Oklahoma

Oklahoma martyr celebrated as a saint ‘not born with a halo’

Published

2 years ago

February 18, 2023

Oklahoma martyr celebrated as a saint ‘not born with a halo’

NEW YORK – On the dedication of a shrine to honor the Blessed Stanley Rother, the primary martyr from the U.S. acknowledged by the Catholic Church, Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma Metropolis mentioned Rother was an strange man with deep religion, who charted a path anyone can comply with.

“If anyone from Okarche, Oklahoma, could be beatified, develop into a saint, then good golly, anyone can,” Coakley mentioned. “As a result of that’s the great thing about [Rother]. He was certainly one of us, a really strange man, a hardworking man, a person of sturdy convictions, of deep religion, however not born with a halo.”

Coakley presided over the Feb. 17 dedication of the $50 million shrine, which hundreds attended. Amongst these in attendance have been Archbishop Christopher Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the USA; Archbishop Emeritus Eusebius Beltran of Oklahoma Metropolis – whom Coakley credited with pursuing Rother’s trigger –; and Archbishop Gonzalo de Villa of Santiago de Guatemala, previously of the Diocese of Sololá-Chimaltenango, the place Rother served and endured martyrdom.

Whereas on mission work in Santiago Aititlán, Guatemala, in 1981, Rother, a priest, was shot to demise by three masked assassins who entered his rectory in the course of the nation’s civil conflict, a bloody 36-ywar battle which left an estimated 200,000 folks killed or “disappeared.”

On the time, Rother was 46. Pope Francis acknowledged him as a martyr in 2016, and he was beatified a 12 months later. Along with being the primary martyr, he was the primary U.S. born diocesan priest to be beatified.

Rother wants a verified miracle involving his intercession to develop into a saint.

On the dedication, Coakley spoke concerning the instance Rother set for all Catholics – clergy and laity – at a time when a lot of the nation and world have gotten ever extra hostile to the religion. He mentioned the instances name for “a sure measure of heroism and intentionality, a heroism that comes solely from dwelling out of a deep private relationship with Jesus Christ.”

“The world into which we’re despatched to go make disciples wants dedicated monks. It wants holy marriages and households,” Coakley mentioned. “It wants devoted lay leaders within the professions … to resume the tradition within the gentle of the gospel, the perfume of Christ, and the enticing fantastic thing about holiness.”

“We want devoted witnesses and fervent missionary disciples,” the archbishop continued. “Allow us to study. Allow us to examine the instance of our Blessed Brother Stanley Rother and confidently search his intercession that we are going to be discovered devoted as he was devoted and in the end be welcomed, as he was welcomed, into the corporate of the saints.”

Rother was born in 1935 within the small city of Okarche, Oklahoma, which is about 40 miles northwest of Oklahoma metropolis. Rising up he was an altar boy at his hometown Holy Trinity Catholic Church, however farming, not the priesthood, was extra his anticipated path.

When Rother selected to pursue the priesthood, he struggled out of the gate. He dropped out of his first seminary, earlier than graduating from one other forward of his ordination in 1963. Coakley highlighted that Rother’s seminary struggles present the belief he put within the Lord “to make use of his appreciable pure items and abilities and to reinforce them with religious items and charisms.”

“What an inspiration, an encouragement, for every of us to maneuver past our personal self, and [our] self-limiting consolation zones and fears,” Coakley mentioned. “To function we’re wanted, the place we’re wanted, regardless of the calls for, regardless of the prices. To be beneficiant. Certainly, to be heroic if that’s what’s known as for.”

After Rother’s ordination, he served in a number of Oklahoma parishes earlier than volunteering for mission work in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, in 1968. He spent 13 years within the Central American nation. About half a 12 months earlier than he was killed on July 28, 1981, Rother wrote in a 1980 Christmas letter dwelling that “the shepherd can’t run on the first signal of hazard,” and selected to stay in Guatemala.

