About Holy Cross · Wagoner, Oklahoma
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma serving Wagoner, Oklahoma and surrounding communities. It celebrates the Roman Mass in both English (ordinary form) and Latin (Extraordinary Form / Traditional Latin Mass), and offers a full range of faith-formation, youth, family, and outreach ministries for a small but active Catholic community. According to parish history, the first Mass in Wagoner was celebrated in residents' homes as early as 1891 in Indian Territory, and the first church was blessed on December 8, 1895. Today Holy Cross continues a mission to bring the love of Jesus Christ to the community and to the world through worship, formation, and works of mercy.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Sean Donovan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma
Why belong here
Holy Cross offers the fullness of Catholic life in a close-knit small-town setting: weekly Mass in both English and the Traditional Latin form, daily Mass several days a week, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and Reconciliation before every Mass. The parish invests deeply in families and lifelong faith formation through Family Catechesis, the Raising Saints Youth Group for grades 6–12, OCIA (Catholicism 101) classes, and weekly Bible Study. Members also live their faith through the Works of Mercy — supporting Wagoner Area Neighbors, hosting the Catholic Charities Mobile Food Distribution, and visiting the homebound — making Holy Cross both a place to worship and a community to belong to in Wagoner.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- During Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 6:00–7:00 p.m. (following the 5:30 p.m. Mass)
History of Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross traces its roots to 1891, when Mass was first celebrated in homes in Wagoner, Indian Territory. The first church was blessed on December 8, 1895, on the corner of Cherokee and State streets. Father James McGuire became the first resident pastor in 1907 and built a Mission-style church dedicated by Bishop Meerschaert on November 10, 1910. Twelve pastors followed in the next three decades; Father Paul Brown organized the Altar Society (now the Mary & Martha Society) and a rectory in 1942. Father Ramon Carlin reshaped the interior after the post-WWII decline, and Father Stephen MacAulay guided the parish into its third home, dedicated June 2, 1996, at SW 15th & Pierce Ave.
- First Mass in Wagoner: 1891, in private homes
- First church blessed: December 8, 1895
- First resident pastor: Fr. James McGuire (1907)
- Mission-style church dedicated: November 10, 1910 (Bishop Meerschaert)
- Altar Society (now Mary & Martha Society) founded: 1942
- Current parish complex dedicated: June 2, 1996
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by its pastor and a team of deacons, lay ministers, and parish-staff volunteers. The Music Ministry includes a Music Director/Pianist, vocalists, and song leaders. Liturgical support is provided by sacristans, servers, readers, and ministers scheduled by coordinators for both the English Mass and the TLM.
- Pastor: Rev. Sean Donovan
- Deacon: Rev. Dcn. James (Jim) Ruyle — Adult Education/Enrichment
- Deacon: Rev. Dcn. Steve Creed
- Deacon (Retired): Rev. Dcn. Jeff Newman
- Secretary: Earlyne Hutchens
- Treasurer / Accounting: Matthew Schumann; Chris Holland (Parish Council treasurer)
- Music Director / Pianist / Vocalist: Robin Rodriguez-Higgenbottom
- Song Leaders: David Frost; Rachelle Rodriguez-Thompson
- Religious Education Director / Family Catechesis: Katzy Hale
- Youth Group / Catechesis: Kay Rodriguez; Jessica Impson
- Webmaster / Bulletin: Karol Watson
- Minister Scheduler (English Mass): Mary Feichtinger
- Server Training/Scheduling (TLM): Joshua Martin
- Maintenance: Mike Cucchiara & Seth Yoder; Judy Helms
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Cross runs a year-round slate of formation for children, youth, and adults. Family Catechesis serves K–12 on the Fourth Sunday after Masses during the school year, with the goal of sacramental preparation and ongoing formation within the family. The Raising Saints Youth Group for grades 6–12 meets Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. and combines formation with social activities.
- Family Catechesis — K–12, Fourth Sunday after 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Masses (school year) — Katzy Hale, 918-520-1282
- Raising Saints Youth Group & High School Bible Study — Sundays at 5 p.m. (school year) — Kay Rodriguez, 405-659-0507
- OCIA / Catholicism 101 — Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. (after 5:30 p.m. Daily Mass), led by Fr. Donovan
- Adult Faith Formation — Third Sunday after both Sunday Masses
- Adult Formation Classes — Fourth Sunday after both Sunday Masses
- Bible Study — Friday mornings at 9 a.m. (after the 8:30 a.m. Daily Mass)
Liturgy & Music
The parish offers both the Ordinary Form (English) and the Extraordinary Form / Traditional Latin Mass on Sundays. Liturgical life is supported by a Liturgy Committee that recommends special devotions and coordinates the training and scheduling of all liturgical ministers — Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Greeters/Ushers, Sacristans, Readers, and the Music Ministry (choir, cantors, instrumentalists). The TLM side is supported by a dedicated server trainer/scheduler.
