Sooner Catholic www.soonercatholic.org July 12, 2015 www.archokc.org Go Make Disciples For Service to God’s People Archbishop Coakley ordains three priests in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City By Diane Clay The Sooner Catholic Wayne and Lynda Walton waited patiently as friends, family, class- mates, nuns, sisters and priests fi led by them, one-by-one, to hug their son. When it was their turn, they sunk their faces into his chest, tears streaming, as his arms enveloped them in a moment of grace. Years of searching for spir- itual meaning, fi nding the beauty of God and listening to his call had led them to this mo- ment. Their son was now Father Aaron Foshee. On June 27, Archbishop Paul Coak- ley ordained Foshee, Lance Warren and Daniel Grover into the priesthood at The Cathe- dral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City. The ordina- tion was attended by more than 500 faithful and about 75 fellow priests. “What a wonderful day of re- joicing for the Church and the Father Lance Warren blesses Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B. Father Danny Grover blesses Archbishop Emeritus Bel- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as tran. Father Aaron Foshee blesses Archbishop Coakley. Photo Steve Sisney/Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. we ordain three young men for the each priest to be his friend and read the fi rst reading (Jer. 1:4-9), 1963. A special Vatican commis- priesthood of Jesus Christ for ser- to share his life. It is from that Cheryl Lockovich from the home sion recently recognized Father vice to God’s people,” Archbishop special friendship, from an intima- parish of Father Warren in Marlow Rother as a martyr to “Christ and Coakley said during his homily. cy born of daily conversation with read the second reading (II Cor. to the holy Gospel” on the path to “A priest is many things to many the Lord in prayer and refl ection 4:1-2, 5-7), followed by Father sainthood. people. Today, the expectations on the Word of God, and rooted in Grover’s dad, Deacon Clyde Gro- “He was a good shepherd, who are perhaps more complex and a sacramental communion with ver, who read the Gospel of John. refused to run at the advance demanding than ever before. But, Jesus Christ as head, shepherd During his homily, Archbishop of wolves threatening his fl ock. priesthood is not merely what we and spouse of the Church that the Coakley spoke of Okarche’s Fa- Instead, he laid down his life for do. It is who we are. It is a life. fruitfulness of our ministry fl ows.” ther Stanley Rother – who was them in witness to his faith in Je- It is an identity. … Jesus calls Along with Lynda Walton, who ordained in the same Cathedral in continued on page 8 Remembering Father Rother on the anniversary of his death By Diane Clay lage, Father Stanley Rother had been The Sooner Catholic warned to cease worship and leave Sister Marita Rother was scrubbing the country. During a brief trip home fl oors at her convent 34 years ago a few months before his death, Father this month when she got a calm, yet Rother told his parents he couldn’t urgent call from her father, Franz. stay away from his people and “All he said was ‘They got him.’” planned to return to Guatemala to No further explanation was need- continue his ministry, telling them “At ed. Sister Marita packed her bag and the fi rst signs of danger, the shepherd drove from Wichita to the family farm can’t run and leave the sheep to fend in Okarche to be with her parents and for themselves.” mourn the loss of her older brother, “I asked him why he had to go back Stan. and he said, ‘That’s what I have to Over the next few days they would do.’ I didn’t question him further be- learn of her brother’s last moments as cause I knew his heart was made up,” the beloved pastor of the Oklahoma Sister Marita said. “If that was how mission parish in Santiago Atitlan, the Lord was speaking to him, who Guatemala. was I to question?” When political strife and guerilla Then, on the morning of July 28, Sr. Marita at Fr. Rother’s grave. Diane Clay. soldiers crept toward his rural vil- continued on page 10 2 July 12, 2015 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic Religious Life July 12, 2015 3 Put Out Into the Deep Luke 5:4 Find more Is God calling you to religious life? Summer, leisure and the Lord’s Day news on the Emmaus Days retreat provides prayer, information for young men website By Anamaría Scaperlanda Biddick experience. In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to “Come away … We renew the sacri- For the Sooner Catholic “The weekend helped me to gain and rest awhile” (Mk.6:31). This is a timely summer- fi ce of Christ our High Young men from around the a better idea of what it means to By Sooner Catholic Staff time theme since now is the time that many of us Priest, who in turn archdiocese will gather for fellow- be a priest, and what it means to acknowledge our need for rest, and look forward to a nourishes us with his ship and prayer from Wednesday, be a seminarian. Prior to that fi rst Additional coverage of retreat, I assumed that seminary change of pace in our busy lives. word and the Sacrament July 29, to Friday, July 31, during Church and archdiocesan was a training ground for priests, Whatever the rhythms of our lives, from time-to- of His Body and Blood. the Emmaus Days retreat. news and events, only on when it is actually a place for dis- time we need to refresh ourselves. We need time The Mass is the source Emmaus (e-May-us) Days is for www.soonercatholic.org: cernment for men,” Father Grover away from our ordinary work and daily concerns to from which fl ows the all high school age men who are restore our energies, to enjoy the natural beauties said. grace that enlivens and The Sooner Catholic will open to the vocation of the priest- of creation, to spend time with family and friends, to Archbishop Paul S. Coakley “A few priests focus their talks sanctifi es all of our work be on summer hiatus for the hood. The summer retreat will be remember our Creator. The rhythm of a regular “Sab- on their own vocation stories, and leisure activities. rest of July. There will be no held at Our Lady of Guadalupe bath” rest is very much a part of God’s plan for our which helps the men understand In our secular culture it is impossible to sustain a issue July 26. Publication camp in Arcadia. well-being: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man that there is no one cookie-cutter living faith, or to live in friendship with Christ as mis- will resume with the Aug. 9 “Any young man who has an for the Sabbath” (Mk.2:27). approach to living a faith-fi lled life issue. openness to a call from God and Unfortunately, the enjoyment of true leisure is sionary disciples unless we are committed to keeping as a priest.” the possibility of the priesthood is practically a lost art in our culture. Many of us have the Lord’s Day holy. Anamaría Scaperlanda Biddick is The 6th annual Reds, welcome to attend,” said Father Young men attend Emmaus Days with Archbishop Coakley, Fr. Hamilton and Fr. become addicted to busyness and activity. We are This is a very real challenge. Despite how our so- a freelance writer and columnist for Whites and Boots to raise Stephen Hamilton, Director of Vo- Irwin in July 2014. Photo Sooner Catholic. too dependent on our smart phones and electronic ciety has diminished the importance of Sunday, it is the Sooner Catholic. funds for Sanctuary Wom- cations for the archdiocese. devices to be able to simply relax. Even during our not a day just like any other. Nor is it merely part of around young men not far from small group discussion and partic- en’s Development Center “Though some of the young men vacations, if we are fortunate enough to have one, we the “weekend.” their age who are pursuing the ipate in the liturgy celebrated by will be July 30. Visit www. will have felt a strong call, this often feel compelled to stay connected with work or to Our faithful observance of the Lord’s Day reminds path to the priesthood.” Archbishop Coakley. redswhitesboots.com. fi ll our days with so much travel and activity that we us of who we are before God as members of a com- is not necessary for attendance, During the retreat, participants Deacon John Paul Lewis, who, munity rooted in the mysteries of Christ. It is a day only an interest in hearing more will hear talks from priests and God willing, will be ordained a return even more weary and dissipated in spirit than Plus, don’t miss daily up- before. for worship, for holy leisure, for family and friends; a about the priesthood. It is a time seminarians, participate in morn- priest next summer, attended dates on Facebook, Twitter of prayer, recreation and being ing and evening prayer, engage in Emmaus Days as a high school Of course, sometimes the burdens and responsibil- day to build relationships within the Christian com- and Instagram! ities of life or fi nancial hardship prohibit the type of munity, and to form and exercise our faith in service student.