The shrine in Rother’s honor, situated in Oklahoma Metropolis, incorporates a 2,000-seat sanctuary, a customer heart and a present store. The “principal relic” of the shrine is Rother’s physique, situated within the adjoining chapel.

The shrine additionally incorporates a re-creation of Tepeyac Hill, the Mexico Metropolis web site the place Catholics consider the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in December, 1531.

Coakley known as on these on the dedication to share Rother’s story, noting that “we are able to study from Blessed Stanley’s life many necessary classes.” He added that it’s particularly necessary to encourage younger males and seminarians, and pray for vocations to the priesthood, by providing the instance of Rother.

“To unfold his cult, as we name it within the church, to extend devotion to him and it shouldn’t be onerous. The extra we learn about his life we discover a very enticing determine, so relatable. An actual each man, strange, similar to us,” Coakley mentioned. “Not only for monks, however for all of us. However in a specific manner for younger males who dream about doing one thing impactful, I might dare say heroic, with their lives.”

Comply with John Lavenburg on Twitter: @johnlavenburg

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Oklahoma

Put out of office by voters, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice has no regrets • Oklahoma Voice

Published

58 mins ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Put out of office by voters, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice has no regrets • Oklahoma Voice

OKLAHOMA CITY – Yvonne Kauger’s interpretation of the law and the paths she’s blazed outside the courtroom have shaped the foundation of Oklahoma’s justice system for decades.

When the 87-year-old retires Dec. 1, she’ll collectively be the longest serving Oklahoma Supreme Court justice and staff attorney.

She’ll also be the first Oklahoma Supreme Court justice in state history to not be retained by voters following a dark money campaign that targeted her as a liberal judge and as being too old.

But being first isn’t new to Kauger.

She was the first female staff attorney at the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Gov. George Nigh appointed her to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 1984, two years after he appointed the first female justice, the late Alma Wilson.

Kauger has spent 52 years working for the state’s highest court as either a judge or staff attorney.

Cases before the court ranged from the constitutionality of laws, taxes, abortion access and tribal issues, to name a few.

The same year as her appointment to the bench, she was adopted by the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma on sacred tribal ground in Colony. Her family has deep ties to the tribe.

“It’s more of an honorary position, but I was the first person since statehood to be adopted by the Cheyenne Arapaho,” Kauger said.

Kauger has no Native American blood, but always wanted to be an Indian, she said.

In 1987, she co-founded Red Earth, which features Native American culture, art and dancers.

The following year, she founded the Sovereignty Symposium. The national legal conference held in Oklahoma City educates people about tribal sovereignty and government.

She is known for asking tough and direct questions from those who appeared before the court during oral arguments and not letting attorneys off easy when they can’t answer.

Former Oklahoma Chief Justice Steven Taylor introduced her when she was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

“No living Oklahoman has influenced the course of the law in our state more than Justice Yvonne Kauger,” Taylor said.

He said she guards the institutional foundation of the state’s highest court.

Chief Justice M. John Kane IV said he will be sad to lose her as a colleague.

“Her toughness, her kindness, her vision have been an institution in our court for my entire career,” said Kane, who was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2019.

Kauger has vivid and mostly fond memories of her childhood in Colony and young adult years. She played basketball in high school. She still has the faded newspapers showing her modeling the latest fashions when she was younger. She lost her sister in a plane crash as a young adult.

Kauger put herself through the Oklahoma City University School of Law, graduating first in her class in 1969.

She was instrumental in creating the online case tracking system for the state’s courts and transforming the old Wiley Post building that then housed the Oklahoma Historical Society into the Judicial Center.

Not being retained has advantages for Kauger, who plans to write at least two books and start a docent program for the Judicial Center, where she was instrumental in picking out the artwork.

“This is the most wonderful building and has one of the best Indian art collections,” said Kauger, who can see the state’s court building from her nearby home across the street from the Capitol. “We’ve told the history of the state through the art.”

