About St. John the Evangelist · Mcalester, Oklahoma
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in McAlester, Oklahoma, belonging to the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma. The parish traces its Catholic roots in the area back to 1541 and was formally established with the laying of its cornerstone in 1895. Today it is led by Very Rev. Jovita Okonkwo (Fr. Jo), who also serves as Vicar Forane of the Southern Vicariate, and offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for all ages, and outreach through Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jovita Okonkwo (Fr. Jo)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma
Why belong here
St. John's is a bilingual parish that takes seriously its mission to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ and serve people regardless of background. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic sacramental life — daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick — alongside family-based faith formation for children, OCIA for adults, lively parish-life events like the Rosary Congress, parish potlucks, Ladies Guild fellowship, and Bingo Night fundraisers. Members support Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, which operates a food pantry, clothing closet and limited financial assistance right here in McAlester.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm (some sources list 4:00 pm – 4:55 pm)
- Sunday 9:30 am – 9:55 am
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Every Friday at 6:00 pm (after the 5:30 pm Mass)
- Every first Saturday vigil and the Sunday following Mass
Our History
St. John's history is older than its cornerstone. The parish recounts that Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto passed through what is now McAlester in September 1541 with twelve priests. Missionaries from the Osage Mission in southeast Kansas followed after 1847, and Jesuit Fr. Paul Ponziglione came to McAlester, Indian Territory, on May 11, 1882, to help tornado victims. In October 1885, Fr. Isidore Robot, O.S.B., built the first Catholic place of worship in North McAlester; in 1886 he founded a church and school in Krebs and a church in Savanna. Fr. Bernard Murphy, O.S.B., arrived in 1889, acquired four lots in block 321, and built the original grey-stone church whose cornerstone was laid May 23, 1895. The present building, erected through the philanthropy of James B. Cambron and parishioners during Monsignor John J. Higgins's pastorate, hosted its first Mass at Christmas 1948. The 1895 cornerstone was saved when the original church was torn down and now sits along the sidewalk in front of the Parish Hall.
- 1541 — DeSoto expedition with twelve priests passes through the area
- 1882 — Fr. Paul Ponziglione, S.J., ministers after a tornado
- 1885 — Fr. Isidore Robot, O.S.B., builds the first Catholic worship site in North McAlester
- 1886 — Church and school established in Krebs; church in Savanna
- 1889 — Fr. Bernard Murphy, O.S.B., arrives
- May 23, 1895 — Original cornerstone laid; church built of grey stone quarried on site
- 1948 — Present church built under Monsignor John J. Higgins with philanthropy of James B. Cambron; first Mass at Christmas
- Original 1895 cornerstone preserved along sidewalk in front of Parish Hall
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Jovita Okonkwo — known as 'Fr. Jo' or 'Jovis' — who serves as Pastor and as Vicar Forane of the Southern Vicariate of the Diocese of Tulsa. A native of Uli, Nigeria, and the sixth of eight children of Martin and Priscilla Okonkwo, Fr. Jo says he felt called to the priesthood at age four, so much so that his family began calling him 'Fr. Jo' from childhood. He is supported by a lay staff handling religious education, adult faith formation, Hispanic ministry, communications, parish secretarial work, and building care.
- Very Rev. Jovita Okonkwo — Pastor & Vicar Forane
- Kelly Drusen — Director of Adult Faith Formation / OCIA
- Pam Pulchny — Director of Religious Education
- Jacqueline Gaytan — Coordinator, Hispanic Apostolate
- Debbie Osborne — Secretary & Office Manager
- John Wolf — Director of Communications
- Walter Descher — Custodian
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of Anointing is offered during Mass for the Sick on the first Tuesday of each month. The rectory (918-429-0096) can be contacted when the sacrament is needed for the sick or dying.
- Anointing during Mass — 1st Tuesday of the month
- On-call for emergencies — Rectory: (918) 429-0096
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is at the heart of parish life at St. John's. The parish runs a Wednesday-evening Religious Education program for children from first grade through high school, an OCIA process for adults, and a Thursday-evening Faith Enrichment series led by Fr. Jo. A Family Faith Formation track uses materials from the Church of St. Paul in Minnesota (Family Formation) to help parents and children grow together as a 'Domestic Church.' Bishop Konderla's pastoral letter God Builds A House is cited as inspiration for whole-family catechesis.
- Religious Education — Wednesdays 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, grades 1 through high school
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Wednesdays 7:00 pm in the Parish School, fall through Easter
- Faith Enrichment with Fr. Jo — Thursdays 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm in the parish hall
- Family Faith Formation using Family Formation curriculum
OCIA & Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's path for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, for Christians from other traditions entering full communion, and for Catholics seeking First Communion or Confirmation. The parish emphasizes a welcoming, discerning environment in which inquirers and the whole community experience renewal together. Classes run from fall through Easter, concurrent with the youth Religious Education program so the whole family can learn side by side.
