About St. Francis Xavier · Stillwater, Oklahoma
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is the Catholic parish serving Stillwater, Oklahoma, and all of Payne County, located at 711 N. Country Club Road on a 20-acre campus just outside the Stillwater city limits. The parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma (Western Vicariate) and offers weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, an extensive Eucharistic Adoration schedule, and a full range of faith formation programs for every age — from an Early Childhood Development Center for toddlers through high school youth ministry, OCIA (Becoming Catholic), adult formation, and parish groups like the Knights of Columbus, Stephen Ministry, and Xavier Women. The current $22 million church and campus were dedicated on March 11, 2018, by Bishop David Konderla, bringing together the people of the old downtown parish and St. John University Parish into a single non-college parish for the wider Payne County community.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Lawrence Nwachukwu
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma (Western Vicariate)
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is the Catholic parish for all of Payne County, so belonging here means joining a community explicitly committed to helping each person in the county encounter Jesus Christ, grow as His disciple, and 'go, make disciples.' The parish makes that mission concrete through daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration in the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Chapel, a sacramental life that includes an OCIA (Becoming Catholic) process, and active outreach through Birthright of Stillwater, Stephen Ministry, and Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma on the old church site. Families are served at every age, from the Early Childhood Development Center (ages 1 through PreK), Religious Education for PreK–5th grade, a 6th–12th grade Youth Ministry with weekly high school meetings and Confirmation, all the way to Xavier Women and the OWLS 55+ group.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Wednesday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm and 5:00 – 5:45 pm
- Thursday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Friday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:45 – 11:00 am (and 3:30 – 4:30 pm during Lent)
- Sundays before Mass as priests are available
- By appointment with a priest
Adoration times
- Wednesdays from 9:00 am through Thursday 5:00 pm in the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Chapel
Our Story: From 1891 Mission to 2018 Campus
The roots of St. Francis Xavier go back to 1891, when Bishop Theophile Meerschaert sent Father Felix de Grasse on horseback from the bishop's residence in Guthrie to care for Catholics in the Stillwater area — a mission that, by 1904, already included a church with a steeple, a school, a nuns' house and a tiny two-room rectory. The parish was formally incorporated as St. Francis Xavier of Stillwater, Oklahoma in March 1915. A second, Roman-style church designed by Father Eric Beevers was dedicated on March 25, 1951 for $161,000, and its original stained-glass windows depicting St. Gregory the Great, St. Benedict, St. Romuald, and St. Bernard still survive today.
- 1891 – Father Felix de Grasse first pastors Stillwater from Guthrie on behalf of Bishop Meerschaert.
- 1904 – First church, school, nuns' house and rectory already stand between the business district and Oklahoma A&M College.
- 1914 – New rectory built for $3,245.
- 1915 – Parish incorporated as St. Francis Xavier of Stillwater, Oklahoma (directors A.M. Greiner and Anton Schroeder).
- 1919 – 75 families and 24 A&M students worship at St. Francis Xavier.
- March 25, 1951 – Second (Roman-style) church dedicated; designed by Fr. Eric Beevers.
- March 11, 2018 – Third (current) church dedicated by Bishop David Konderla; $22 million campus on 20 acres donated by the Heid Family.
The 2018 Church and Campus
The current church and campus were built entirely through the generosity of the people of Payne County after extensive collaboration between parishioners of the old St. Francis Xavier Church and St. John University Parish (now St. John Catholic Student Center). The single parish now serves all non-college members in the area. The build spanned the final years of Bishop Edward Slattery's tenure and the first years of Bishop David Konderla's, under the leadership of Fr. Ken Harder, Fr. Stuart Crevcoure, and a dedicated leadership and finance team. A Stillwater priest rectory was added on the grounds in 2019 to house all Stillwater priests with room for visiting priests and seminarians.
- Nave (church)
- Parish offices
- Spacious parish hall
- School building
- Youth room / Youth Center
- Gymnasium
- Outdoor playground
- Sand volleyball court
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta Chapel (for Eucharistic Adoration)
- Stillwater priest rectory (completed September 2019)
Meet Our Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Pastor Rev. Lawrence Nwachukwu (ordained 1999 for the Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria, who previously served as Associate Pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Stillwater from 2017 to 2018) and Associate Pastor Rev. Daniel Campos. Three deacons — Tom Cabeen, Glenn Collum and Randy Hearn (who also serves as Director of Administration) — round out the clergy team.
- Rev. Lawrence Nwachukwu — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Daniel Campos — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Tom Cabeen ([email protected])
- Deacon Glenn Collum ([email protected])
- Deacon Randy Hearn — Director of Administration ([email protected])
- Lori Wieder — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Reece Pagel — Coordinator of Youth Ministry ([email protected])
- Gabby Torres — Coordinadora del Ministerio Hispano y Registros Sacramentales ([email protected])
- Rob Ponce — Becoming Catholic / OCIA Coordinator and Communications ([email protected])
- Claudia Ogrin — Director, Early Childhood Development Center ([email protected])
- Matt Cabeen — Music Ministry; Kevin Larios — Spanish Music Ministry
- Leah Benjamin — Finance & Facilities; Cindy Beckman — Sacramental Records; Karen Bisges — Parish Office Assistant; Brandi Bishop — Parish Nurse; Lauren McGill — Communications Specialist
Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)
St. Francis Xavier ECDC is a joyful, nurturing, Christ-centered community rooted in the Catholic faith, providing for the total development of its students through active and engaged learning. The center serves children ages 12 months through Pre-K during the school year, with a summer program that extends through age 7. Safety measures include an automated check-in system, a gated playground, and an on-site tornado shelter. The Frog Street Press curriculum addresses language, social, emotional, cognitive, physical and motor development, and the center is open Monday–Friday from 7 am to 6 pm with flexible two-, three- and five-day options and half-day or full-day schedules.