Her Taos Pueblo-style home, including the garage, is filled with art, whether it is paintings or sculptures. She is also an artist.

“I call it a new beginning,” Kauger said. “That iron curtain has dropped. I don’t bear a grudge. Sometimes I think it’s serendipitous because I probably would have never quit.”

Kauger has a tradition.

After every retention ballot, she purchases something for herself.

After one retention election, it was living room furniture. One year it was a car. This year, it was a zero-gravity heat massage chair.

Kauger said she has no regrets about anything she has done. She said the job of the court is to follow the law based on the facts, regardless of what some might believe.

“Do right. Fear not,” is a motto she lives by.

Despite racking up an impressive list of firsts, honors and awards, Kauger said that is not her legacy.

“My legacy is my family,” she said, referring to daughter Jonna Kirschner, two grandchildren and a great grandson.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Proved Again He’s a ‘True Gamer’ With Alabama Pick Six

Published

9 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Proved Again He’s a ‘True Gamer’ With Alabama Pick Six

NORMAN — Kip Lewis must have something against the state of Alabama.

In September, he sealed Oklahoma’s unlikely comeback victory over Auburn with a Pick Six.

Saturday night, he repeated his heroics — this time to bury the No. 7-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

With Alabama down 17-3 and needing a score to get back into the game, Jalen Milroe didn’t see Lewis.

The OU linebacker didn’t care.

He snatched the ball out of the way and outraced the Crimson Tide 49 yards the other way, stepping over a Milroe half-hearted tackle attempt en route to the end zone.

“(They) came out of a formation that we’ve been studying all week, and Coach (Zac) Alley had everybody prepared, nailing us down with the details,” Lewis said after the win. “And so I read my keys, did what I was supposed to, and I was proud that he threw, because I was like, ‘What if I’m standing right here?’ But you know, just finishing and making sure I get to the end zone after I caught it.”

Lewis and the Sooners never looked back, as the Pick Six put the exclamation point on the 24-3 win.

The redshirt sophomore burst onto the scene last year for Oklahoma by playing a crucial part in the goal line stand against Texas.

Then in his first year as an established starter, Lewis has delivered in both of OU’s SEC wins.

And while he turns it on every Saturday, Lewis said the interceptions never come his way in practice.

“I drop (passes) in practice a lot,” Lewis said with a smile. “I drop ’em a lot, and I just say, ‘Hey guys, look, in a game, it’s a catch, don’t worry.’ That’s what I tell them all the time.”

Alley confirmed Lewis’ struggles to hold onto the ball during practice, but praised the growth the young linebacker has shown to play a key role at the heart of Oklahoma’s defense.

“I don’t know; he dropped them in pregame too,” Alley said with a smirk. “I think when the lights come on, he’s a different dude. He’s a true gamer. There’s not a lot of those guys. He’s a good practice player, no doubt about it, but man, when the lights are on and the stage is bright and matter, he’s at his best when it matters the most.”

The interception from Lewis wasn’t the only contribution from the Sooners’ front seven.

They held Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to just seven rushing yards, and OU’s defensive line and linebackers dictated play at the point of attack.

Lewis finished with no tackles, but he and fellow linebacker Danny Stutsman disrupted everything the Crimson Tide tried to do.

“I’m so proud of them. And the other guys like Kip,” Stutsman said. “Comes up big with a huge play. Just proud of him.”

Partly thanks to Lewis’ contributions, the Sooners are now bowl eligible.

Oklahoma will be able to utilize those extra practices to continue to develop and be better prepared headed into 2025.

But for now, Lewis was just happy he could help deliver OU coach a signature win and send the seniors out in style.

“It’s really good. Just building momentum into going into next year, I think it’s gonna really say what this team is,” Lewis said. “Just some hard, gritty fighting team that’s never gonna quit, never gonna give up. A lot of people counted us out this season and thought we should just write it off. And so we had other plans.”

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