- Sunday 8:30 a.m. English Mass
- Sunday 11:00 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass (TLM)
- Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Greeters/Ushers, Sacristans, Readers
- Music Ministry: choir, cantors, instrumentalists — Music Director Robin Rodriguez-Higgenbottom; Song Leaders David Frost and Rachelle Rodriguez-Thompson
- TLM Server Training/Scheduling: Joshua Martin
- English Mass Minister Scheduling: Mary Feichtinger
Parish Life & Fellowship
Community life centers on the long-standing Mary & Martha Society and the Men's Group, together with the Parish Council. The M&M Society cares for altar linens and flowers, provides funeral meals, and decorates the church for liturgical seasons; the Men's Group assists with building and property care. The Parish Council represents the body of the parish and meets bi-monthly on the third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
- Mary & Martha Society — meets 1st Monday, Sept.–May, 6 p.m. — President: Kathy Gordon; VP: Katzy Hale; Secretary: Bille Cummings; Treasurer: Judy Helms
- Men's Group — Chairman: Seth Yoder
- Parish Council members: Kathy Gordon, Robyn Higginbottom, Eric Jordan, Kay Rodriguez, Mark Sorell, Karol Watson, Seth Yoder; ex-officio Fr. Sean Donovan and Deacon Jim Ruyle; Secretary Earlyne Hutchens; Treasurer Chris Holland; M&M and Men's Group Presidents
Outreach & Works of Mercy
Holy Cross puts its faith into action locally through the Compassion / Pastoral Care Ministry and the parish-wide Works of Mercy. The parish supports Wagoner Area Neighbors and Eastern Oklahoma Catholic Charities, hosts the Catholic Charities Mobile Food Distribution on the last Thursday of each month, and visits the sick, homebound, aging, and bereaved. The parish also participates in the Diocese of Tulsa's Faith & Works Annual Appeal.
- Wagoner Area Neighbors — donations of funds, food, and personal items
- Catholic Charities Mobile Food Distribution — last Thursday of each month
- Diocesan Faith & Works Annual Appeal
- Visits to the sick, homebound, aging, and bereaved
- Communion for the Sick & Shut-in — request cards in the vestibule; coordinated by Deacon Jim Ruyle
Sacraments
Preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) is offered through Family Catechesis and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Marriage preparation and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office, and Communion for the sick and homebound can be requested via a card in the vestibule.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — preparation via Family Catechesis / OCIA
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Communion for the Sick & Homebound — request cards in the vestibule; Deacon Jim Ruyle
Stewardship, Buildings & Communications
Beyond worship and formation, parishioners serve on committees that keep the parish running — from Stewardship, Building/Capital Improvement, and Security/Safety to a Communications Team that manages the parish website, Facebook page, bulletin, monthly newsletter, Flocknote, and parish calendar. An ongoing Accessibility Project (including a ramp) is part of building and capital improvement work.
- Stewardship Committee — annual Stewardship Sunday, ministry matching, fund-raising
- Building / Capital Improvement Committee
- Security / Safety Committee
- Communications Team — website, Facebook, bulletin, newsletter, Flocknote, calendar
- Accessibility Project (ramp) — ongoing
Visit, Contact & Stay Connected
New parishioners and visitors are welcomed through the parish office, Flocknote email/text sign-up, and the parish Facebook page. The parish livestreams Mass on its Holy Cross Facebook page during scheduled Mass times, so those who cannot attend in person can still worship with the community live.
- Mailing: P.O. Box 710, Wagoner, OK 74477
- Physical: 708 SW 15th St., Wagoner, OK 74467
- Phone: 539-209-9988
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/hcwagoner
- Flocknote: HolyCrossCatholicChurch5.flocknote.com
- Live-stream Mass: Holy Cross Facebook page (live during scheduled Mass times)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James McGuire1907–
First resident pastor; built the 1909 Mission-style church, dedicated Nov. 10, 1910 by Bishop Meerschaert.
- Father Paul Brown1942–
Organized the first Altar Society (now Mary and Martha Society); oversaw construction of a five-room rectory.
- Father Ramon Carlin
After the post-WWII decline of railroad families, moved the outside walls of the church inward to create arched porches.
- Father Stephen MacAulay
Guided the parish into its second hundred years; dedicated the third parish complex on June 2, 1996.