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September 25, 2025
“You enrich and add beauty to the Mass not only with your voices but also with your minds and hearts (…) and by enthusiastically living your daily lives accordingly, so that your music may increasingly be a joyful self-offering to God, who with his love attracts, enlightens,
and transforms everything.” Pope Francis, 2024
Clint Davis finished his bachelor’s degree in linguistics at the University of Oklahoma just in time to hear God’s call. Not to a call to a career in language, but to music.
“I didn't immediately know that music was to be my vocation, but I had been involved in church music in liturgical churches my entire life,” Davis said.
And when Saint James Episcopal on the south side of Oklahoma City offered a position, Davis took it. He spent a couple years at the small parish, before moving on as musical director at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman. After 23 years there, he’s taking on a new challenge, moving to Saint Joseph Old Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City.
Davis leaves Norman as Saint Joe’s 11th music director, leaving a legacy of delivering music with his organ and his voice, touching so many.
“Beyond his extraordinary talent for his voice himself, Clint has an excellent ability to play the organ,” said Robin Vrana, who sings in the choir. “Since my family and I arrived at the parish in 1984, Clint Davis has been for us an astonishing organist whose interpretations have touched us to the depths of our Catholic faith.
“The cohesiveness that we have been in our choir is because of Clint, that we have been a choir family since the very beginning, and that's what holds us, he is the glue that holds us together.”
Vrana described her emotions as grateful and heartbroken at the same time.
“But I know that he will do for the cathedral what he has been able to do here, and those people will love him,” she said, “and we'll be so thrilled that they have such a person, with such extraordinary talent and knowledge that he's willing to share.”
The passion for music started early for Davis. He took piano lessons most of his life, and organ and voice lessons during his journey in high school.
When it comes to the church, Davis said, the liturgical music “must arise from the deep well of tradition and history, even if composed just yesterday, and serves to assist the Church in creating an atmosphere where God is heard and felt through the liturgy.”
Sometimes, he explained, “the music can be strange and different, sounding or feeling unlike anything outside the doors of the church, but immersing oneself in this experience through faith will allow the heart to be tuned ‘to sing thy grace,’ as the hymn says.”
Since he starting his duties, Davis took a collaborative approach with musical leadership. He said he delights in sharing music and musical discoveries with singers involved in the ministry, and indeed with the parishioners at large.
“Musical discoveries include not just the music itself but the context in which the music was/is written and performed,” he said, “and how that context is relevant and, if not always exciting – not everything should be exciting! – certainly satisfying in a church setting that values tradition, stories, and handing on the experience of God in the liturgical life of the church.”
Davis said he believes his greatest contribution to Saint Joseph was setting a high expectation of quality going forward and inculcating in both singer and parishioner what good church music sounds and feels like, which is beyond just pretty, likable songs.
“It is a whole experience of ancient chants, responsorial music, excellent hymnody, choral singing, and consistency in a sound and musical environment,” he said.
Father Joseph Irwin expressed his gratitude for all of Clint's work and dedication to Saint Joseph over the years.
“Thank you so much for many years of service and beautiful and prayerful music that helps us to encounter the Lord and just all that you've done for our parish to enrich the beauty of our worship,” Father Irwin said. “Thanks for all the years and work that you put in and just the wonderful work and effort. The liturgies are beautiful and that's because of the music and the wonderful choir that we have.”
Davis said he will always treasure the people and the experiences he enjoyed in Norman, yet welcomes a new challenge.
“I have made some great friends who are family along the way, and like all relationships, one has to nurture those,” he said. “For now, giving space to try something new is the order of the day, but then it's time to see what's next for this wonderful community who has made a home for me all these decades.
“I sure love those people and will miss the smiles, hugs, laughs and support. I'm grateful to have been taught what a supportive community feels like, and I won't settle for anything less. Thank you so much, Saint Joseph's Norman, for everything.”
Bella Gutiérrez is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.