About St. James · Bartlesville, Oklahoma
St. James Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the east-side Bartlesville, Oklahoma community, part of the Diocese of Tulsa. Founded in the mid-1960s to serve the growing east side of town, the parish was built on a six-acre tract on Douglas Lane that had originally been earmarked for a school. Today St. James shares pastoral ministry with neighboring St. John Before the Latin Gate, together forming the Catholic Community of Bartlesville, served by two priests across both churches. The parish welcomes some 1,000 registered families and is known for its deep involvement in local charity and service organizations.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle (James the Greater, son of Zebedee)
- Rector
- Fr. Leonardo (Leo) Morales
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tulsa
Why belong here
St. James is a lay-driven parish that intentionally invites parishioners to share the responsibility of living out the Gospel in Bartlesville and surrounding communities. Beyond weekend Mass and daily prayer, the parish runs a robust Faith Formation program for children in K–8 (CRE), Middle School and High School youth groups, an Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) process, and Celebration Ministries (Lector, Usher, Greeter, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion). Pastoral Care reaches out to parishioners who are homebound, and the parish financially contributes to thirteen local charity and service organizations — many of which were co-founded by St. James parishioners.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 PM (at St. James, before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass)
- Sundays 8:00 AM (at St. John, before the 8:30 AM Mass)
- Sundays 10:30 AM (at St. John, before the 11:00 AM Mass)
- Sundays 12:30 PM (at St. John, before the 1:30 PM Spanish Mass)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Holy Hour: Tuesdays 9:00–10:00 AM
- Holy Hour: Thursdays 9:00–10:00 AM
- Holy Hour: Saturdays 9:00–10:00 AM (after the 8:30 AM daily Mass)
About St. James Catholic Parish
St. James Catholic Church is an east-side Roman Catholic parish in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, part of the Diocese of Tulsa. Founded in 1965 to serve the expanding east side of the city, the parish today shares pastoral ministry with neighboring St. John Before the Latin Gate, together forming the Catholic Community of Bartlesville. Roughly 1,000 families across both parishes are served by two priests. The parish's stated mission is to be a believing community that proclaims the Gospel through word, prayer, worship, mutual support, service, and a commitment to social justice, human dignity, freedom, and peace.
- Mission: to proclaim the Good News of Jesus by word, prayer and worship
- Mission: to support, encourage, inspire, forgive and love one another
- Mission: to reach out in service to others
- Mission: to address issues of social justice, human dignity, freedom and peace
History
St. James began as an east-side ministry of St. John Before the Latin Gate under Fr. John F. Lynch in the early 1960s. A six-acre tract on Douglas Lane was purchased for what was planned as St. Jude School, but Bishop Victor Reed redirected the project to become both St. James Catholic Church and School. The first Mass was celebrated August 29, 1965; formal dedication came on December 6, 1966. The school closed in 1969, but the parish continued to grow, adding a new rectory in 1983 and seven pastors across six decades. The year 2020 — the parish's 55th anniversary — brought a first-ever shared pastorship with St. John.
- First Mass: August 29, 1965
- Formal dedication: December 6, 1966 with Bishop Victor Reed
- School closed: 1969
- New rectory: 1983
- 55th anniversary: 2020
- Shared pastorate with St. John begins: 2020
Clergy, Staff & Councils
The parish is led by a pastor assisted by two deacons, with a finance and administrative team and a parish council. The CRE Director, Music and Choir Director, and Youth Director round out the lay staff that runs day-to-day Faith Formation and liturgical programs.
- Fr. Leonardo Morales — Pastor (918-336-4353; [email protected])
- Deacon George — Pastoral Care
- Deacon Charlie — Pastoral Care
- Matthew Kane — Financial Administrator
- Mindy Freeman — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Carey Auschwitz — CRE (Children's Religious Education) Director
- Tamara Walker — Music and Choir Director
- Blythe Zielenski — Youth Director
- Scott Mason — Pastoral Chairman, Parish/Finance Council
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is described as a lifelong journey. The parish's Children's Religious Education (CRE) program serves Kindergarten through 8th grade on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–7:15 PM at St. James, combining weekly catechesis with sacramental preparation (First Communion in 2nd grade; Confirmation preparation moving to 3rd grade across the Diocese of Tulsa). A Middle School Youth Group meets the last Wednesday of the month, and a High School Youth Group meets Wednesday evenings at Father Lynch Hall at St. John.
- Children's Religious Education (CRE) – K through 8th, Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 PM at St. James
- Middle School Youth Group (6th–8th) – last Wednesday, 6:00–7:15 PM at St. James
- High School Youth Group – Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 PM at Father Lynch Hall (St. John)
- CRE Director: Carey Auschwitz ([email protected])
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or returning to the faith are invited to the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) process, held Tuesday evenings from 6:30–8:30 PM at St. James Catholic Church. The program walks inquirers through Scripture, doctrine, and the sacramental life of the Church.
