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July 9, 2025OKLAHOMA CITY – On the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, John Grim and Jonah Beckham stood before Archbishop Coakley, their families and brother priests to declare their willingness to fulfill the duties of the priesthood and promise obedience to the bishop.
“What a moment we are having, and I’m not referring to the Thunder,” Archbishop Coakley said to laughter during his homily, “but that’s pretty cool, too.”
More than 700 faithful filled The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on June 28 for the priesthood ordination of John and Jonah. Continuing with his homily, Archbishop Coakley celebrated the ordination as one of many wonderful blessings happening in the Catholic Church in Oklahoma.
“We have an American pope, who would have thought?” Archbishop Coakley said. “Yesterday I had the privilege of receiving perpetual vows of Sister Viviana de Loera from Saint Joseph parish in Norman. … Just last Sunday we concluded the astonishing and very fruitful three years of Eucharistic revival from which we are already seeing many good fruits, including the nine new seminarians who have been accepted thus far for the archdiocese.
“So many blessings, so many graces that the Lord is bestowing, and how grateful we are for the two men we have the privilege to lift and elevate by God’s grace and holy ordination to the altar as priests of Jesus Christ.”
Archbishop Coakley reminded them of what they face during this apostolic age in the Church, which he said requires more sacrifice than in the past, yet is the best time in history to be a priest.
“What is a priest today? Certainly, it’s not enough as it might have been in past generations for a priest to aspire to be a good churchman,” he said.
“A priest today is called to first be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. He must know the Lord Jesus. … A priest today is called to be a witness to Jesus Christ. This is the urgent pastoral challenge. We are all aware we are living in an era of increasing indifference and even hostility toward the faith. … So, it’s important for all of us to understand the priesthood is not a career. The priesthood is not a path to be chosen by those who are seeking a comfortable life. It’s a vocation of radical dependence, of radical poverty of spirit, radical dependence on Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.”
Following the readings read by Michael Grim, godfather of Father Grim, and Rich Johnson, friend of Father Beckham, and the Gospel proclamation by Deacon Paul Lewis, Archbishop Coakley celebrated the Rite of Ordination. Both men stood facing the congregation with growing smiles after being presented to archbishop by Father John Paul Lewis, director of seminarians.
The rite concluded with archbishop laying hands on the candidates’ heads followed by their brother priests, an ordination prayer recalling God’s loving plan, and investiture when the priests receive their vestments.
Vesting Father Beckham was Father Mark Mason, pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Enid, and Father Ray Ackerman, former pastor of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Father Beckham’s home parish. Vesting Father Grim was Father Christopher Brashears, pastor of Saint Benedict Catholic Church in Shawnee, and Father Timothy Ruckel, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Chandler, Father Grim’s home parish.
Archbishop Coakley anointed the men’s hands with sacred chrism, and they were welcomed to the priesthood by Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., and all priests in attendance.
On Sunday, June 29, the new priests celebrated their first Masses – the Mass of Thanksgiving – at their home parishes in Chandler and Edmond. The experience was an emotional one for both men as they experienced the overwhelming beauty of celebrating Mass for the first time, most especially during consecration of the eucharist.
“I’m sorry for getting so emotional,” Father Beckham told the congregation at the end of Mass as tears rolled down his cheeks, “but this has been the best week of my life.”
For their first assignments, Father Beckham will serve as parochial vicar at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. He also will serve as chaplain for Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Oklahoma City. Father Grim will serve as parochial vicar at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman.
Diane Clay is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
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