Beltran ‘affected many lives and many hearts’

Father Joseph Irwin often receives the inquiring question of his particular “call” to the priesthood.

His frequent response: “I like to say, ‘I received a phone call.’”

Indeed, Father Irwin took the decisive call in his dorm room at Benedictine College. On the other end of the line – then Archbishop of Oklahoma City Eusebius Beltran, urging him to consider serving the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

“It was a surprise to be sure,” Father Irwin said.

As Irwin and his fellow priests, other religious and so many people across the state and parts of the country mourn the death of Archbishop Emeritus Beltran, who died in the early morning Sept. 12, they reflect on the impact of a man remembered as a good shepherd.

Beltran, whose funeral Mass was held Sept. 24 at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City, had celebrated his 91st birthday on Aug. 31.

“Archbishop Beltran was indeed a good shepherd,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Beltran’s successor. “He served as a bishop in Oklahoma for many years, both as bishop in the Diocese of Tulsa and here in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. His accomplishments are numerous to be sure.”

Eusebius Joseph Beltran was born in Ashley, Penn., on Aug. 31, 1934, the son of Joseph C. Beltran and Helen Rita Kozlowski. Joseph was born in Spain and migrated to Pennsylvania where he worked in the coal mines. Helen was second generation Polish and a homemaker.

Many of his family moved to Georgia in the 1950s. Of the eight siblings, four chose the religious life, two became priests and two religious women.

His college and theological schooling were received at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Penn. He was ordained a priest in The Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, Ga., on May 14, 1960, by Most Rev. Francis E. Hyland. In addition to serving in many parish assignments, he was appointed presiding judge of the Metropolitan Tribunal and later as vicar general. He accompanied Archbishop Paul Hallinan to the sessions of Vatican Council II.

He was appointed bishop on Feb. 28, 1978, by Saint Paul VI and was ordained and installed the second Bishop of Tulsa on April 20, 1978, at Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa. The principal consecrator was Most Rev. Charles A. Salatka of Oklahoma City. Co-consecrators were Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan of Atlanta, Ga., and Most Rev. Andrew J. McDonald, Little Rock, Ark. During his 15 years in Tulsa, he was known for his concern for Catholic Charities, for Catholic school education and for vocations to the priesthood. He developed innovative programs and extended the Church’s reach throughout eastern Oklahoma.

On Nov. 24, 1992, Archbishop Beltran was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Oklahoma City. He was installed on Jan. 22, 1993, in the Oklahoma City Civic Center, in the presence of Most Rev. Agostino Cacciavillan, the Papal Pro-Nuncio, and Most Rev. Charles A. Salatka, Archbishop Emeritus of Oklahoma City. He received his pallium on June 29, 1993, from Saint John Paul II.

During his 18 years as Archbishop of Oklahoma City, he developed many programs for the archdiocese. He was responsible for building Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Camp, which opened in 2000 and thrives to this day.

“Here in the archdiocese, one of the things I think Archbishop Beltran would have been most proud of and most dearly remembered for was the development of our beautiful camp – Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Camp – to serve young people from around the archdiocese,” Archbishop Coakley said. “Young people were always a very important part of his ministry as bishop and as a priest. That’s part of his lasting legacy in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and beyond.”

Perhaps one of his greatest achievements began in 2007 when he was granted permission to begin the Cause for Canonization of Father Stanley Rother. After three years of research and interviews, more than 7,000 documents were sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. Ten years later, his vision came to fruition as Father Stanley Rother was declared the first U.S. martyr by Pope Francis, which led to his beatification in Oklahoma City on Sept. 23, 2017, at which Archbishop Beltran was a principal concelebrant. Blessed Stanley Rother is the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified.

Archbishop Beltran was a long-time member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, receiving the distinguished Silver Palm. He also was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He had served as a member of the Board of Directors of Saint Gregory’s University, Shawnee. He also served on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on the Liturgy; the Committee for the North American College, Louvain (as chairman); the USCCB Committee for the American College, Rome; the USCCB Latin America Committee and the Board of Regents for Conception Seminary as well as the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and various local boards, organizations and committees.

As required by Church law, Archbishop Beltran submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, on Aug. 31, 2009, upon reaching the age of 75. His retirement became effective on Dec. 16, 2010, at which time he assumed the title of apostolic administrator until Feb. 11, 2011. He then enjoyed the title of Archbishop Emeritus of Oklahoma City.

Archbishop Beltran is remembered for his tireless dedication to the Church he loved, his kindness and compassion, his great sense of humor and his devotion to the youth. He remained busy in his retirement years assisting with Confirmations, Masses and his many visits to the aging and ill.

“We thank God for Archbishop Beltran and the many ways in which he served faithfully and tirelessly,” Archbishop Coakley said. “A commitment to Catholic schools. A commitment to Catholic Charities and working with the poor. He was a great friend to all, and I know he will be sorely missed. He affected many lives and many hearts.”

Among those lives and hearts touched – priests. And future priests.

Father Irwin, who now serves as vicar for priests in the archdiocese, has been forever marked by Archbishop Beltran’s “call” to the priesthood. As a senior at Benedictine, he had been discerning about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

“At the time, I didn't know what that would look like,” Father Irwin said. “I knew I wanted to move in that direction, but I couldn't decide if I should go home to Oklahoma, go to another diocese or possibly join the Benedictine religious community.”

Irwin sent a long e-mail to his parents, informing them what he was praying about. 

“My mother, thank God for her, had the good sense to give a copy of the e-mail to Archbishop Beltran,” he said. “A couple of days after I sent the e-mail, Archbishop Beltran called me on the phone in my dorm room! Our conversation was short, but in it he encouraged me, said that I should apply for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and that an application was already in the mail.

“That phone call changed my life. Archbishop Beltran took the time to call me, to challenge me and to reassure me that Jesus loved me. I will never forget that moment of grace.

“Archbishop Beltran was a good shepherd and he was always encouraging young people to grow in relationship with Jesus and to serve the Lord in his Church.”

John Helsley is the editor of the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: Archbishop Beltran attended the Mass for the dedication of the Bl. Stanley Rother Shrine Chapel on Feb. 13, 2023. Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.