About Saint Mary · Guthrie, Oklahoma
Saint Mary Catholic Church is a historic parish in Guthrie, Oklahoma, founded in 1889 under the direction of Rev. Fr. Felix De Grasse, OSB. For roughly fifteen years after 1891 it served as the Pro-Cathedral and personal residence of Bishop Theophile Meerschaert, Oklahoma's first bishop, before the seat moved to Oklahoma City. The current church building, dedicated December 27, 1920, is a striking example of 'Prairie Gothic' architecture in Oklahoma red brick. Today the parish is pastored by Rev. Fr. James Wickersham, who also serves St. Margaret Mary in Crescent, and is supported by a deacon, a Director of Family Formation, a Director of Music & Organist, and a Business Manager.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. James Andrew Wickersham
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
Saint Mary is a small but historically rich parish in Guthrie with a tight-knit Catholic community that meets weekly for Mass, prays the Rosary together before Saturday Vigil Mass, and welcomes adults seeking initiation through RCIA. It offers a complete Sacramental life — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage — supported by Family Faith Formation for school-age children and a Director of Family Formation on staff. Parish life is shaped by long-running organizations like the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters Court St. Mary #2158, and the Prime-Timers fellowship group for parishioners 65 and older, alongside an active Pastoral and Finance Council. The current Saint Mary Academy, operating inside the former parish school building as a classical Catholic cooperative for Pre-K through 12, brings new Catholic educational energy back to Guthrie.
Mass times at Saint Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 - 4:15 pm
History of Saint Mary Catholic Church
The original St. Mary Catholic Church was built in 1889 under the direction of Rev. Fr. Felix De Grasse, OSB. In 1891 Bishop Theophile Meerschaert was assigned Vicar Apostolic of Indian Territory and took up residence at St. Mary, where the parish functioned as a Pro-Cathedral until the Diocese of Oklahoma City was established in 1905. Bishop Meerschaert remained at St. Mary until 1906, so for roughly fifteen years Guthrie — not Oklahoma City — was the home of Oklahoma's first bishop.
- 1889 — original church built under Fr. Felix De Grasse, OSB
- 1891–1906 — Bishop Theophile Meerschaert resides at St. Mary; parish serves as Pro-Cathedral
- 1905 — Diocese of Oklahoma City established
- December 27, 1920 — present church dedicated under Rev. Fr. John Van Gastel
- 1920 — original 1889 church demolished
- 1920 — high altar, side altars, baptismal font, stations of the cross, and statues crafted by the DaPrato Company (high altar: $25,000)
- 1962 — DaPrato Company goes out of business; molds destroyed
- Ongoing — high altar and side altars under restoration by a local artist; apse ceiling planned to be painted blue with gold stars
Architecture & Interior
The current St. Mary building is predominantly Gothic with rounded arches adding a Romanesque influence, built of Oklahoma red brick — a combination affectionately called 'Prairie Gothic.' The interior's high altar, side altars, baptismal font, stations of the cross, and statues were all made by the DaPrato Company in 1920; because the DaPrato molds were destroyed in 1962, exact replicas elsewhere are no longer possible. The parish is currently engaged in a restoration of the high altar and side altars, with plans to repaint the church and paint the upper apse ceiling blue with gold stars.
- Prairie Gothic — Gothic + Romanesque arches in Oklahoma red brick
- DaPrato Company craftsmanship (1920)
- High altar restoration underway
- Stations of the cross previously restored
- Apse ceiling planned in blue with gold stars
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Fr. James Andrew Wickersham, who has served as pastor since 2015. He also serves as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Dean of the Northeast Deanery, and he co-pastors St. Margaret Mary in Crescent. Rev. Mr. James Fourcade serves as Deacon and coordinates Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Kimberly Ellison is the parish Business Manager, Gabriel Van Ness is Director of Music & Organist, and Averie Smart serves as Director of Family Formation.
- Rev. Fr. James Andrew Wickersham — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. James Fourcade — Deacon & RCIA
- Kimberly Ellison — Business Manager
- Gabriel Van Ness — Director of Music & Organist
- Averie Smart — Director of Family Formation
Parish Life & Organizations
Parish life at St. Mary is shaped by a mix of councils, fraternal organizations, women's societies, and senior fellowship. The Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council help guide parish direction; the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters of the Americas serve the parish and wider community; and the Prime-Timers offer fellowship for parishioners aged 65 and older from both St. Mary and St. Margaret Mary. Safe Environment programming ensures a protected space for children and vulnerable adults.
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Court St. Mary #2158
- Prime-Timers (65+ fellowship; meets 3rd Tuesday of the month)
- Safe Environment
Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Court St. Mary #2158
Founded in 1976 with the blessing of then-pastor Father Richard Beckman, Court St. Mary #2158 was the parish's first women's organization. Its first regent, Barbara Ruhl, has remained an important figure in court activities. The Court meets monthly on the first Monday at 7:00 pm in the downstairs church hall and supports activities such as the parish Thanksgiving dinner, Birth Choice Shower, CDA Education Contest, Easter Egg Hunt, funeral dinners, the CDA Senior Citizens project, and the national Project Handclasp through the U.S. Navy. Its motto is 'Unity and Charity,' colors purple and gold, and its emblem is the Cross and Crown.
