Grace Thompson
As of 2024, there are three Catholic dioceses in Oklahoma: the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, the Diocese of Tulsa, and the Diocese of Little Rock. The first Catholic presence in Oklahoma, then known as the Indian Territory, was in 1830. The Diocese of Oklahoma was established in 1905 and renamed the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa in 1930. In 1972, the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa was elevated to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, and the Diocese of Tulsa was established.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Diocese in Oklahoma | 3 (Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Diocese of Tulsa, and Diocese of Little Rock) |
| First Catholic Diocese in Oklahoma | Diocese of Oklahoma, erected in 1905 |
| First Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma | Meerschaert, appointed in 1905 |
| Current Archbishop of Oklahoma City | Paul Coakley |
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What You'll Learn
The Diocese of Oklahoma was renamed in 1930
The Catholic presence in Oklahoma, then known as the Indian Territory, can be traced back to 1830 when Jesuit priest Charles Van Quickenborne arrived. In 1891, the Vicariate Apostolic of Indian Territory was elevated, and in 1905, Pope Pius X established the Diocese of Oklahoma, appointing Bishop Meerschaert to lead it. During his tenure, Meerschaert dedicated around 100 new churches and recruited over 12 American-born clergy.
Following Meerschaert's death in 1924, Francis Kelley, a Vatican diplomat, was named the second bishop of Oklahoma by Pope Pius XI. During his time as bishop, Kelley successfully resisted the Ku Klux Klan's agitation in the diocese. In 1930, Pius XI renamed the Diocese of Oklahoma the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa, reflecting population trends in the state. This change took effect on November 14, 1930, with Kelley remaining as bishop. In 1931, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Oklahoma City became the new diocese's cathedral.
Bishop Kelley served until his death in 1948, when he was succeeded by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness from the Diocese of Raleigh. McGuinness oversaw significant growth in the Catholic population of Oklahoma, with a 40% increase during his administration and 1,242 adult converts in 1957 alone. McGuinness also established the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Prague, Oklahoma, in 1949.
In 1958, after the death of McGuinness, Pope Pius XII appointed Victor Reed as bishop of the diocese. Reed introduced the use of vernacular in the mass and emphasised pastoral skills for bishops. However, his leadership faced opposition, and he resigned in 1971. Pope Paul VI then appointed Auxiliary Bishop John R. Quinn from the Diocese of San Diego as Reed's replacement. Finally, on December 13, 1972, Pope Paul VI elevated the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, establishing the Diocese of Tulsa in eastern Oklahoma.
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Pope Pius X erected the Diocese in 1905
The Catholic presence in Oklahoma, then known as the Indian Territory, dates back to 1830 when a Jesuit priest, Charles Van Quickenborne, travelled from St. Louis, Missouri, to minister to the Osage Nation people in the Cabin Creek area. In 1905, Pope Pius X erected the Diocese of Oklahoma, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Catholic Church in the region. This decision suppressed the existing apostolic vicariate, which had been established in 1891, and Pope Pius X named Bishop Meerschaert as the first bishop of the new diocese.
At the time of this transition, the diocese had a modest beginning, with resources including three diocesan priests, 23 Benedictine monks, 21 churches, seven day schools, five Native American boarding schools, one college, one monastery, six convents, and a Catholic population of approximately 5,000. St. Joseph's Church, completed in 1889, was designated as the cathedral of the new diocese. Under Bishop Meerschaert's leadership, the diocese flourished. He dedicated approximately 100 new churches and recruited over 12 American-born clergy during his tenure. By the time of his death in 1924, the Catholic population in the diocese had increased remarkably, growing elevenfold.
In 1924, Pope Pius XI appointed Francis Kelley, a Vatican diplomat, as the second bishop of Oklahoma. Bishop Kelley continued the important work of the diocese and successfully resisted the agitation of the Ku Klux Klan during his tenure. In 1930, Pope Pius XI renamed the Diocese of Oklahoma as the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa to reflect the population trends in the state. The following year, in 1931, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Oklahoma City became the new cathedral for the diocese.
As the Catholic presence in Oklahoma continued to grow and evolve, the diocese underwent further changes. In 1944, Pope Pius XII appointed Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness from the Diocese of Raleigh as coadjutor bishop to assist Bishop Kelley. When Bishop Kelley passed away in 1948, Bishop McGuinness succeeded him and established the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Prague, Oklahoma, in 1949. During his administration, the Catholic population in the state experienced significant growth, with a notable increase of 1,242 adult converts in 1957 alone. The dedication and perseverance of these early leaders played a pivotal role in shaping the Catholic Church in Oklahoma, providing a strong foundation for the faith to take root and flourish in the years to come.
