Pastors of Payne (County)

Jumping into a debate of the day, Fr. O'Brien and Fr. Kerry speak to the Catholic Church's truly catholic/universal world view that includes images of Jesus and Mary as being from many countries around the world. 

With the school year right around the crowd, Fr. Kerry Wakulich tells us (with Fr. O'Brien's help!) about what students and parents can expect for life at St. John Catholic Student Center. From FOCUS missionaries, to Bible studies, to Sunday Mass, daily Mass, Adoration, and Confessions, we've got you covered

The three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love are known to many. In this time of pandemic, hope is something we can use more of. Join Father O'Brien and Father Kerry on a walk through the Catechism and other documents of the Church on the virtue of hope.

As we prepare the celebrate the Memorial of Oklahoma priest and martyr Stanley Rother, our Payne County pastors tell the story of his life and ministry and bring it all back to Stillwater to show that we can do what Blessed Stanley Rother did. We can be missionary disciples here, there, and everywhere.  To learn more about Blessed Stanley Rother- https://archokc.org/stanleyrother

With Fr. Kerry out of town, Fr. O'Brien is joined by Dr. Matt Cabeen, a Catholic and an OSU microbiologist. We're talking about whether science and faith can go together and how the Catholic Church views and relates to the scientific world. Enjoy!

With Fr. O'Brien enjoying the mountains, Fr. Kerry takes the mic for a spirited interview with Benedictine Monk Father Paul Sheller, OSB. Fr. Paul is a Stillwater native and his parents are parishioners at St. Francis Xavier. A former seminarian of the Diocese of Tulsa, Fr. Paul joined Conception Abbey and holds numerous jobs in the monastery there. Enjoy!

When we come to Mass (or in these days, watch it), a sacrifice is taking place. What do we mean by that? Fr. O'Brien and Fr. Kerry are getting theological this week walking you through the true meaning of sacrifice and how Catholicism rings true.

Bringing in the the theology of the Incarnation and of spiritual communion, Fr. O'Brien and Fr. Kerry discuss the efficacy of watching the Mass vs. being present for it. A timely topic indeed! 

Joined by Diocese of Tulsa seminarian Leo Morales and on the heels of racial unrest around the country, Fr. Kerry and Fr. O'Brien discuss Corpus Christi and the beautiful graces the Lord gives us through the Eucharist. This includes the grace to really love and welcome all those around us.

Arguments come and go about who is the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan? LeBron? Kareem? Magic? Kobe? But what can we learn about our spiritual lives from the basketball career of Michael Jordan? This week's podcast and radio show will make you laugh and challenge you to be a better follower of Jesus Christ!

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, Father O'Brien and Father Kerry discuss the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Over the centuries, various heresies have sprung up that distort true teaching on the Holy Spirit. Listen and find out more!

On Friday May 29, 2020, Fr. Kerry Wakulich celebrates 10 years of priesthood! Our priests look back at the ups and downs of priesthood in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma and focus especially on Fr. Kerry's various assignments and his life as a Priest of Jesus Christ! 

As the parish gradually opens up from the two month Covid-19 lockdown, Fr. Kerry and Fr. O'Brien talk through what it will be like to publicly celebrate the Mass for the first time since March 19th. You can learn more about the specifics of Mass and Confession times on the parish websites: CatholicPokes.com SFXStillwater.org  

It's Mothers Day and your Pastors of Payne love their moms! Both moms played a huge role in their sons' walk with the Lord and their priestly vocations. Join in the fun as our priests pay tribute their awesome mothers!

During the time of Covid-19, there's a lot of disappointment. RCIA candidates and catechumens, First Communion kids, Confirmation students, no public Easter vigil, having to stay home, not being able to come to Mass, not being able to see our loved ones and so much more bring about disappointment. As people of faith, what do we do with our disappointment?  Listen in as Fr. O'Brien and Fr. Kerry ta...

In the Easter season, it's common to see media accounts attempting to debunk the historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus. In this episode, Fr. Kerry and Fr. O'Brien are joined by Diocese of Tulsa seminarian Alessandro Calderoni and they discuss the best arguments to prove the resurrection.

During this time of Covid-19, we've been praying the rosary each night at 7:00pm. Hundreds of people has joined us in this nightly ritual. The rosary is a beautiful way to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ and to ask for the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In this episode of "Pastors of Payne", Fr. O'Brien and Fr. Kerry talk about how to pray the rosary, the history of the rosary, and the...

Happy Easter! This week Fr. O'Brien and Fr. Kerry give insights into what ministry in Payne County looks like in a time of quarantine and social distancing. It would seem that there would not be a lot to do but our priests and working hard to keep people connected and to help everyone to pray.

Recorded before the outbreak of Covid-19, Fr. Kerry and Fr. O'Brien introduce us to the holiest days of the year, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday leading into the Octave of Easter. This year's Triduum will be celebrated privately and live streamed at both St. John Catholic Student Center and St. Francis Xavier. 

With public celebrations of the Mass on hold across the United States, this is a time to embrace The Liturgy of the Hours. Called "The Prayer of the Church", the Liturgy of the Hours is easily accessible via smartphones and computers and also through the 1 or 4 volume breviary.  Here's the link to the iPhone app-  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ibreviary-ts-plus/id422601705 Android-  https://play.g...

The world is very different than it was just a few days ago. Speaking to the issues on many people's minds, Fr. Kerry and Fr. O'Brien talk about COVID-19, the suspension of the public celebrations of Mass, and how we can carry on.    

The Stations of the Cross is a big part of the devotional life of Catholics in Payne County. Offered each Friday of Lent at St. John Catholic Student Center and St. Francis Xavier, the Stations helps us walk through the last hours of Jesus before His death. Join us for Stations of the Cross here in Stillwater or at a parish near you! Bring the kids, bring friends curious about the Catholic faith. 

A recent USA Today editorial noted that the morale of priests in the United States has never been lower. The sexual abuse scandals, more demands on their time, and an increasingly complex pastoral landscape have priests feeling less supported. Is that true? Is that true in Payne County? Father Kerry and Father O'Brien dive in on morale of priests, lowliness, and the importance of priestly fraterni...

During the Season of Lent, we are called to increased prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In this week's "Pastors of Payne", our Payne County pastors talk about why we fast, how it can help us, and how it brings glory to God!

The Houston Astros recently admitted to cheating in the course of their 2017 World Series Championship season. With Father O'Brien being a HUGE Astros fan, our priests spent this episode talking about how your conversion, this Lenten season, and the Astros cheating scandal can come together. Enjoy the episode!