at table. This spring we received two The demand for this ministry is great, and we often receive requests as early as new oblate novices, Don McKinsey and nine months in advance. Between January and June of this year, monks of St. Gregory’s Juan Carlos Quiros. Two individuals made Abbey will have provided ministry in 107 weekend assignments to forty-six parishes and their final commitment as Oblates of St. four military bases! Gregory’s Abbey. They are Luann Lucas Speaking from personal experience, our weekend assistance in parishes is in and Dr. Jeffrey Johnson. Congratulations many ways a rewarding form of ministry. to our new Oblates! First of all, it is gratifying to know that we provide support to the dedicated dioc- esan clergy of Oklahoma. This makes it possible for them to be away from their parishes I am happy to report that con- in order to attend seminars, make a retreat, accept special assignments, or even to take a struction has begun on the first phase of much needed vacation. our long-term facilities improvement plan Secondly, traveling to parishes and missions around Oklahoma is an opportunity – the installation of a new elevator at the to be inspired by the varied and beautiful terrain of our State. The colorful foliage of au- monastery. In addition to the elevator, this tumn in the Cookson Hills, the ancient pink granite boulders of the Wichita Mountains, first phase will include the addition of two the open horizon and beautiful skies of the Panhandle, the pine forests of the Kiamichi rooms with private wheelchair accessible Mountains, the verdant green fields of winter wheat or their golden grain to be harvested bathrooms, to be used for in-cloister guests. at the time of Corpus Christi, a spring storm moving over the tall grass of the Osage Not only will these improvements meet prairie: these and so many other scenes testify to the grandeur and goodness of our loving immediate needs, but they also will remain God! in place when the entire current monastery Most rewarding of all, however, is the opportunity to celebrate the sacraments in is reconfigured as a retreat center. Please parishes throughout the State and to experience the many manifestations of the Church pray for the success of this first project, and in Oklahoma. We meet our brothers and sisters in rural missions, in small town parishes, that we will soon have the funds needed to in military chapels, and in the diverse neighborhoods of our large cities. We come to complete our entire facilities plan! know the wide variety of cultural groups represented in our Catholic family. Some groups journeyed here on the Trail of Tears, some came with the famous “Land Runs” of the Finally, please take the time to en- 1890s, some immigrated from Europe to seek a new beginning, some came from other joy the new design of our abbey website. states to follow jobs, some arrived as refugees from war or persecution in their native Five students from the University of Tulsa lands, some are recent immigrants who still live with uncertainty and encounter prejudice, took on this effort as their “senior capstone” and some have journeyed to the Church through the RCIA. project. We are grateful for their hard work With this rich history and diversity, the Catholic community of Oklahoma on this important task! manifests the beauty of the Body of Christ and gives witness to a living and engaging faith. Our weekend ministry gives us a privileged experience of the action of Christ in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. We are grateful for the many Peace, graces we receive through our weekend ministry and we bring our experiences back with us to the monastery and into the intercessory prayer that we offer each day as we celebrate the Divine Office! Vol. 1, No. 3 MonksOK Sherman Air Force Base at Burns Flat, “shortcut”. Sometimes the coin collection Weekend Assignment Oklahoma. When I asked Father Prior how basket at the turnpike gate was given the I was to get there, hoping to be assigned total charge in nickels. This was to see if Reminiscences… a car, he said that I should take the bus. the driver could beat the automatic coin Since no one was assigned to a parish in counter and cause the alarm to sound. of Father Joachim, O.S.B. Oklahoma City on that weekend, I hitched Getting the ticket attendant to come out a ride in the car that was going to the Ft. of the booth as you were speeding away Ever since Abbot Isidore Robot, O.S.B., Sill Army Base at Lawton, Oklahoma, and got the driver extra points. founded Sacred Heart Abbey in 1876, the had them leave me off at the Oklahoma monks of Sacred Heart Abbey/St. Gregory’s City bus station. At that time weekend Although I no longer take the bus! I have Abbey who are not assigned to full-time ministry assignments were coordinated as been confronted with car trouble. Being a parish ministry, help in parishes on the much as possible. Nowadays each monk member of an organization such as “AAA weekend with confessions and the offering drives to his weekend assignment. But of Oklahoma” is a necessity and of great of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass during the I digress. I was met at the Burns Flat benefit. (This is an unpaid advertisement) absence of the Pastor or Associate Pastor. I Bus Station and taken to the residence Cell phones are also handy. Before cell have been participating in this ministry since of the Catholic Chaplain on base. After phones I had to participate in the art my ordination to the priesthood in 1965, and the Sunday Masses and lunch, the lady of hitchhiking to the nearest phone. I have been asked to write about some of my who prepared some of the meals for the think the prayers of my mother brought experiences. Catholic Chaplain took me to the bus me protection on those occasions. I am station in Burns Flat to catch the bus to thankful for her prayers and the prayers The monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey find out Oklahoma City. From there I would take of all which have protected me and about their weekend and weekly Abbey a bus to Shawnee. The bus driver, upon other monks from the dangers of the liturgical assignments when these are posted request, would be kind enough to let any road - keeping the old car running and on the Abbey Bulletin Board, usually on monks off at the end of the road leading to preventing auto accidents. Wednesday. Early in my priestly career, the school and Abbey. Sometimes I would I checked the Abbey Bulletin Board one meet another monk at the Oklahoma I enjoy the ministry of weekend Wednesday to find that I was going to be City bus Sstation coming from his parish work. The parishioners are very assigned the next few weekends to Clinton weekend assignment and trading weekend supportive and appreciative of the monks experiences made the bus ride to Shawnee of St. Gregory’s Abbey and it is good for more enjoyable. one’s ego to be so continually affirmed. I especially enjoy driving to distant parishes During another summer I was assigned – just me and the beautiful scenery of to the parish of St. Rose of Lima at Oklahoma. The wonders of the creative Watonga, Oklahoma. Again, I hitched God never cease. The Interstates and a ride to the Oklahoma City bus station.