- Founded 1976 under Fr. Richard Beckman
- First regent: Barbara Ruhl
- Meets 1st Monday, 7:00 pm, downstairs church hall
- Motto: Unity and Charity
- Colors: Purple and Gold
- Emblem: Cross and Crown
Prime-Timers
Prime-Timers is a fellowship group for mature members from both St. Mary's and St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church. The group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month for fellowship and conversation around up-to-date topics affecting older adults, and remembers home-bound or unable-to-attend members through prayer and personal cards. Anyone over 65 is welcome.
- Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month
- Open to anyone 65+
- Members from St. Mary and St. Margaret Mary
- Pastoral outreach to homebound members
Formation & Faith Education
Faith formation is described by the parish as a lifelong journey, with opportunities for every age. Saint Mary offers a two-year Sacramental preparation process for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, Baptism Seminars, periodic adult classes, and Family Catechesis for families with school-age children. The parish quotes St. John Paul II's Familiaris Consortio on the irreplaceable role of parents in educating children in the Faith.
- Two-year preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
- Baptism Seminars (offered twice per year)
- Adult faith formation classes
- Family Catechesis for school-age children
Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church are welcomed into the parish's RCIA program, coordinated by Deacon James Fourcade. The process walks adults through the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist — supported by adult faith formation opportunities.
- Coordinated by Rev. Mr. James Fourcade
- Nine-month Adult Faith Formation pathway leading to the Sacraments of Initiation
Sacraments
The parish publishes a detailed Sacramental policy grounded in the idea that Sacramental life flows from faithful weekly worship. To be considered an 'active parishioner' for Sacramental reception and Catholic-school tuition, families must attend Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) Mass and Holy Days of Obligation weekly for six months, be in formation for or have received the Sacraments of Initiation, register with the parish, and contribute financially through envelopes or Faith Direct. Sacramental preparation classes are required and attendance is tracked.
- Baptism of children under 7 — active parishioner requirement; Baptismal Seminar for first-time parents
- Baptism of children 7 and older — combined with Confirmation and First Eucharist
- First Holy Communion — typically begins in 2nd grade; one-year formation process
- Confirmation — must be active parishioner and have received First Communion
- Adult Sacraments of Initiation — through RCIA
- Marriage — coordinated with the pastor; Sacramental preparation required
Saint Mary Academy
After Saint Mary Catholic School graduated its last class in 2020, parents and former teachers worked with Pastor Father James Wickersham to bring Catholic education back to Guthrie. Saint Mary Academy (SMA) opened in 2024 inside the former parish school building as a Catholic cooperative school combining homeschool and in-school days, with classes offered two days a week and a classical curriculum that includes mathematics, Latin, science, philosophy, theology, and grammar. Although SMA is administratively separate from both St. Mary Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, it uses the parish's school building and operates with the pastor's support on the board. The first year concluded with about 60 students and 19 educators, with plans to grow from Pre-K through 12th grade.
- Opened 2024 inside the former Saint Mary Catholic School building
- Catholic school cooperative (combination of homeschool and in-school)
- Classical curriculum: math, Latin, science, philosophy, theology, grammar
- Headmaster: Tomas Sandoval
- Plan to span Pre-K through grade 12
- Distinct from the parish and from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, but supported by Fr. Wickersham
- Enrollment info: smaguthrie.org
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Mary is coordinated by Gabriel Van Ness, the parish's Director of Music & Organist. Visitors leaving Mass regularly comment on the beauty of the choir and the worship space.
- Gabriel Van Ness — Director of Music & Organist
- Live choir at Mass
- Traditional worship in the historic 1920 sanctuary
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open by phone at (405) 282-4239 and is located at 411 North Elm, Guthrie, OK 73044. A Directions page is available on the parish website, and online giving is facilitated through Faith Direct.
- Address: 411 North Elm, Guthrie, OK 73044
- Phone: (405) 282-4239
- Website: http://stmaryguthrie.com/
- Online giving: Faith Direct (membership.faithdirect.net/OK805 or 866-507-8757)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Felix De Grasse, OSB1889 - 1893
Built the original 1889 church
- Rev. Fr. John Metter1893 - 1895
- Rev. Fr. Frederick Van der Aa1895 - 1897
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Van Hulse1897 - 1901
- Rev. Fr. Bernard Mustaers1901 - 1906
- Rev. Fr. Charles Standaert1906 - 1917
- Rev. Fr. John Van Gastel1917 - 1925
Built and dedicated the present 1920 church
- Rev. Fr. William Glynn1925 - 1926
- Rev. Fr. William Lamb1926 - 1929
- Rev. Fr. F.X. Van Mens1929 - 1933
- Rev. Fr. James Van Gastel1933 - 1947
- Most Rev. John Sullivan1947 - 1959
- Rev. Monsignor J.J. Higgins1959 - 1963
- Rev. Fr. Daniel Keohane1963 - 1971
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Thompson1971 - 1974
- Rev. Fr. John Petuskey1974 - 1975
- Rev. Fr. Richard Beckman1975 - 1987
Blessed the founding of Catholic Daughters Court St. Mary #2158 in 1976
- Rev. Fr. Elmer Robnett1987 - 1990
- Rev. Fr. Henry Roberson1990 - 1992
- Rev. Fr. Denis Hanrahan1992 - 2010
- Rev. Fr. Robert Wood2010 - 2013
- Rev. Fr. Charles Murphy2013 - 2015
- Rev. Fr. James Wickersham2015 - Present
Current pastor; also Vocations Director and Dean of Northeast Deanery