Glory Be: Interesting People & How They Pray

Monsignor Patrick Gaalaas was born in Minneapolis, MN and ordained to the priesthood August 12, 1972. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and a baccalaureate of sacred theology and master’s degree in moral & religious science from the University of Louvain in Belgium. Msgr. Gaalaas has served many parishes in the diocese of Tulsa including Church of the Madalene in Tulsa, St. John in Stillwater, Immaculate Conception in Poteau, St. Joseph in Muskogee, Sts. Peter and Paul in Tulsa, St. Benedicts in Broken Arrow, and St. Bernards in Tulsa. In addition, he has served in a number of key administrative positions, including Vicar General from 2004-2010 and Chancellor from 1990-1995. He was also very active in ecumenism in the diocese. He is retired and currently works as a spiritual director at Conception Seminary College in northwestern Missouri.

Mr. Ken Coughlin is a retired award winning, distinguished teacher who served as the Chair of the Theology Department at Bishop Kelley High School for 27 years.

He grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended high school seminary at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, then attended the minor seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago for two years of college before discerning the priesthood was not his vocation. Ken holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, a Masters in Religious Education from Loyola University of Chicago, and  a Masters in Theology from the University of Notre Dame.

Along with his 42 years working as a high school teacher, Ken has also taught in 17 parishes in the Diocese of Tulsa, served as an adjunct professor at St. Gregory’s University, and was a teacher in the permanent diaconate program.

He has 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Father Shane Hewson is the associate pastor at St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Tulsa. Fr. Shane was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tulsa in 2019. He grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and attended the Church of St. Benedict. Fr. Shane graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. He attended Seminary in Ohio at the Athenaeum of Ohio and received his Masters in Catholic Studies. Fr Shane then attended Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received a BA in Theology 2018, a License in Canon Law 2022, and Diploma Certificate of matrimonial jurisprudence 2023. He enjoys extreme sports like bungy jumping sky-diving cave spelunking and free diving, and traveling, he has visited over 50 countries. SHOW NOTES: The Chosen: https://www.youtube.com/@TheChosenSeries Three Hearts Pilgrimage: https://www.threeheartspilgrimage.org/ The School of Lectio: http://www.stjosephmonastery.org/school-lectio-registration Ignatian Contemplation: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ignatian-contemplation-imaginative-prayer/

Sr. Catherine Martinez entered the Benedictine Sisters at St. Joseph’s Monastery in Tulsa in 1985 and made vows in 1990.

She grew up in Orange County California. Sr. Catherine holds a Bachelor of Science In Elementary Education from Langston University and a Master of Arts in Theology with an emphasis in Spirituality and a minor in Scripture from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

She currently serves as the Adult Education Site coordinator and HiSet administrator at Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.

Mark Ohnesorge is a Captain at the Tulsa Police Department and is currently assigned to the Police Academy over recruitment and training. He grew up in a military family, traveling all over the world before graduating from High School in Enid, Oklahoma. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Oklahoma. He taught in public schools for one year before joining the Tulsa Police Department in 2008. Mark has held many positions within the Tulsa Police department and has helped develop numerous classes for law enforcement training. He is a Commissioner on Mayor G.T. Bynum's Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic and Latinx Affairs Commission and serves on the Church of Saint Mary Pastor’s team. Mark is married to his lovely wife, Maggie, and they have 6 kids who keep them busy with school, church, and sports. Mark appears on this podcast as a Catholic and as a parishioner of the Church of Saint Mary, and does not speak on behalf of the Tulsa Police Department.

SHOW NOTES:

The Saint Michael Prayer: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/saint-michael-archangel.html

Father Desmond Okpogba is the pastor of the Church of the Madalene in Tulsa. Father Desmond was born and raised in NIgeria and ordained to the priesthood in 1989. In this podcast, Father Desmond shares how he found himself in Tulsa, Oklahoma, far from his home diocese of Orlu in Nigeria.

Becky Holder is the Faith Formation Director at the Church of the Madalene. Becky grew up in Tulsa and is a graduate of Bishop Kelley High School. She received her degree in Special Education from Oklahoma State University and taught in the public school system for 7 years until she became a stay at home mom. Becky has been married for 29 years and has 4 grown children.

Sister Mary Pieta Geier entered the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in 2005 and made final vows in 2012. She grew up Catholic and was raised in Garden City Kansas. Sr. Mary Pieta attended Benedictine College where she studied Music Education and Theology. She has served in the Bronx, East Harlem, and England and is currently serving as the Postulant Director for the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in NYC and she is also the daughter of Church of Saint Mary parishioner, Linda Geier.

