St. Catherine of Alexandria (Misiangtho Catherine)

Parish History

Saint Catherine's story began in the spring of 1925 on the rowdy west bank of the Arkansas River, where Catholics who worked for refineries and the Frisco Railroad needed a church of their own. By September 1925 the new mission had achieved parish status and was housed at 905 West 23rd Street, serving Red Fork, Carbondale, Oakhurst and Garden City. The early pastor Father Ersing captured the community's identity in a single sentence: 'My people are all laborers who live from one payday to another and do have families.' When the city widened 23rd Street for a new bridge, the parish was forced to relocate, and in 1949 the Precious Blood Fathers bought the land on which the parish still stands today.

• 1925 — first church erected at 905 W. 23rd St.
• 1949 — Precious Blood Fathers purchase the current site
• 1955 — school building and rectory completed
• 1969 — $75,000 benefactor's gift revives church-building hopes
• September 27, 1986 — current church dedicated under Fr. Vincent Hoying

Parish Mission

What started as a mission of Holy Family Catholic parish to serve the laboring community on the west side of Tulsa has grown into a successful parish of about 190 families and a pre-K through 8th grade school serving over 160 students. Saint Catherine has always been known as a family-oriented and hard-working community that seeks to establish good faith foundations for its children. The parish describes itself as a Catholic community called together by Jesus to proclaim and serve as witness to the Gospel by caring for the spiritual and temporal needs of God's people.

Mass and Liturgy

The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Zomi (Burmese), reflecting its identity as a home for Tulsa's Zomi Catholic community alongside its English-speaking families. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:00 AM, with a school-day Mass on Wednesday at 8:00 AM. The Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM and Sunday morning Mass at 11:00 AM anchor the weekend schedule. Saturday morning also features an 8:15 AM Mass (noted as not fulfilling the Sunday obligation).

• Saturday Vigil — 5:00 PM (English)
• Sunday — 11:00 AM (English / Zomi)
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:00 AM (English)
• Wednesday 8:00 AM during the school year
• Saturday 8:15 AM (does not fulfill Sunday obligation)

Parish Staff

The pastoral team at St. Catherine includes the pastor, two deacons, and lay staff who keep the parish office, school and finances running. Contact is through the parish office at (918) 446-8124, with hours Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• Deacon — David Hamel
• Deacon — Craig Victor
• Office Manager — Amy Zvacek (ext. 101)
• Finance / Social Media — Brittany Gomez
• School Principal — Michelle Anthamatten (ext. 105)
• School Office Manager — Suzy Hayes (ext. 104)

Saint Catherine School (Pre-K – 8)

The parish school serves over 160 students from pre-K through 8th grade and is a defining ministry of the parish community. It anchors Catholic faith formation on Tulsa's west side and is central to the parish's family-oriented identity, with students regularly attending school-day Mass and families gathering after Sunday Mass for combined faith-formation events like 'Food and Faith Formation' with pizza and religious education lessons.

Faith Formation and Youth

Religious education at St. Catherine emphasizes parents and children learning the faith together. A 'Food and Faith Formation' program is held after the 11:00 AM Mass — pizza is served, followed by a religious-education lesson for children and their parents. The parish also runs an active altar-server program open to students in 4th grade and older, with periodic practices and a pizza party for participants.

Stewardship

The Saint Catherine Stewardship Council coordinates parish giving and the call to conversion that flows from the Gospel. Its stated mission is to 'empower a way of life that nurtures the need to give responsibly in gratitude to God what is already His.' Online giving options for both one-time and recurring donations are linked from the parish website.

Zomi (Burmese) Catholic Community

St. Catherine is a spiritual home for Tulsa's Zomi (Burmese Chin) Catholic community, celebrating Mass in the Zomi language and hosting an annual Memorial Day weekend soccer/volleyball tournament with abundant Burmese food. The Zomi community at nearby Immaculate Heart of Mary parish ('Tonu Maria Siangtho Lungtrang Biakinn') in Tulsa shares a close connection with the diocese's Burmese-speaking faithful.

Sacraments

Information about each sacrament is provided on the parish website, with appointments arranged through the parish office at (918) 446-8124. Baptisms and Anointing of the Sick are scheduled by appointment; Matrimony preparation is scheduled 6 to 12 months in advance.

• Baptism — by appointment
• Matrimony — 6–12 months advance preparation
• Anointing of the Sick — scheduled through the church office

Child & Youth Protection

The parish follows the Diocese of Tulsa's Office of Child & Youth Protection policies and the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. All employees and volunteers must complete VIRTUS training, agree to the safe-environment policies, and pass a criminal background check before working with minors or vulnerable adults.

Visit and Contact

Parishioners and visitors are welcome at the parish office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed on Solemnities and holidays). The parish can be reached by phone at (918) 446-8124 and online through saintcatherinechurch.org, with a Facebook presence and online giving options for one-time and recurring donations.

• Address: 4532 S. 25th W. Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74107
• Phone: (918) 446-8124
• Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Website: saintcatherinechurch.org