About St. Anthony of Padua · Okmulgee, Oklahoma
St. Anthony of Padua is a Catholic parish in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, part of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. The parish shares its pastoral life with a sister mission church, Uganda Martyrs (808 E. 3rd St.), and together they form "The Catholic Community of Okmulgee," served by Rev. Joshua E. Litwack. The current worship space at 515 S. Morton Avenue is a 1927 Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival church listed on the National Register of Historic Places, notable for its Carrara marble altar imported from Tuscany and its tall Corinthian columns. Weekend and daily Masses are celebrated across both churches, with Reconciliation offered before each weekend Mass and all other sacraments available by appointment.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Joshua E. Litwack
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is the historic heart of the small but active Catholic Community of Okmulgee, serving worshipers across Okmulgee County with a full schedule of weekend, daily and holy-day Masses. The parish pairs its striking 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival sanctuary — complete with an imported Carrara marble altar — with a remarkably full lay life: Knights of Columbus and Knights of Peter Claver councils, Catholic Daughters, Altar Society, choirs, adult faith enrichment, a youth religious education program, and a monthly Food Pantry that serves neighbors in need. RCIA meets Tuesday evenings, and Reconciliation is offered before every weekend Mass, making it an accessible, welcoming parish for newcomers, returning Catholics, and longtime families alike.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm (at St. Anthony of Padua)
- Sunday 7:45 am (at Uganda Martyrs — sister mission church)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Anthony of Padua describes itself as part of "The Catholic Community of Okmulgee," a single pastoral team serving two churches — St. Anthony of Padua at 515 S. Morton Ave. and the Uganda Martyrs mission at 808 E. 3rd Street. A printed welcome from pastor Fr. Joshua E. Litwack invites visitors and newcomers to make themselves at home, join a Mass, and connect with the parish office.
History of the Parish
The present church was completed in 1927, designed by the architectural firm Monnot & Reid and built by the Dennehy Construction Co. in the Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival style. Its significance — both architectural and as a community landmark — was recognized in 1983 when it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The interior, with its Corinthian columns and 18-foot Carrara marble altar imported from Tuscany, remains a point of pride for parishioners and a draw for visitors interested in early-20th-century ecclesiastical architecture.
- Built 1927
- Architects: Monnot & Reid
- Builder: Dennehy Construction Co.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, July 14, 1983 (NRHP #83002112)
Architecture & Sanctuary
The Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival exterior houses an interior defined by tall, smooth-shafted Corinthian columns whose capitals are enriched with acanthus leaves, caulicoli, and a molded abacus. The high altar is an 18-foot composition of Carrara marble and stone imported from Tuscany in the years just after the church was constructed — a feature noted in both the parish's own description and the National Register listing.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Reverend Joshua E. Litwack, Pastor, who also serves the sister Uganda Martyrs mission. Theresa Thomason serves as Office Manager, and Sarah Alexander is the Coordinator of Religious Education. The parish office shares a single mailing address (P.O. Box 698, Okmulgee, OK 74447) and a single phone line (918-756-4385) for both churches.
- Rev. Joshua E. Litwack — Pastor
- Theresa Thomason — Office Manager
- Sarah Alexander — Coordinator of Religious Education
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Mass is celebrated across both worship sites: Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am at St. Anthony of Padua, with Sunday morning Mass at 8:30 am at Uganda Martyrs. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday at 5:15 pm at St. Anthony, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 am at St. Anthony, and Thursday at 7:30 am at Uganda Martyrs. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Saturday at 4:00 pm at St. Anthony and Sunday at 7:45 am at Uganda Martyrs; all other sacraments are arranged by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm — St. Anthony of Padua
- Sunday: 8:30 am — Uganda Martyrs; 11:00 am — St. Anthony of Padua
- Tuesday: 5:15 pm — St. Anthony of Padua
- Wednesday & Friday: 7:30 am — St. Anthony of Padua
- Thursday: 7:30 am — Uganda Martyrs
- Holy Days: 7:30 am at Uganda Martyrs; 7:00 pm at St. Anthony of Padua
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 pm (St. Anthony); Sunday 7:45 am (Uganda Martyrs)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Anthony of Padua is coordinated by Sarah Alexander and includes a Youth Religious Education program and an Adult Faith Enrichment track. The parish also runs the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), which meets Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm for those exploring Catholicism or preparing to receive the sacraments.
- Youth Religious Education
- Adult Faith Enrichment
- RCIA — Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 pm
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The RCIA process at St. Anthony of Padua welcomes adults who have never been baptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition, and baptized Catholics seeking First Communion or Confirmation. The formation covers Scripture, Catholic teaching, liturgy, prayer and mission, and walks candidates through the Inquiry period, the Rite of Election, and the Easter Vigil sacraments, supported by parish sponsors, prayer partners and a formation team.
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Lay life at St. Anthony of Padua is organized into a rich network of spiritual, fraternal and service groups. Both men's and women's parish societies operate alongside the parish's pastoral and finance councils.
- Altar Society (St. Anthony of Padua)
- Catholic Daughters
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Peter Claver
- Ladies Auxiliary of Peter Claver
- Finance Council
- Pastoral Council
- Choir / Organist ministry
Outreach & Food Pantry
The parish operates a Food Pantry as a practical outreach to neighbors in Okmulgee, coordinated by Chipper Baughman. Parishioners donate staple items — canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, rice, tuna, cereal, paper goods and toiletries — to keep the shelves stocked.
- Food Pantry Coordinator: Chipper Baughman
Visiting & Contact
Visitors are welcome at any Mass. The parish office is closed Mondays and open Tuesday 10:00 am–4:00 pm and Wednesday–Friday 9:00 am–4:00 pm, with a lunch closure from noon to 1:00 pm. The mailing address is P.O. Box 698, Okmulgee, OK 74447, and a separate number (918-756-9042) reaches the SA Activity Center.
- Phone/Fax: 918-756-4385
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- SA Activity Center: 918-756-9042
- From US-75, take 8th Street west and turn left onto S. Morton Ave.