About St. Teresa of Avila · Harrah, Oklahoma
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Harrah, Oklahoma, within the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The parish was founded by ten Polish families who came to the area during the Oklahoma Land Run of the early 1890s, and today it serves a multi-cultural community that worships at 1576 N Tim Holt Drive in Harrah. The parish shares pastoral and liturgical ministry with its mission, St. Vincent de Paul in McLoud. The present-day church building was completed in time for the first Mass on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1925, and the parish celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2025.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Avila
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Carson Krittenbrink
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Why belong here
St. Teresa of Avila is a welcoming, multi-cultural Catholic community rooted in the Polish pioneer heritage of the Harrah area and alive today with active ministries for every age and stage of life. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses, a full K-12 Religious Education program on Wednesday evenings, OCIA for adults preparing to become Catholic, a youth group for grades 6-12, and active lay organizations including the Catholic Daughters (Court Christ the King #1586), the Knights of Columbus, the Altar Society, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul with a parish food pantry. Visiting parishioners can experience a vibrant small-town parish where discipleship, sacramental life, and service to neighbors are lived out together.
Mass times at St. Teresa of Avila
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at St. Teresa of Avila
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, McLoud
- Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila
- First Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila
- Or by appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- First Fridays — Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by Adoration until 4:00 p.m. at St. Teresa's
Welcome & Mission
St. Teresa of Avila Parish describes itself as a Roman Catholic community in Harrah, Oklahoma that 'embraces our various cultures as we share the same goal of eternal life in Heaven.' The parish mission emphasizes living the Gospel by showing the love of Christ to all, passing on the Catholic faith through discipleship and the Sacraments, proclaiming the Good News with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and growing as one body in Christ.
Parish History
The parish was founded by ten Polish families who arrived in the Harrah area following the second Oklahoma Land Run of September 22, 1891, having migrated earlier from Marche, Arkansas. A circuit-riding priest served them in their homes; in 1897 John Beal donated land on which the first church was built. That church burned on March 13, 1923, and the present church was completed in time for the first Mass on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1925. The parish celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2025.
- 1891 — Ten Polish families stake claims after the second Oklahoma Land Run
- 1897 — John Beal donates land; first church built on site of present cemetery
- March 13, 1923 — Original church destroyed by fire
- December 24, 1925 — First Mass celebrated in the present church
- Late 1930s – mid 1960s — Parish school staffed by Carmelite Sisters of Villa Teresa
- July 5, 1956 — Ground broken for present-day parish hall and classrooms
- March 1983 — Educational building constructed debt-free under Fr. Gerard Nathe, O.S.B.
- September 2000 — Fr. Alan Loth becomes pastor
- December 3, 2008 — Fr. Loth dies while serving as pastor
- 2025 — Parish celebrates its 100-year anniversary
Clergy, Staff & Parish Contacts
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Fr. Carson Krittenbrink and assisted by Deacon Rev. Mr. Jim Black. A small staff of lay ministers and coordinators handles parish operations, faith formation, music, OCIA, the cemetery, the food pantry, and safe environment.
- Rev. Fr. Carson Krittenbrink — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Jim Black — Deacon
- Maria Baltazor — Office Manager / Safe Environment
- Kelly Trice — Director of Youth and Children's Evangelization
- Nancy Limon — OCIA Coordinator
- Noah Pierson — Music Coordinator
- George Visnieski — Cemetery Caretaker
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul contact line — (405) 343-2938
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education for grades Pre-K through 12 meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (September through May) and is coordinated by Kelly Trice. The curriculum uses the Sophia Institute 'Spirit of Truth' series, with second graders preparing for First Reconciliation and First Communion using the Dynamic Catholic 'Blessed' series.
- PreK–K: Spirit of Truth
- 1st Grade: Spirit of Truth — God is Love (intro to Mass, Confession, saints, prayer)
- 2nd Grade: First Reconciliation & First Communion prep — Dynamic Catholic 'Blessed' series
- 3rd Grade: Spirit of Truth — The Kingdom of God and the Church
- 4th Grade: Spirit of Truth — Jesus Teaches Us How to Live (Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, conscience)
- 5th Grade: Spirit of Truth — The Sacraments
- 6th Grade: Spirit of Truth — Sacred Scripture
- 7th Grade: Spirit of Truth — Living as a Disciple of Christ
- 8th Grade: Spirit of Truth — The Communion of the Faithful
- High School: ongoing faith formation led by James & Ashley McKay
- Contact: Kelly Trice, (405) 454-9440
OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — the process by which adults are welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church — meeting Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. from September through April. Inquiries are directed to Nancy Limon.
- OCIA meetings — Tuesday 7:00 p.m. (Sept–April)
- Coordinator: Nancy Limon — (405) 410-8009
Youth Ministry
St. Teresa's youth ministry serves middle and high school youth (grades 6–12), with regular gatherings in the parish Youth Center. The parish was seeking a part-time Youth Minister in 2025, and Kelly Trice serves as Director of Youth and Children's Evangelization.
- Youth Group for grades 6–12 — meets Sunday evenings in the Youth Center
- Director of Youth and Children's Evangelization — Kelly Trice, (405) 454-9440
- Off-site consent and waiver forms available on the parish website
Lay Organizations & Parish Groups
St. Teresa of Avila has a strong tradition of lay apostolates. The Catholic Daughters Court Christ the King #1586 was instituted at St. Teresa of Avila on October 28, 1951, and today has over 50 members. The parish also hosts active Councils of the Knights of Columbus and a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference with a parish food pantry.
