About Saint Benedict · Shawnee, Oklahoma
Saint Benedict Catholic Church is a historic parish in Shawnee, Oklahoma, founded in 1895 by Benedictine missionary Father Felix DeGrasse, O.S.B., and staffed for most of its history by monks from nearby Saint Gregory's Abbey. Located at the corner of Kickapoo and Benedict Streets, the parish serves about 600 families and remains one of the oldest Catholic communities in central Oklahoma. Today it operates under the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and offers daily Mass in English, a Sunday Mass in Spanish, Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of ministries.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- Saint Benedict (founder of the Benedictine Order)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Christopher Brashears, JCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
Saint Benedict offers a historic, stable Catholic home in Shawnee, with three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), multiple weekday Masses, and Eucharistic Adoration twice a week. A parish of about 600 families, it sustains a full range of ministries — faith formation for children, youth ministry, ACTS retreats, Knights of Columbus Council #1018, Catholic Social Service outreach, a Ministry to Homebound, Breakfast Ministry and Project Gabriel — making it easy for newcomers to find a place to serve and worship.
Mass times at Saint Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Exposition)
- Fridays: 12:40 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.
- First Saturday of each month: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
History of St. Benedict Parish
St. Benedict traces its origin to the early 1890s, when Benedictine missionary Father Felix DeGrasse, O.S.B., began riding by horseback and buggy to celebrate Mass in the homes of early Shawnee settlers — the Timmonses, the Cassidys, the Dierkers, the Gleasons, and the Philip Secks — and later at Welch's Feed Store on West Main Street. In August 1895 he purchased lots at Ninth and Park Streets, and St. Benedict School opened in October 1896, housed in the same auditorium-style church with only a curtain separating sanctuary from classroom. The parish relocated to its current Kickapoo and Benedict site in the 1900s, and the present brick church — whose cornerstone was laid July 29, 1906 — was dedicated on May 12, 1907. In 2008, after 113 years of continuous Benedictine pastoral care, Saint Gregory's Abbey transferred administrative and staffing responsibilities to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
- 1895: Lots purchased at Ninth and Park Streets; first church and rectory built
- October 1896: St. Benedict School opens under the Sisters of Mercy
- 1904: Two-story brick rectory built at current site with stone garage (later Father Gregory Gerrer's art studio)
- July 29, 1906: Cornerstone laid for the current church
- May 12, 1907: New St. Benedict Church dedicated
- 1962: Extensive interior remodeling under Father James Murphy, O.S.B.
- 2006: Stained glass windows refurbished and exterior plate glass installed
- 2008: Pastoral care transitions from Saint Gregory's Abbey to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
- October 9–10, 2021: '125 Plus One' anniversary celebrated with Mass and potluck
The Building and Its Features
The present church at Kickapoo and Benedict Streets is a brick building whose cornerstone was laid July 29, 1906 and which was dedicated on May 12, 1907. The 1962 interior remodel under Father James Murphy, O.S.B., gave the sanctuary much of its current form, and in 2006 the stained glass windows were refurbished: plate glass was installed on the outside to fit the wood tracery, the frames were repaired and painted, and the openings were ventilated to preserve the original glass.
- Style: brick, dedicated 1907
- Stained glass refurbished in 2006 with protective outer plate glass
- Interior extensively remodeled 1962
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Very Reverend Christopher Brashears, JCL, as pastor, with Reverend Benjamin Bandanadam serving as associate pastor. They are assisted by two permanent deacons — Dr. David Schrupp and William Thurman — and a lay staff that includes a Director of Religious Education, a Youth Coordinator, an Administrative Assistant, a Receptionist/Secretary, a Religious Education Assistant, a maintenance worker, an organist (Carolyn Taron), and a cemetery caretaker (Mark Drummond).
- Very Reverend Christopher Brashears, JCL — Pastor
- Reverend Benjamin Bandanadam — Associate Pastor
- Dr. David Schrupp — Deacon
- William Thurman — Deacon
- Rebecca Connolly — Director of Religious Education
- Danielle Roberts — Receptionist / Secretary & Youth Coordinator
- Darlene Mayes — Religious Education Assistant
- Carolyn Taron — Organist
- Mark Drummond — Cemetery Caretaker
Mass and Liturgy
Saint Benedict offers one Saturday Vigil Mass, three Sunday Masses including a Sunday afternoon Mass in Spanish, and a daily Mass Monday through Saturday. Holy Days are marked with a vigil in the evening plus two morning/weekday Masses, and Ash Wednesday features four scheduled services, including a Mass in Spanish.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
- Weekdays: Mon/Wed/Fri at 12:10 p.m.; Tue/Thu/Sat at 8:00 a.m.
