the mass service included multiple features i found quite refreshing and even unique among the catholic christian masses in which i've participated. initially, after walking through the atrium to the church vestibule, i noticed to the right side of the entrance there is a shrine of sorts dedicated to blessed fr. stanley rother, with an orthodox style icon of that native okarcheean, oklahoman candidate for canonization as a saint. there was another connection to fr. stanley rother that registered to me later in the mass, but i want to describe the mass experience as chronologically as possible. and so, after momma and i walked into the vestibule, we each sat on a chair with an individual kneeler attachment, a feature i do not recall seeing in any other catholic church i've been, as the majority of those churches have pew benches with kneeler attachments for each section of the pew. further, i saw early during the mass service that the steps leading to the altar featured a basket of fruit, including at least three bananas and multiple other varieties, which i appreciated for the significance of reminding me that an aspiration for spiritual connection often requires the presence and proximity of the harvest from nature. and transparent glass along much of each side of the church vestibule, which was the main feature i remembered from a previous visit to resurrection church during childhood, further facilitated and illuminated, pun not intended but appreciated, the connection between the mass service and its occurrence in the natural world. now returning to the previous mention of a connection to fr. stanley rother, i saw during the scripture readings that the deacon serving at the altar looked familiar, and although i did not think of his name before he introduced himself in the homily, i remembered he served as a deacon at holy family cathedral while i was attending mass there with that church as the home parish, in which i recall in the atrium on the school side entrance a plaque commemorating the life of blessed fr. stanley rother. and what is more, the deacon stayed after the service to greet churchgoers, so i was able to remind him of our previous connection and enjoy an exchange of pleasantries. lastly, two representatives from the church youth group announced from the pulpit near the end of mass that the two and more representatives from the youth group would be selling food after mass to finance a trip to dallas, and i got 2 egg and potato burritos for 5$, so definitely get to the late morning service at resurrection church regardless, but especially if you want to support the parish youth group in the effort to visit dallas, as there could very well be more representatives fundraising toward that effort following a subsequent church service. read more

Resurrection Catholic Church - blessed stanley rother iconography and shrine - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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