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The Diocese of Tulsa was created in 1972
The Catholic Church in Oklahoma has a long history, with the first Catholic presence in the state (then known as the Indian Territory) recorded in 1830. The first Catholic church in Oklahoma City, St. Joseph's, was completed in 1889. In 1905, Pope Pius X erected the Diocese of Oklahoma, which became the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa in 1930.
On December 13, 1972, Pope Paul VI elevated the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. At the same time, he established the Diocese of Tulsa, consisting of eastern Oklahoma. The Diocese of Tulsa, also known as the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the eastern region of Oklahoma in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, and its mother church is the Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa.
The Diocese of Tulsa has a long and complex history, including significant events such as the dedication of numerous churches and the recruitment of American-born clergy by its first bishop, Meerschaert, and the resistance to agitation from the Ku Klux Klan by its second bishop, Francis Kelley. The diocese has also faced challenges, including accusations of sexual abuse by clergy and inappropriate behaviour by Reverend Kenneth Lewis, which have been addressed and acted upon.
The current bishop of Tulsa is David Konderla, appointed by Pope Francis in 2016. The diocese covers a significant area, spanning 26,417 square miles across 31 counties in eastern Oklahoma, including the most populous county, Tulsa County. As of 2023, it encompasses 78 parishes, including mission churches, and its official news publication is "The Eastern Oklahoma Catholic".
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The Diocese is led by Archbishop Paul Coakley
Oklahoma is home to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church of western Oklahoma. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City encompasses the Diocese of Tulsa and the Diocese of Little Rock. The first Catholic presence in Oklahoma, then known as the Indian Territory, was in 1830. The first Catholic church in Oklahoma City, St. Joseph's, was completed in 1889. In 1905, Pope Pius X established the Diocese of Oklahoma, designating St. Joseph's Church as its cathedral.
Coakley was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita in 1983 and served in various roles within the diocese, including as chaplain and associate pastor. He furthered his studies in Rome, obtaining a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1987. He was then appointed as the ninth bishop of Salina in 2004 and later elevated to archbishop of Oklahoma City by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.
As archbishop, Coakley has been vocal on various social and moral issues. During the 2008 US presidential election, he stated that voting for a candidate who supports intrinsic evils such as abortion or genocide would require a proportionately grave moral reason. He has also served as the chair of the board of Catholic Relief Services, undertaking visits to observe the agency's programs and meet with local staff and beneficiaries.
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The first Catholic church in Oklahoma City was St. Joseph's
In 1904, the new church was dedicated by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert of the Vicariate Apostolic of Indian Territory. Meerschaert played a significant role in the early Catholic history of Oklahoma. In 1905, Pope Pius X erected the Diocese of Oklahoma and appointed Meerschaert as its first bishop. St. Joseph's Church was designated as the cathedral of the new diocese, becoming the first cathedral in Oklahoma.
During his tenure, Meerschaert dedicated approximately 100 new churches and recruited over 12 American-born clergy. By the time of his death in 1924, the Catholic population in Oklahoma had increased elevenfold. Meerschaert's successor, Francis Kelley, was named bishop by Pope Pius XI in the same year. Kelley continued the growth of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma and resisted the agitation of the Ku Klux Klan in the diocese.
In 1930, Pius XI renamed the Diocese of Oklahoma as the Diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. The following year, in 1931, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Oklahoma City became the new cathedral for the diocese, succeeding St. Joseph's. Despite this, St. Joseph's Old Cathedral remains a significant landmark in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, the church was extensively damaged in 1995 when a bomb exploded at the nearby Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. After nearly two years of repairs and restoration, the church was rededicated in December 1997.
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Frequently asked questions
There are two Catholic dioceses in Oklahoma: the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.
An archdiocese is a larger unit of church administration that consists of multiple dioceses. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is the metropolitan bishop of the ecclesiastical province, which includes the Diocese of Tulsa and the Diocese of Little Rock.
As of 2024, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is His Excellency, The Most Reverend, Paul Coakley.
The first Catholic presence in Oklahoma, then known as the Indian Territory, was in 1830 when Jesuit priest Charles Van Quickenborne traveled from St. Louis, Missouri, to minister to the Osage Nation people in the Cabin Creek area. The first Catholic church in Oklahoma City, St. Joseph's, was completed in 1889. In 1905, Pope Pius X erected the Diocese of Oklahoma, and the pope named Meerschaert as its first bishop.