- For unbaptized adults seeking Baptism
- For baptized Christians from other traditions entering the Catholic Church
- For Catholics needing First Communion and/or Confirmation
- Director: Kelly Drusen — call (918) 423-0810 for information
Sacraments
St. John's prepares parishioners for the seven sacraments and welcomes inquiries about each. The parish office is the front door for baptism, marriage, First Communion, confirmation (in 10th or 11th grade in the Diocese of Tulsa), Anointing of the Sick, and OCIA. Confession has regular weekly slots and is available by appointment.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Confirmation — prepared in 10th or 11th grade
- Eucharist / First Communion — preparation through Religious Education
- Reconciliation — see regular schedule above
- Anointing of the Sick — 1st Tuesdays and on call
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Holy Orders — supported through diocesan vocations work
Parish Life & Fellowship
St. John's emphasizes community and belonging through regular social events and lay organizations. The Parish Life Committee plans and runs events such as potlucks, the Rosary Congress, and Bingo Night fundraisers that support parish programming and outreach. The St. John's Ladies Guild offers fellowship and service to the parish and broader McAlester community, providing receptions for funerals and parish gatherings.
- Parish Life Committee — meets 3rd Thursday at 6:00 pm in the parish hall
- St. John's Ladies Guild — bi-monthly, 2nd Monday, 6:30 pm in the parish hall
- Parish Potluck
- Rosary Congress — June 13, 2026, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Bingo Night Fundraiser
Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma — McAlester (St. Jude Helping Center)
Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma maintains a McAlester location (St. Jude Helping Center) at 503 S. 2nd Street, providing a food pantry, clothing closet, referral services, informal counseling/prayer, and limited financial assistance for rent, utilities and prescriptions. Bishop Konderla blessed the newly remodeled, expanded warehouse on February 28, 2025. The center welcomes volunteers and is seeking a part-time truck driver.
- Food pantry
- Clothing closet
- Referral services
- Informal counseling / prayer
- Limited financial assistance (rent, utilities, prescriptions)
- Hours: Wednesday–Friday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Phone: (918) 423-7707
Hispanic Apostolate
The parish maintains an active Hispanic Apostolate, coordinated by Jacqueline Gaytan. Spanish-speaking parishioners are served by a weekly Misa en Español at 12:00 pm on Sundays and a 10:00 am bilingual Mass on the first Sunday of each month.
- Spanish Mass — Sundays 12:00 pm
- First Sunday bilingual Mass — 10:00 am
- Coordinator: Jacqueline Gaytan — [email protected]
Faith & Works Annual Appeal
Each year the parish participates in the Diocese of Tulsa's Faith & Works Annual Appeal. The 2025 parish fundraising goal is $29,000. Gifts support ministries across the diocese including family catechesis, Totus Tuus, Catholic Young Adults, Marriage & Life Ministries, Natural Family Planning, Tribal Ministry, Prison Ministry, Vocations (with 16 seminarians supported), Virtus training, and the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine.
- Parish goal (2025): $29,000
- Donate online at dioceseoftulsa.org/annualappeal — select 'St. John Parish (McAlester)'
- Supports Family Catechesis, Totus Tuus, Catholic Young Adults, Vocations, Prison Ministry, and more
Visit, Register & Contact
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. Registration forms are available under the Resources tab on the parish website, or by calling the parish office. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. For sacramental emergencies (such as Anointing of the Sick for the dying), the rectory line is 918-429-0096.
- Parish Office — (918) 423-0810
- Parish Hall — (918) 423-2422
- Rectory (emergencies) — (918) 429-0096
- General email — [email protected]
- Office hours — Tuesday–Friday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
- New parishioner registration via the website or office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Ponziglione, S.J.1882
Came to McAlester, IT, to minister to victims of a tornado
- Fr. Isidore Robot, O.S.B.1885-1886
Built the first Catholic place of worship in North McAlester; founded church/school in Krebs and church in Savanna
- Fr. Germanus Guillaume1887
- Fr. Bernard Murphy, O.S.B.1889-
Acquired lots for the parish; oversaw construction of original grey-stone church; cornerstone laid May 23, 1895
- Monsignor John J. Higgins
Pastor during whose tenure the present church was built through the philanthropy of James B. Cambron and parishioners; first Mass at Christmas 1948
- Very Rev. Jovita Okonkwopresent
Current pastor and Vicar Forane of the Southern Vicariate