- Director: Claudia Ogrin ([email protected], 405-334-5154)
- Ages served: 12 months through Pre-K (school year); summer program 12 months–7 years
- Curriculum: Frog Street Press (whole-child)
- Hours: Monday–Friday 7 am–6 pm; flexible 2-, 3- and 5-day options
- Safety: automated check-in, gated playground, tornado shelter
Faith Formation for Children, Youth and Adults
The parish runs an age-spanning faith-formation program: Religious Education for PreK through 5th grade (with First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation); Youth Ministry for middle school (monthly) and high school (Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 pm); Confirmation for 7th–9th graders (Sundays 9:45–11:00 am); Becoming Catholic / OCIA for adults (Tuesdays beginning in late August); the Catholic Homeschool Group; and 'Mystagogy,' a free six-session adult faith series on Sunday mornings at 9:45 am in the Youth Center (childcare provided). The parish is also moving toward the Restored Order of the Sacraments, with 7th, 8th and 9th graders being confirmed during the 2025–26 school year.
- Religious Education (PreK–5th) — contact Lori Wieder, 405-338-1503, [email protected]
- Youth Ministry (6th–12th) — contact Reece Pagel, 405-338-1509, [email protected]
- Confirmation (7th–9th) — Sundays 9:45–11:00 am between Masses
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA — contact Rob Ponce, [email protected]
- Catholic Homeschool Group — contact Catie Hanson, [email protected]
- Mystagogy adult series — Sundays 9:45 am, Youth Center, childcare provided
Hispanic Ministry and Spanish-Language Life of the Parish
St. Francis Xavier has a robust Hispanic ministry coordinated by Gabby Torres (Coordinadora del Ministerio Hispano y Registros Sacramentales, [email protected]). A weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish is celebrated at 1:00 pm, a Wednesday evening Mass in Spanish is offered at 6:00 pm, and Spanish Music Ministry is led by Kevin Larios. Sacramental records for the Hispanic community are also handled through this office.
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 1:00 pm
- Spanish Wednesday Mass: 6:00 pm
- Coordinator: Gabby Torres — [email protected]
- Spanish Music Ministry: Kevin Larios — [email protected]
Outreach, Charity and Community Life
Outreach is central to parish life. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma is renovating the old 1951 church building on Duck and 6th Street to serve the poor of Payne County, and the parish itself hosts Birthright of Stillwater and a Stephen Ministry for one-on-one caring support. Lay-driven groups include the Knights of Columbus, Xavier Women, the OWLS 55+ senior group, a Stewardship team, and a Parish Pastoral Council, alongside spiritual direction and a parish nurse ministry.
- Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma (serving the poor of Payne County from the old church)
- Birthright of Stillwater
- Stephen Ministry (one-on-one caring support)
- Knights of Columbus
- Xavier Women
- OWLS 55+ (senior group)
- Parish Pastoral Council; Stewardship team; Spiritual Direction
- Parish Nurse: Brandi Bishop
Visiting and Getting Involved
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, at 711 N. Country Club Rd. Newcomers can register as parishioners online via the 'Register as a Parishioner' quick link, and the parish maintains a Flocknote email/SMS list (sign-up on the homepage). Anyone wishing to become Catholic is invited to inquire any time of year, and the parish is actively recruiting volunteers for ECDC classrooms, meal preparation, Religious Education small groups, Youth Ministry, and OCIA sponsorship and hospitality.
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9 am–5 pm
- Parish Office: (405) 372-6886 • Fax: (405) 553-1728
- Early Childhood Development Center: (405) 334-5154
- Register as a Parishioner (online quick link)
- Sign up for Flocknote (email/text updates)
- Becoming Catholic inquiries: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Felix de Grasse1891–
First priest assigned to Stillwater by Vicar Apostolic Bishop Theophile Meerschaert; stationed at the bishop's residence in Guthrie and visited Stillwater sporadically; later became Abbot of Sacred Heart Abbey.
- Father Eric Beevers1940s–1951
Designed and built the second St. Francis Xavier Church, dedicated March 25, 1951, for $161,000 in a Roman style with arches from his native England; chose the saints for the stained-glass windows.
- Father Ken Harder
Helped lead the campaign to build the current (third) St. Francis Xavier Church along with Father Stuart Crevcoure and a finance/leadership team.
- Father Stuart Crevcoure
Co-led, with Fr. Ken Harder, the building of the new $22 million church campus dedicated in 2018.
- Father Brian O'BrienJanuary 2018–
Installed as Pastor of the new St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at the dedication Mass on March 11, 2018. Previously President of Bishop Kelley High School; continuing role as Associate Director of Vocations. Now Rector of Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa, and Vicar Forane of the Western Vicariate.
- Rev. Lawrence Nwachukwu2024–
Current Pastor; ordained July 24, 1999 for the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria; previously Associate Pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Stillwater (2017–2018) and Pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Sallisaw and missions.