An “octave” of celebration

Our two principal holy days are Christmas and Easter. These are so pivotal that the joy of these celebrations cannot be expressed in a single day’s observance. 

The Church’s liturgical tradition allows us to linger over these key events. It gives us a full octave (eight days) to celebrate the joy of these great holy days, allowing us to experience their grace and meaning more deeply. The octaves of these feasts encompass other observances as well. 

We have been preparing for an historic moment for the Church in Oklahoma ever since the beatification of Blessed Stanley Rother in 2017. We have been dreaming, planning, sacrificing, building and now finally anticipating the dedication of the shrine, which will honor Blessed Stanley as the first U.S.-born martyr and priest ever beatified by the Catholic Church. Like Jesus the Good Shepherd, this Oklahoma priest from Okarche gave his life for the flock he loved and served as a missionary in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. 

The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine along Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City is being built to glorify God and to honor this good shepherd whom the Lord raised up. The shrine, now under construction, will be Blessed Stanley’s final resting place.

It will be a place of pilgrimage for those seeking Blessed Stanley’s intercession and coming to learn and be inspired by his heroic life at the museum and pilgrim center that are part of the 53-acre campus. But, it has other aspects as well. 

Recognizing the need to ease the overcrowding of many of our smaller churches around the metro area that largely serve Hispanic communities, this church will be the largest Catholic Church in Oklahoma, accommodating 2,000 people. 

It will be a church for all Catholics and all who seek the Lord with Masses celebrated regularly in Spanish and English. It will be a place where major archdiocesan events can be held such as large ordinations and the annual Rite of Election. 

The campus also will honor Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego at the Tepeyac Hill that has been constructed as a place for pilgrimage and devotion. The large Zocalo plaza in front of the church will be a place for gatherings and processions throughout the year. 

Over time, the campus will be enhanced with beautiful landscaping and devotional spaces for prayer. The campus, including its church, the grounds and future buildings will continue to be developed and beautified for many years to come.

We just announced that the solemn dedication of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine will be on Friday, Nov. 4. The solemn dedication of the church will be enfolded within an “octave” (eight days) of observances, beginning on Sunday, Oct. 30, and concluding with the first Sunday Masses on Nov. 6. 

There is such a variety of elements to this campus and so many people who have contributed to bringing us to this point that we plan to celebrate throughout the week with events at various sites on the campus.

The week will begin with the transfer of the body of Blessed Stanley Rother from the Resurrection Cemetery mausoleum to The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for an all-night vigil beginning on Sunday, Oct. 30. All are invited to share in this time of prayer.

On Oct. 31, the casket containing the body of Blessed Stanley will depart the cathedral and be transferred to the chapel at the shrine where it will be entombed. There will be a dedication of the altar in the chapel during a special Mass with all the priests of Oklahoma. 

The following day, the Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1) will include the blessing of the pilgrim center and museum. Continuing through these days there will be previews, tours and events for members of the Rother family, special guests and visiting dignitaries, including bishops from around the country. 

The solemn dedication of the shrine church and altar on Nov. 4 will be open to the public and live-streamed for all who wish to participate. On Saturday, Nov. 5, we will bless the Tepeyac Hill and the bronze figures of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego, which will grace its summit. This will be a public event and include a procession around to the top of Tepeyac. 

Many more details will be forthcoming, but it is very exciting that we have come this far in this shared endeavor. We have reached this point only through the prayers and generous sacrifices of thousands of people around Oklahoma and around the world. 

I invite you to mark your calendars for this special “octave.” Please continue to pray for the canonization of Blessed Stanley Rother.