JUNE 2022
community of St. John & St. James TOTUS TUUS
A Valuable Summertime Opportunity for Youth to Grow in Christ
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t. Pope John Paul II’s motto, Totus Tuus, is Latin for “totally yours.” Totus Tuus is also a program that our youth get to experience each summer. The catecheticalbased program is led by a team of two men and two women, who are seminarians and college students. Teams spend a week at a parish walking youth through the Good News of Jesus Christ in a fun way. This year, we will welcome another A program like Totus Tuus may make a difference in your Totus Tuus team from June 26 to child’s life — it has made a difference for the youth of our July 1. First through sixth grades parishes and diocese for years. will attend from Monday, June 27 through Friday, July 1, from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seventh through 12 grades will attend Sunday, June 26 through Thursday, June 30, from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Totus Tuus, which has been held here for many years, truly impacts the children and youth who attend. Youth need to have some time in the summer to focus on their faith. Totus Tuus offers the opportunity for both summer fun and catechetical programming. “Since they have been ‘away’ from formal schooling for a few weeks, they seem to welcome a return to a moment of learning,” says Fr. John O’Neill. “Having a simple yet solid approach to age-appropriate catechesis fills a yearning that they seem to have.” Youth in both programs also have the opportunity for Mass and Reconciliation paired with learning about everything from the Rosary and the parts of the Mass to some of the saints of the Church. “It is a good mix for those attending to walk away with some long-lasting formation,” Fr. John says. continued on page 2
Totus Tuus
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In turn, Fr. John encourages the parents of our parishes to make Totus Tuus a priority, just like is done with a sports camp. “Totus Tuus is a program that can help plant seeds for ongoing growth and meet the more immediate needs of living life within a spiritual reality of being brothers and sisters in Christ,” Fr. John says. “What better way for our children and youth to spend one week of their summer than to grow in this way?” A program like Totus Tuus may make a difference in your child’s life — it has made a difference for the youth of our parishes and diocese for years. “Having this spiritual focus can set the stage for conversion and growth in our most important relationship with God,” Fr. John says. We often underestimate the ability of children and teens to understand some of the deeper facets of the Catholic faith. Totus Tuus digs deep and offers that chance for deeper exploration. “Youth yearn to have a deeper understanding of who they are, why they are here, and what God may be calling them to,” Fr. John says. When Fr. John has attended Totus Tuus sessions, he has always witnessed the youth excited and having a fun time. “This is a good thing when Church is more than just Mass,” he says. “It can be a greater part of who we are and how we live. Those in attendance have the chance to experience this.”
Make sure to visit the St. John website — at stjohn-bartlesville.org/totus-tuus — for more info on registration. Adults are also needed to volunteer during the week. Please contact Janice Hoss to volunteer at secretary@stjohn-bartlesville.org.
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Youth enjoy Totus Tuus in 2021.
Totus Tuus offers the opportunity for our youth to enjoy both summer fun and catechetical programming.
A Letter From Our Pastor
Embrace the Holy Spirit Dear Parishioners,
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ou’ve all heard homilies about Pentecost, which comes on June 5 this year. Pentecost was the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles while they were gathered for prayer in Jerusalem. Coming 10 days after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, the descent of the Holy Spirit turned the apostles from a collection of fearful followers looking for some direction into a band of courageous witnesses ready to declare their faith in Christ to the whole world. You’ve heard that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church because that was the day when newly filled with the Holy Spirit, St. Peter preached the first Christian sermon, inviting his hearers to turn to Jesus as their Savior and their Lord. Those who accepted the invitation were baptized and “were added” to the Church (Acts 2:41). That day marked the beginning of the Church’s public mission, which continues to the present. But the Holy Spirit’s actions in the Church were not limited to the apostles in an ancient time. He remains active down to the present, guiding the pope and the bishops as they go about their work of sanctifying, teaching and ruling in the Church. The Holy Spirit acts in the sacraments to make them effective signs of grace. We see the Holy Spirit’s work in the witness of the saints through whom He continues the work of salvation. The Spirit, moreover, acts not only in the Church as a corporate body, but also in the lives of individual Christians. We become temples of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism. Then at Confirmation, which is our own personal Pentecost, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit unites us more closely to Christ, increases the spiritual gifts we have been given, and strengthens us to spread and defend the faith. Ultimately, Pentecost is more than simply a feast celebrating something that happened a long time ago. Of course, the coming of the Spirit we read about in Acts 2 took place just once. But the Holy Spirit remains active today, guiding the Church as a whole, but also working in the life of each individual Christian to make us holy.