Sharron and Mike recount the top five guests of all time as chosen by you and the number of views of the video version of Glory Be podcast. They announce that they're taking a summer break - after one last great interview: Kylee Hernandez of Watts of Love. It will come out very soon.

Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB is the 10th Abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey. He professed vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on July 11, 1985, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 6, 1994. He was elected Abbot on January 6, 2006, and blessed on February 24, 2006. Abbot Lawrence holds an associate’s degree from St. Gregory’s College and completed a bachelor’s degree from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, with a major in English and minor in Philosophy. He holds a licentiate and doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. His specialization is Monastic Studies, with his doctoral dissertation having concentrated on the writings of John Cassian, whose writings from the 4th century influenced subsequent movements of spirituality, including the Rule of St. Benedict. SHOW NOTES: St. Gregory's Monastery: monksok.org

Sr. Barbara Austin and Fr. Steve Austin are siblings. Sr. Barbara and Fr. Steve grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, educated by the Benedictine sisters. Sr. Barbara entered the Benedictine Sisters at St. Joseph’s Monastery in Tulsa in 1965 and made final vows in 1971. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Tulsa and a Masters in Religious Studies from St. Meinrad School of Theology. Sr. Barbara taught at Madelene school and Monte Cassino school, worked as the religious education director at Monte Cassino High School, and is a former Prioress at St. Joseph’s Monastery. She is currently the Lectio Retreat director, a spiritual director, and the formation director all at St. Joseph’s Monastery. Fr. Steve Austin is a priest for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma and was ordained in 1984. He attended Oklahoma State University, North Carolina State, and conception seminary before receiving his Master of Divinity from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He has pastored several churches in the diocese and is currently the pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Idabel, Oklahoma. He studied furniture manufacturing and even made the bedroom suite that he uses today. Fr. Steve is also a photographer and has two nationally published pictures.

Randall Snapp is a Tulsa attorney whose focus and expertise is  employment law.  

Randall grew up with his four siblings in Newton, Kansas. He graduated  from the University of Kansas and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Juris  Doctor in law, and an MBA, all from the University of Kansas.

Randall has served on many boards including Catholic Charities of  Eastern Oklahoma, Bishop Kelley High School, the Tulsa Ballet, and Big  Brother Big Sisters of Green Country.

He is a lifelong Catholic and is a parishioner of the Church of Saint  Mary in Tulsa. Randall has been married to Beth for thirty years and  they have four children.  

Randall enjoys baking bread and playing pickleball.

Father Michael Pratt is the current Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Tulsa and is the incoming Vice Rector of the North American College seminary in Rome. 

Father Pratt is a native of Stillwater, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma  State University. Halfway through college, he began discerning a call to  the priesthood. He enrolled in the Seminary of St. John Vianney in  Minnesota. He continued his post-secondary education at the University  of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., where he obtained a degree in  philosophy. After graduation, Fr. Pratt to Rome to continue priestly  studies for the next five years. There he earned a bachelor’s degree in  theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and a  licentiate degree in theology from the John Paul II Institute for  Marriage and Family Studies.

Father Pratt developed a groundbreaking video series to help young men  and women discern a call to religious life.  

This summer, he will become the Vice Rector of the prestigious North  American College in Rome.

Emily & Daniel McCay are a young married Catholic couple.  

Daniel is the Multimedia Manager for the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern  Oklahoma. Emily is the Music Teacher for All Saints Catholic School in  Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.  

Daniel grew up in Tulsa and received a degree from Oklahoma State  University in Multimedia Journalism. Emily is from Dallas. She earned  her degree in Music from Oklahoma State University.  

They have been married for one year and are expecting their first child.

Deacon Rich Bender, a permanent Deacon at the Church of Saint Mary in  Tulsa, will soon retire from his role as Director of Faith Formation and  Pastoral care.  Deacon Rich joined the staff at the Church of Saint Mary after working  for American Airlines in telecommunications - data and voice networks,  for 35 years. He was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the diocese  of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma in 1998. He holds a Bachelor of Science  in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. Originally  from Cincinnati, Dcn. Rich was drafted and served in the air force  during the Vietnam war. He married his wife Jane shortly after his  return and they moved to Tulsa for a promotion with American Airlines.   He and Jane have been married for 46 years.  They have three daughters  and 10 grandchildren.

Nick Bernard is a seminarian for the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern  Oklahoma.  

Nick grew up attending Marquette Catholic School and the Parish of  Christ the King in Tulsa. He graduated from Bishop Kelley in 2016 and  holds a dual degree in Theology and Catholic Studies from Saint  Louis  University.   