- Catholic Daughters, Court Christ the King #1586 — meets 1st Sunday 6:00 p.m. (Aug–May); joined by Knights of Columbus dinner at 5 p.m.; childcare available
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st Sunday 11:30 a.m.
- Altar Society — meets 1st Sunday 1:00 p.m. (Sept–May)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — meets 1st & 3rd Monday 5:00 p.m. in the metal building east of the Family Center; contact (405) 343-2938
- Parish Food Pantry — open 1st and 3rd Mondays, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Catholic Daughters — Charity, Community & Service
Court Christ the King #1586 carries out the four pillars of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Charity, Community, Service, and Fellowship. Locally the court supports Birth Choice of Oklahoma through an annual yard sale held the last weekend in April, adopts a family through Catholic Charities each Christmas, and sponsors weekly coffee and donuts after the 10 a.m. Mass.
- Charity — supports Birth Choice of Oklahoma; Catholic bishops; programs opposing abortion and pornography; adopts a family through Catholic Charities at Christmas
- Community — maintains a food closet; prepares Thanksgiving baskets with the Knights and St. Vincent de Paul; sponsors an annual essay & poetry contest for area children; participates in Harrah Relay for Life and Harrah Day Parade
- Service — weekly coffee & donuts after the 10 a.m. Mass; annual breakfast for graduating seniors; reception for First Communicants; Christmas party for Religious Education; end-of-year picnic; refreshments after wakes
- Fellowship — praying the Rosary for deceased members, for priests, for religious vocations, and for an end to abortion
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony with required preparation periods; First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the second-grade Religious Education program; adults seeking initiation are welcomed through OCIA.
- Baptism — preparation required; call the parish office
- Matrimony — notify 6–8 months in advance; call the parish office to schedule
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — prepared in 2nd grade Religious Education
- OCIA — for adults preparing to enter or complete initiation in the Catholic Church
- Anointing of the Sick / Visitation — available by contacting the parish office
Devotions & Prayer Life
The parish nurtures a robust devotional life through First Friday Adoration, a parish Prayer Chain, weekly Rosary and Divine Mercy gatherings on Mondays, and a Traveling Vocations Icon program in which families take home an icon of Blessed Stanley Rother for a week to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.
- First Friday Adoration — begins with 8:30 a.m. Mass, continues until 4:00 p.m.
- Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet — Mondays (per bulletin)
- Parish Prayer Chain — for parish family concerns; contact the parish office
- Traveling Vocations Icon of Blessed Stanley — families sign up to host the icon for a week of prayer for vocations; sample prayers in English and Spanish provided
Music Ministry
Liturgical music is coordinated parish-wide by Music Coordinator Noah Pierson, supporting the sung Masses at both St. Teresa of Avila and St. Vincent de Paul in McLoud.
- Music Coordinator — Noah Pierson, (405) 454-2819
St. Vincent de Paul Mission & Outreach
St. Teresa of Avila shares pastoral care with its mission, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in McLoud (123 S 9th Street, McLoud, OK 74851). The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Teresa's runs a Food Pantry open the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month and meets for Vincentian formation the same evenings.
- St. Vincent de Paul Mission — 123 S 9th Street, McLoud, OK 74851
- Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Vincent's — 4:00 p.m.
- Thursday daily Mass at St. Vincent's — 8:30 a.m.
- Confession at St. Vincent's — Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
- Food Pantry — 1st & 3rd Mondays 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- SVdP meetings — 1st & 3rd Mondays 5:00 p.m. (metal building east of Family Center)
- SVdP contact line — (405) 343-2938
St. Teresa's Cemetery
St. Teresa's Cemetery is part of the historic heart of the parish, situated on the land originally donated by John Beal in 1897. The parish maintains the cemetery through its Cemetery Caretaker.
- Cemetery Caretaker — George Visnieski, (405) 434-3267
- Cemetery sits on the site of the parish's first church (built 1897, burned 1923)
Visit, Contact & Office Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 1576 N Tim Holt Drive (P.O. Box 418), Harrah, OK 73045. The office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the main phone line (405) 454-2819 is also answered for emergencies.
- Address — 1576 N Tim Holt Dr., Harrah, OK 73045 (P.O. Box 418)
- Phone — (405) 454-2819 (also the emergency line)
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — stteresaharrah.org
- Facebook — 'Harrah Mcloud Parish'
- Office Hours — Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Pastor email — [email protected]
- Archdiocese — www.archokc.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gerard Nathe, O.S.B.1983 (educational building constructed under his direction)
Oversaw the debt-free construction of an educational building in March 1983.
- Father James Murphy, O.S.B.late 1990s (before 2000)
Under his direction the parish continued to grow.
- Father Alan LothSeptember 2000 – December 3, 2008
Became pastor in September 2000; died December 3, 2008, while serving St. Teresa of Avila. Previously pastored parishes across Oklahoma including St. Joseph, Bison, and others.
- Father Carson Krittenbrinkcurrent pastor
Currently pastor as of 2025; Fr. Deva was in residence for daily Masses during a recent period while Fr. Carson was away.