- Tuesdays 6:30–8:30 PM at St. James
- Open to non-Catholics and returning Catholics
- Sessions typically include topics like 'The Story of Salvation' taught by clergy including Fr. Daniel Gormley
Liturgical & Celebration Ministries
Laypeople form the backbone of Sunday worship at St. James. The parish invites parishioners to serve as Lectors, Ushers, Greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and in many other roles. The Music and Choir Director leads liturgical music, and a Ministry of Flowers allows families and individuals to dedicate altar flowers ($50) in honor of an occasion or loved one.
- Lector
- Usher
- Greeter
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Music and Choir (directed by Tamara Walker)
- Altar Flowers Ministry ($50 dedication)
Pastoral Care & Charity
Pastoral Care ministers visit parishioners who are homebound. Fr. Leo and the deacons (Deacon George and Deacon Charlie) bring Communion and other spiritual ministries to those unable to attend Mass. The parish also operates a food drive for CONCERN, accepting protein donations such as canned meats, peanut butter, and soups or chili with meat in a basket at the back of the Sanctuary. Across its history St. James has helped establish many of Bartlesville's service organizations and currently provides financial support to thirteen of them.
- Homebound visits by Deacon George, Deacon Charlie, or Fr. Leo
- CONCERN food drive — canned meats, peanut butter, soup/chili with meat
- Financial support for 13 local charity and service organizations
Sacraments
Parishioners and visitors should contact the parish office to arrange Baptisms, Weddings, Marriage Preparation, and other sacraments. Children's First Holy Communion is typically celebrated in 2nd grade as part of the CRE program. The Diocese of Tulsa is currently transitioning Confirmation preparation to 3rd grade over a five-year window.
- Baptism — contact the office
- Marriage Preparation — contact the office
- First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — transitioning to 3rd grade in the Diocese of Tulsa
- Reconciliation — see Confession times above
- OCIA — for adults becoming Catholic
Visit Us — Location & Hours
St. James Catholic Church is located at 5500 Douglas Lane, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Telephone: (918) 335-0844; Fax: (918) 335-0856. Parish office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:45 AM – 2:45 PM (the home page lists Monday–Thursday). The parish complex includes a Sanctuary, rectory, Library, Pavilion, Altar area, and Soccer Field.
- Address: 5500 Douglas Ln, Bartlesville, OK 74006
- Phone: (918) 335-0844
- Fax: (918) 335-0856
- Office Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8:45 AM – 2:45 PM
- Pastoral email: [email protected]
- On-site facilities: Sanctuary, rectory, Library, Pavilion, Soccer Field
Supporting St. James
Parishioners and friends can contribute in person at Mass, mail contributions to the parish office, or donate online through the parish website (selecting 'St. James Parish – Bartlesville' from the list). Recurring weekly or monthly gifts can be scheduled, and one-time donations are welcome. Questions can be directed to the office at (918) 335-0844.
- In-person gifts at Mass
- Mail to the parish office
- Online one-time or recurring giving via the parish website
Diocese of Tulsa
St. James Catholic Church belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa. The Diocese of Tulsa was created in 1972 as a new diocese carved from the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Its bishops have included the Most Reverend Bernard J. Ganter (1972–1977), the Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran (1978–1992), the Most Reverend Edward J. Slattery (1993–2016), and the current Most Reverend David A. Konderla (2016–present).
- Diocese: Tulsa
- Predecessor: Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa (until 1972)
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. David A. Konderla
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Pickettfounding pastor – 1974
Founding pastor; oversaw the parish's establishment in 1964–65, the arrival of three Ursuline Sisters, the first Mass (Aug. 29, 1965), and formal dedication (Dec. 6, 1966); transferred in 1974 by Bishop Bernard Ganter.
- Rev. Frank Warnke1974–1978
Second pastor, appointed by Bishop Bernard Ganter (first Bishop of the new Diocese of Tulsa).
- Rev. William Skeehan1978–2004
Third pastor, appointed by Bishop Eusebius Beltran; oversaw construction of the new rectory in 1983 and the longest tenure in parish history.
- Rev. Michael Cashen2004–2007
Fourth pastor, appointed by Bishop Edward J. Slattery.
- Rev. Archie Fernandez2007–2020
Fifth pastor.
- Very Rev. John M. O'Neill2020–
Sixth pastor; first pastor to also shepherd St. John Before the Latin Gate as a second parish; served alongside first Associate Pastor Rev. Carlos Loaiza.
- Fr. Leonardo Moralespresent
Current pastor, listed on parish website as 'Our Pastor, Fr. Leo Morales.'