About San Juan Diego · Stilwell, Oklahoma
San Juan Diego Mission is a Spanish-language Catholic mission in Stilwell, Oklahoma, belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma. Founded in 2002, it serves the Latino families of Stilwell and surrounding towns in Adair County — statistically the poorest county in Oklahoma — gathering for nearly two decades in an abandoned storefront at the corner of Division and First streets before Bishop David Konderla blessed a new, permanent church building in late 2025. Sunday Mass is celebrated in Spanish at 8:30 AM, and the mission is pastored from St. Brigid Parish in nearby Tahlequah.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- San Juan Diego (St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin)
- Rector
- Rev. David Medina
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma
Why belong here
San Juan Diego Mission is a small, family-centered Catholic community where Latino families — and anyone drawn to the mission — come together for Sunday Mass in Spanish, reconciliation, holy hours, and mutual support through prayer, food, and comfort in times of need. It is a place where the young, the poor, and families of every background are warmly welcomed into a vibrant, faith-driven parish that has grown from a humble storefront gathering into a permanent new church building blessed by Bishop David Konderla.
Mass times at San Juan Diego
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Reconciliation offered when a priest is present (per Catholic Extension account of the storefront era)
Adoration times
- Holy hours have been held at the mission in addition to Sunday Mass (per Catholic Extension Society profile)
About San Juan Diego Mission
San Juan Diego Mission is a Catholic mission church in Stilwell, Oklahoma, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma. Founded in 2002, it is a Latino-rooted parish community serving Stilwell and surrounding towns in Adair County. It is pastored from St. Brigid Parish in Tahlequah and shares in the life of that parish family. The mission's namesake, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is the 16th-century indigenous Mexican peasant to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared at Tepeyac in 1531 as Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Founded in 2002
- Type: Mission (under St. Brigid Parish, Tahlequah)
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma
- Sunday Mass in Spanish at 8:30 AM
History
San Juan Diego Mission began in 2002 as a gathering place for Latino Catholic families in Stilwell. For nearly two decades the community worshipped in an abandoned storefront at Division and First streets — Mass in the front of the building, and spiritual formation, reconciliation, holy hours, and community life squeezed into the back, an old storage unit. Attendance grew steadily, and about a decade in, the Diocese of Tulsa assigned the pastor of St. Brigid in Tahlequah to serve the mission.
- Began in 2002 with Latino families in Stilwell and surrounding towns
- Worshipped in an abandoned storefront at Division and First streets for ~20 years
- Reconciliation, holy hours, and spiritual formation added to Sunday Mass over time
- Outgrew the storefront; Catholic Extension Society and the Diocese of Tulsa partnered to build a new church
- Bishop David Konderla blessed the new building in late 2025; parishioners took part in a column signing
A Community of Mutual Support
Despite being located in what is statistically the poorest county in Oklahoma, the San Juan Diego community is known for its generosity. Parishioner Yessica Alvarado, present since the mission's beginnings in 2002, says the community accompanies any family in difficulty 'through prayer and whatever resources we have.' Father David Medina confirms: 'They are poor, but they look for the means not only to help themselves, but others.' The mission has become, in his words, 'a bridge to reach others who are in need.'
- Prayer, food, and comfort offered to families in hardship
- Open to both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking families
- Teenagers and children from non-Latino families serve at Mass alongside founding members
Mass and Sacraments
The mission's principal liturgical celebration is Sunday Mass in Spanish. Reconciliation (Confession) and holy hours have also been offered when a priest is present, a pattern that grew during the storefront years as the mission became a regular stopping point for the priest traveling from St. Brigid in Tahlequah.
- Sunday Mass — 8:30 AM (Spanish)
- Reconciliation available when a priest is present
- Holy hours have been part of the mission's rhythm of prayer
Leadership
San Juan Diego Mission is served by the pastor of St. Brigid Parish in Tahlequah. The Diocese of Tulsa parish finder lists Rev. Bryan Ketterer as Pastor and Rev. David Medina as the Pastoral Delegate who shepherds the mission day-to-day. Father Medina has spoken publicly about the mission, calling it 'a community that is hungry and thirsty for God' and tying the parish's identity to its patron: 'God our Father always chooses the humble and poor to serve as an example to others.'
- Rev. Bryan Ketterer — Pastor (per Diocese of Tulsa parish finder)
- Rev. David Medina — Pastoral Delegate; pastor of St. Brigid Church, Tahlequah, and shepherd of San Juan Diego Mission
New Church Building
After roughly twenty years in an abandoned storefront, San Juan Diego Mission received a new, permanent church building through a partnership between Catholic Extension Society and the Diocese of Tulsa. In late 2025, Bishop David Konderla blessed the new building in Stilwell, and parishioners participated in a column-signing ceremony, leaving their mark on this new chapter for the mission.
- New building funded by Catholic Extension Society + Diocese of Tulsa
- Bishop David Konderla blessed the new San Juan Diego Mission Church in late 2025
- Parishioners signed a column to commemorate the milestone
Visit and Contact
The mission's physical address is in Stilwell, Oklahoma, while its mailing address is handled through St. Brigid Parish in Tahlequah. Inquiries, sacramental requests, and pastoral needs are routed through the parish office at St. Brigid.
- Address: 23 W. Division Street, Stilwell, OK 74960
- Mailing: c/o St. Brigid Parish, 807 Crafton St., Tahlequah, OK 74464
- Phone: 918-456-8388
- Email: [email protected]