After graduation Nick spent a year as a novice with the Society of  Jesus,after which he worked at Bishop Kelley as a substitute teacher and  campus minister. Currently, Nick is studying as a seminarian for the  Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. He just finished his first  semester at Saint Meinrad Seminary in Southern Indiana.  

Nick loves to read, to practice weight lifting, to rewatch the same  marvel movies over and over and to try to be friends with his cat, Miss  Bee.

Jack Crews is a retired lawyer who specialized in trial practice in Tulsa.  

Jack grew up Little Rock, Arkansas and was a lifelong Methodist. He  graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1969 with a BS in  Mathematics, was called up in 1969 and served two years in the US Army  in Vietnam, and received his law degree from the University of Tulsa in  1974.   

He was received into the Catholic Church at the Church of Saint Mary in  2010. He is an active parishioner serving as a Eucharistic Minister,  greeter, and Encore Board member.  He also leads the Home Improvement  Ministry and the Water Ministry here at the Church.  

Jack has been married to his wife, Sandy for 53 years and has two  children and 3 grandchildren.   

SHOW NOTES: 

An essay on prayer written by Saint Jane Frances de Chantal:  

In prayer we should freely unburden ourselves to God, telling him, our  Lord and Master, in the most familiar and confidential way everything,  great and small, of heaven or of earth, much or little. Opening our  heart and pouring it all out to him without reserve, recounting its  burdens, its sins, its aspirations. Revealing our whole self, seeking  repose in his company as with a friend on whom one relies and to whom  one makes known alike the good and the bad. This is what Holy Scripture  calls pouring out his heart like water in the divine presence,  manifesting not only what is of importance but the least thing.  

Seeing that diving providence governs all and that we can do nothing  without its aid, it is wise to confer with God, for whatever good comes  to us in any way it comes from him. Let there be no timidity in our  supplications. He does not like it.  

The hour of prayer having come, the soul who with holy impatience awaits  that happy moment ought straightaway to answer the signal and hasten to  receive the honor about to be conferred on her. She should then invoke  the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin, her good angel and such saints as  she may choose to help her in her prayer and to remain with her while  she is before God. She should gather together all her powers and say to  herself: My soul, you are about to appear before God to hold converse  with him, a truce to all else.

Sister Marie Therese Long is the prioress of Saint Joseph Monastery and  president of the Board of Directors at Monte Cassino School.  

She was raised in Spirit Lake, Iowa, graduated from Briar Cliff College  with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and received her Certificate in Religious Formation from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  

Sister Marie Therese entered the Benedictine Sisters at Saint Joseph  Monastery in Tulsa in 1993 and made her perpetual monastic profession in 1999.  

She is also a musician and teacher at the School of Lectio at the  monastery.

Dr. Kevin Donovan is the former Director of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University where he remains as a faculty member and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics.

He is
a clinician ethicist with over 40 years of experience in the fields of pediatrics and bioethics. 

Kevin received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, his M.D. from the University of Oklahoma as well as his Masters in Bioethics. He trained in pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, completed fellowships in pediatric gastroenterology at the Children Hospital of Oklahoma and the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and was board certified In Pediatric Gastroenterology. Prior to his return to Georgetown, Kevin had served as Section Chief, Vice Chair, Interim Chair and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine – Tulsa, where he was the founding Director of the Oklahoma Bioethics Center. 

Viviana Suarez and Deb Malcom are the Adult Faith Formation Director and Youth Minister, respectively, for the Church of Saint Benedict in  Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Born in Mexico and having served another local parish for years, Viviana brings a passion for spreading the faith to her role as the adult faith  formation director at the Church of Saint Benedict. Deb's love of youth ministry comes from her own experience as a very young parishioner  growing up at the church which now employs her.   

SHOW NOTES:

wordonfire.org/reflections

Ray Vandiver is the Executive Director at Discovery Lab, Tulsa’s  Children's museum.

Ray discovered his passion and talent for informal education while earning his Ph.D. in physics from Missouri University of Science and  Technology. While a graduate student, he joined a group of hands-on learning enthusiasts and helped create the Meramec Science and  Technology Learning Center. 

Ray has been a leader in informal education and exhibit design for over 25 years. He started his career in 1993 as the founding director of the Bootheel  Youth Museum (BYM) in Malden, Missouri—a National Medal winner awarded  by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Prior to moving to Tulsa, Ray served as a member of the senior leadership team at the  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).  

Ray is also an artist and a musician. He and Donna have been married for  33 years and have a son, Aaron, who lives in Michigan.

