About St. Joseph · Stigler, Oklahoma
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stigler, Oklahoma is a small Catholic mission serving the Catholic communities of Stigler and the surrounding area in Haskell County, in the rolling hills of eastern Oklahoma. It is one of three faith communities pastored by Father Sean O'Brien, alongside Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Spiro. The parish's stated mission is 'to save lives by the grace and truth of Jesus Christ and helping believers grow through faith, community formation, and social justice.' St. Joseph sits at 1204 NW 7th Street in Stigler, where it welcomes visitors, newcomers, and longtime parishioners to weekend Mass and the sacraments.
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Sean O'Brien
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tulsa
Why belong here
St. Joseph in Stigler is a warm, welcoming Catholic mission where newcomers and visitors are greeted with the love of Christ. The parish offers a full sacramental life — weekend Mass, confession before Mass, and preparation for baptism, first Communion, confirmation, and marriage — along with a remarkable range of ministries for a small community, including OCIA for those becoming Catholic, religious education, youth and children's ministries, choirs, altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers. As part of a three-church cluster served by Father Sean O'Brien, St. Joseph connects parishioners to a wider Catholic family across Haskell and LeFlore counties.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Mass
- Sundays at 4:30 PM or by appointment
About St. Joseph Catholic Mission
St. Joseph Catholic Church serves the Catholic communities of Stigler and the surrounding area in Haskell County, eastern Oklahoma. The parish welcomes newcomers, visitors, and longtime parishioners with the love of Christ and continues its mission of salvation by proclaiming the Good News for the freedom and salvation of souls. Its stated mission is 'to save lives by the grace and truth of Jesus Christ and helping believers grow through faith, community formation, and social justice.' As a mission within the Diocese of Tulsa, St. Joseph is administered jointly with Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Spiro.
- Mission statement: 'To save lives by the grace and truth of Jesus Christ and helping believers grow through faith, community formation, and social justice.'
- Part of the Diocese of Tulsa
- Clustered with Immaculate Conception (Poteau) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Spiro) under one pastor
Clergy and Staff
The mission is currently served by Father Sean O'Brien, ordained July 16, 2016, who also pastors Immaculate Conception in Poteau and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Spiro. Assisting at St. Joseph is Transitional Deacon Matthew McClain. Religious Education for the mission is coordinated by Sara Autry, as listed in the Diocese of Tulsa parish finder.
- Rev. Sean O'Brien — Pastor (ordained July 16, 2016). Phone: (918) 237-5537. Email: [email protected]
- Deacon Matthew McClain — Transitional Deacon. Phone: (918) 841-4023
- Sara Autry — Religious Education
Parish History
St. Joseph's history in Stigler is closely tied to Immaculate Conception Parish in Poteau. In 1972 Father James White received his first pastorate at Immaculate Conception, which covered 150 families across LeFlore and Haskell counties. During his time there, he renovated the church in Stigler, St. Joseph, and built the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church in Spiro. Father White later became the historian of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, authoring numerous books and articles on Oklahoma Catholic history. Today the mission continues under Father Sean O'Brien as part of the same Poteau-based cluster.
- Early 1970s — Church building in Stigler renovated under Father James White's pastorate at Immaculate Conception, Poteau
- 1970s — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Spiro built by Fr. White as a sister mission
- Current era — Served by Fr. Sean O'Brien alongside Immaculate Conception (Poteau) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Spiro)
Parish Registration and Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors can register with the parish online through the stiglercatholic.org website. The parish registration form invites people to indicate interest in a broad range of ministries, organizations, and sacraments. New parishioners can also request to be contacted about sacraments such as Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, or Confession, request home visits for Holy Communion, and sign up for weekly collection envelopes or secure online giving.
- New Parishioner Registration
- Current Parishioner Update
- Online giving and weekly collection envelopes available
- Request a visit from a priest or home Communion
Ministries and Organizations
For a small rural mission, St. Joseph supports an unusually broad range of lay ministries. The parish registration form lists nearly twenty opportunities for parishioners to get involved, covering liturgical service, formation, music, fellowship, and parish leadership.
- Parish Council
- Finance Committee
- Music Ministry
- Adult Choir and Children's Choir
- Lectors
- Eucharistic / Extraordinary Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
Faith Formation and Youth
St. Joseph offers faith formation for both children and adults, including sacramental preparation, Vacation Bible School, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those exploring becoming Catholic. Children's Ministry and Youth Ministry provide age-appropriate programming for younger parishioners.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation (Sara Autry)
- OCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Children's Ministry
- Youth Ministry
- Vacation Bible School
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
Prayer, Outreach, and Community Life
Beyond liturgical ministries, St. Joseph supports prayer, fellowship, and outreach through groups that meet spiritual, social, and pastoral needs — from a Prayer Chain for those in need to Bereavement Ministry supporting families after a loss, plus Women's and Men's Ministry gatherings.
- Prayer Chain
- Bereavement Ministry
- Women's Ministry
- Men's Ministry
- Event Volunteering
Contact and Location
St. Joseph Catholic Church is located at 1204 NW 7th Street in Stigler, Oklahoma 74462. The parish office can be reached by phone at (918) 647-3475, and general inquiries can be sent to [email protected]. The mailing address for the mission is PO Box 237, Poteau, OK 74953-0237, since the mission is administered with Immaculate Conception Parish in Poteau.
- Physical address: 1204 NW 7th Street, Stigler, OK 74462
- Mailing address: PO Box 237, Poteau, OK 74953-0237
- Phone: (918) 647-3475
- General email: [email protected]
- Pastor's email: [email protected]
- Pastor's direct line: (918) 237-5537
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James White1972–c.1977
Renovated the St. Joseph church building in Stigler during his first pastorate at Immaculate Conception in Poteau, which oversaw mission churches in LeFlore and Haskell counties.
- Rev. Sean O'BrienCurrent
Ordained July 16, 2016; currently pastor of the cluster serving Immaculate Conception (Poteau), St. Joseph (Stigler), and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Spiro).