Archbishop's Column

The month of May has been observed as Mental Health Month in the United States since 1949. While this is a secular observance, caring for our mental health is certainly an integral element in living our Catholic faith. It is perhaps a happy coincidence that Mental Health Month coincides with the Easter Season in the life of the Catholic Church.

Anniversaries of notable events such as births, weddings and ordinations are important. A first anniversary holds special significance as we look to the recent past and especially toward the future.

Each year, the Catholic Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Easter. The Gospel reading for that day always turns our attention to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

A few weeks ago, on the Third Sunday of Lent, we heard the story of the Samaritan woman at the well asking Jesus, “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”

This week, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. On March 25, the liturgy commemorates the momentous event when the Archangel Gabriel visits the Blessed Virgin Mary and announces that God has chosen her to fulfill the unique role in God’s salvific plan of being the mother of his Son.

Since my installation as archbishop 15 years ago, I have not ceased praying for a new Pentecost leading to a New Evangelization in Oklahoma, a renewal that would stir in hearts a deeper encounter with the Word made flesh and a conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis has invited the entire Church to celebrate a Year of Jubilee. For all of 2025 we have been promised a unique outpouring of God’s goodness and grace, a wealth of blessings.

The theme of Jubilee Year 2025 – “Pilgrims of Hope” – summons each of us and the whole Church to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ and to one another. We are pilgrims together.

People choose Catholic education for many reasons. Some families choose it for excellence in academic instruction. Some choose it for the tight-knit community. Some choose it so their children will be taught according to a moral compass with an emphasis on virtue.

One of the central mysteries of our faith is the Incarnation, which the Church celebrates most solemnly at Christmas.

In a few short weeks, 2024 will come to an end. Our well-planned Christmas celebrations will bleed into our anticipation of a new year, which offers a new beginning. But, 2025 won’t be just any new year. This new year is a Jubilee year!

As Thanksgiving Day draws near, many of us may recall the story of that first Thanksgiving in America.

When I travel around the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, I have the joy of celebrating Mass with many of our young disciples. I love meeting these students, perhaps during a school visit or a Confirmation.

Every four years we are presented with the prospect of the “most important election of our lifetime.” Perhaps this admonition is accurate.

In every Catholic diocese, the cathedral stands not merely as a building of brick and mortar, but a profound symbol of faith and communion.

Even though the global COVID-19 pandemic is a few years behind us, recalling those strange and challenging times can still stir up strong emotional responses.

When the U.S. bishops initiated the Eucharistic Revival more than two years ago, we wanted to spark a new awareness and appreciation of the great gift of the Eucharist throughout our nation.

When we celebrate the Eucharist, every element is important. The Church’s liturgy is the result of centuries of development, enabling us to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth by drawing us into Jesus’ own perfect sacrifice on the cross.

The National Eucharistic Congress

The history of salvation began the moment our first parents rebelled against God’s commandment in Eden.