Ronald J. Tremblay has served as Vice President and Chief Mission Integration Officer for Ascension St. John for three years. Ron joined  healthcare nine years ago as a Chaplain after serving as a Pastoral Minister (JR & Sr Youth Ministry, DRE & Sacramental Prep,  chaplain for Marquette School and ECDC, marriage prep, Music Ministry for 5pm Sunday C.R.E.W.) at Christ the King for over 18 years. He holds a  Masters in Counseling from Oklahoma State University, and Masters in Divinity from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Chicago, Illinois.     Currently Ron oversees Mission Integration for the Oklahoma Ministry Market of Ascension  including Ethics, Associate Formation and Spiritual  Care. He also has responsibility for Ascension St. John’s Human Trafficking Response efforts, their DEI work known as ABIDE and the  Auxillury/Volunteer program. Originally from Minnesota, Ron is an Eagle Scout, and served as a reservist in the Minnesota Army National Guard  for ten years. He has been married to his wife, Susan, for 28 years.  They have two children.  Among other things he likes to read, bike, and  hike.    

SHOW NOTES:  

A Prayer of Unknowing By Thomas Merton  

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road  ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I  really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will  does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire  to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in  all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from  that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the  right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust  You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I  will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to  face my perils alone. Amen.  – Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, page 79.     

In the account of Matthew, Jesus’ mission fulfilled the prophecy of  Isaiah: “He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases” (Mt 8:17;  cf. Is 53:4). Jesus’ healing mission went further than caring only for  physical affliction. He touched people at the deepest level of their  existence; he sought their physical, mental, and spiritual healing (Jn 6:35, 11:25-27). He “came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10).  The mystery of Christ casts light on every facet of Catholic health  care:..." - Ethical and Religious Directives For Catholic Healthcare  Services 6th Edition USCCB

Deacon Kevin Sartorius is the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.

He holds a degree in Political Science from Oklahoma State University with a certificate in International Relations and has a Certificate in Catholic Social Teaching from Catholic University of America.

Deacon Kevin was ordained to the permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Tulsa in 2011.

Dcn. Kevin and his wife, Jennifer have seven children, the youngest being 7 years old. Their oldest daughter has recently made her first profession of vows in the Carmelite Order and aspires to spend her life in prayer for the world.

Dcn. Kevin’s family lives and home schools on 20 acres surrounded by other Catholic families who share the same goal for a simpler way of life.

Fr. Stuart Crevcoure is the incoming pastor of the Church of Saint Mary  in Tulsa.

Father Stuart grew up in Green Bay Wisconsin with two siblings. He holds  a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Tulsa and a Master  of Arts in Theology, with highest honor, from Saint Vincent Seminary in  2000. In 2001 he received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Saint  Vincent Seminary, in affiliation with the Dominican House of Studies in  Washington, D.C., with highest honor, becoming the first student to  receive the degree since the program was instituted in 2000.

Ordained to the priesthood in 2001, he has served several parishes in  the diocese and is coming from St. Brigid Parish in Tahlequah to serve  as the new pastor at the Church of Saint Mary.  

SHOW NOTES: 

Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila  

"Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, 

All things are passing away: 

God never changes. 

Patience obtains all things 

Whoever has God lacks nothing; 

God alone suffices. 

Amen."

Father Josh Litwack is a priest in 2000 for the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.

In his twenty-two years as a priest he has served a  number of parishes and schools as an associate pastor, a chaplain, and a pastor.

This summer, Father Josh will become the pastor of St. Pius X Church and  School.

Father Josh shares how tee ball and a kind priest led him to consider the priesthood. He shares his conviction of God's call to the priesthood and to serve the people of St. Pius X.

Fr. Duy Nguyen is the full time chaplain at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

He grew up with his 6 siblings in Vietnam and immigrated to Tulsa when he was 16. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Catholic studies from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and Masters of Divinity and Masters of Theology from the Athenaeum of Ohio.

Fr. Duy was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tulsa in 2017. Fr. Duy served as the associate pastor at the Church of Saint Mary in Tulsa and works in the diocesan tribunal office.

He enjoys traveling, being with family and friends, and cooking.

Mr. David Dean is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma.

He grew up in Carthage, Missouri and at age ten moved moved to  Hutchinson, Kansas. David was raised Presbyterian and converted to the  Catholic Church when he was a senior in college.

He holds a BA in English and Education and a minor in Classics from the  University of Kansas and an MA in Classics, also from KU. David has been  a middle school, high school teacher, a professor at KU, and a principal/headmaster of different schools for the past 39 years.

He and his wife, Lorie, have four children and seven grandchildren.

SHOW NOTES:

The Soul of the Apostolate: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/spiritual-warfare/virtue-vice/the-soul-of-the-apostolate