- Ash Wednesday: 6:30 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) through its religious education program, and assists couples preparing for Marriage. First Holy Communion is typically received in the second grade, after a year of formation that itself follows First Confession. The parish office coordinates Anointing of the Sick, confessions by appointment, and other pastoral needs.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Communion — generally in 2nd grade after First Confession
- Confirmation — through the Religious Education program
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Confession — Saturday 4:15–5:00 p.m. or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the office
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program directed by Rebecca Connolly, with Darlene Mayes serving as Religious Education Assistant. Children typically begin preparation for First Confession and First Communion in the second grade, and the parish welcomes older children and adults who have not yet received these sacraments. First Communion candidates are asked to be registered in the parish and to have a baptismal certificate on file.
- Director of Religious Education: Rebecca Connolly (405-275-5399 ext. 1)
- Religious Education Assistant: Darlene Mayes
- First Communion generally in 2nd grade
- RCIA / inquiry for adults new to the Faith is referenced on the parish website
Youth Ministry
Youth ministry is coordinated by Danielle Roberts, who serves as both Receptionist/Secretary and Youth Coordinator. The parish invites families with teens to connect with parish-sponsored youth activities, retreats (including ACTS), and service opportunities.
- Youth Coordinator: Danielle Roberts
- Acts retreats
- Family Faith College / Newman Connection partnership mentioned for college students
Parish Ministries and Service
Saint Benedict maintains a wide range of lay ministries and outreach programs. Members of the parish serve in liturgical roles (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers) and lead or participate in ACTS retreats, Catholics Returning Home, and the Knights of Columbus Council #1018. Outreach to those in need includes a Breakfast Ministry, Ministry to Homebound, Project Gabriel (which supports expectant parents), and Christian Social Service. The parish choir supports sung liturgy under organist Carolyn Taron, and dedicated Lector Training is offered for new readers.
- ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service)
- Catholics Returning Home
- Knights of Columbus Council #1018
- Breakfast Ministry
- Ministry to Homebound
- Project Gabriel
- Christian Social Service
- Parish Choir / Music (Organist: Carolyn Taron)
- Lector Training
- Eucharistic Ministers and Liturgical Ministry
Music and Liturgical Arts
Liturgical music is supported by parish organist Carolyn Taron and the parish choir, with lay liturgical roles (lectors, Eucharistic ministers) filled by trained volunteers from the parish.
- Parish choir
- Organist: Carolyn Taron
- Trained lectors and Eucharistic ministers
Becoming Catholic / Catholics Returning Home
The parish welcomes those new to the Catholic faith and those who have been away. Visitors are invited to register through the parish office (using the Stellar online portal linked from the parish website), and Catholics Returning Home offers a welcoming path for inactive Catholics.
- New parishioner registration via Stellar portal
- Catholics Returning Home program
- Inquiry for those new to the Faith
Parish Mission and Community
St. Benedict describes itself as 'a worshiping Roman Catholic Community in Shawnee, Oklahoma, who strive to live the mission of Jesus Christ through prayers, the Sacraments, the study of His work, the teachings of His Church, and through stewardship.' Parishioners commit themselves 'to minister to all parishioners and non-parishioners with love, respect and support,' aspiring 'to achieve a true sense of family and help all attain eternal life.' Roughly 600 families call Saint Benedict their home parish.
- Stewardship as a core value
- Outreach to both parishioners and non-parishioners
- Approximately 600 registered families
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Felix DeGrasse, O.S.B.1895–1898
Founding pastor; monk of Sacred Heart Abbey; celebrated Mass in settlers' homes before building the first church and rectory on Ninth and Park Streets.
- Father Zenon Steber1901–1902
The only non-Benedictine pastor during the 113 years of Benedictine pastoral care.
- Father Blaise Haritchabalet, O.S.B.1903–
Oversaw purchase of the current Kickapoo and Benedict site, the two-story brick rectory (1904) and the stone garage that became Father Gregory Gerrer's art studio.
- Father Maurus Fuerstenberg, O.S.B.early 1900s (associate pastor in 1905)
Associate pastor whose sermon was famously interrupted by a freight train — the incident that helped convince parishioners to relocate the church.
- Father Robert Maloney, O.S.B.
Succeeded Father Haritchabalet; oversaw construction of the 1919 Saint Benedict School building.
- Father James Murphy, O.S.B.through 1962
Pastored during the 1962 extensive interior remodeling of the church.
- Father Joseph Schwarz2013–
Pastored the 2021 '125 Plus One' anniversary celebration.
- Father Lawrence Damian
Associate pastor; concelebrated the 2021 anniversary Mass.