Maybe you don’t feel as if the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Well, God the Father gave us free will, so we can choose whether or not we’ll obey Him. And God the Holy Spirit, being united in the one Godhead with the Father and the Son, honors that freedom. He’ll never force us to turn away from sin or compel us to obey God’s commandments. The Spirit offers us grace. He will beckon us toward heaven, and occasionally we may feel Him nudging us along, but we always have the freedom to choose God or to reject Him. Perhaps you’ve made a commitment to worship at Mass at least weekly and spend some time each day in prayer. Maybe you have promised to use some of your talents in parish ministries and service to the community. You may even have turned in a card at our last renewal to indicate your pledge of a portion of your treasure to be used in God’s service. I hope you’ve done all of these. If so, both the Holy Spirit’s grace and your response were involved in your decision. And the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to fulfill your commitments. This Pentecost, make the Gradual verse we’ll sing just before the Gospel your personal prayer: Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia. If you do, you’ll find the Holy Spirit working even more strongly in your life. You’ll be happier, and the world, at least your little corner of it, will be a better place. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John O’Neill Pastor 3
First Communion: Blessed to Receiv Several of our young parishioners celebrated their First Communion this spring, receiving Christ in the Eucharist for the first time. We are blessed to share in this most joyous occasion with the children and their families.
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ve Christ in the Eucharist
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Congratulations to Our Class This month, we are happy to recognize the 2022 high school graduates of our faith community. Congratulations, and we wish you the absolute best on your continuing education and vocation journeys!
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Sebastian Alexander Bell Eunice (St. John) Will use his Precision Machining Operations license to enter the workforce
Rileigh Freeman (St. John) Rogers State University
Matt Fries (St. John) Oklahoma State University Biosystems Engineering
Irene Johnson (St. John) Howard University International Business and Affairs
Katy Lauritsen (St. James) University of Missouri Computer Science
Adam Lodrigueza (St. James) University of Oklahoma Public Relations
We offer a warm welcome to seminarian Joey Griggs, who will be joining us this summer from Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. Welcome to Bartlesville Catholic Community!
of 2022 High School Graduates
Jennifer Lopez (St. James) Using cosmetology license to work and will be studying to be a sonographer
Carter Manley (St. John) University of Central Oklahoma
Tomas Mann (St. James) Beginning LPN school in the fall. Wants to become a nurse practitioner
Lia Ortiz (St. John) University of Oklahoma Journalism
Allyson Perry (St. John) Tri County Tech Working toward LPN
Maddie Shelley (St. James) Washburn University Nursing
Madison Terrell (St. John) Oklahoma State University Kinesiology
Amanda LaFrancois Stevens Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering
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Saint John Before the Latin Gate 715 S. Johnstone Ave. Bartlesville, OK 74003 (918) 336-4353 www.stjohn-bartlesville.org Saint James Catholic Church 5500 Douglas Ln. Bartlesville, OK 74006 (918) 335-0844 www.saintjamescatholicparish.org
CONFIRMATION 2022 : Sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit This spring, youth of our faith community received the Sacrament of Confirmation. We extend our heartfelt congratulations as they enter fully into our Catholic faith. MASS & CONFESSION TIMES ST. JOHN: Masses: Saturday: 5 p.m. | Sunday: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. (en Español) | Tuesday: 7 a.m. | Wednesday: 5:15 p.m. Thursday: 7 a.m., 7 p.m. (en Español) | Friday: 8:15 a.m. (School Mass) Reconciliation: Saturday: 4-4:45 p.m. | Sunday: 12:30-1:15 p.m. ST. JAMES: Masses: Saturday: 5:30 p.m. | Sunday: 9:30 a.m. | Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. | Thursday: 8:30 a.m. | Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday: 4:30-5:15 p.m.
