About Uganda Martyrs · Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Uganda Martyrs Parish is a historic Catholic mission church located at 808 E. 3rd Street in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, part of the Diocese of Tulsa. Founded in the mid-1920s by the Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Ghost) — Frs. Robert Wall, Tim Murphy, and Jim Maguire — it was established in the wake of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre to serve the African American Catholic community of Okmulgee. Today it shares pastoral staff with neighboring St. Anthony of Padua Church under the umbrella 'Catholic Community of Okmulgee,' offering Sunday Mass, weekday Mass on Thursdays, and Sunday-morning Reconciliation. The parish celebrated its centennial in June 2025, marked by community events including a 'Soul'icious Ham and Bean Dinner' fundraiser.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- Uganda Martyrs (the 22 Catholic martyrs of Uganda, canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964)
- Rector
- Rev. Kenneth J. Harder, JCL
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tulsa
Why belong here
Uganda Martyrs is a small but deeply rooted Black Catholic mission parish with a century-long heritage in Okmulgee. It offers a faithful Sunday Mass at 8:30 am, Thursday morning Mass at 7:30 am, Sunday-morning Reconciliation, sacramental care by appointment, religious education, and an active Black Catholic Movement ministry that connects parishioners to Black Catholic organizations, saints, and outreach. The parish is warmly integrated into the wider Catholic Community of Okmulgee alongside St. Anthony of Padua, and welcomes anyone seeking a prayerful, historic community of faith.
Mass times at Uganda Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 am - 8:20 am, or by appointment (per Diocese of Tulsa parish finder)
- Sunday 7:45 am (per parish website listing)
Parish History and Heritage
Uganda Martyrs was founded in the mid-1920s by Spiritan missionaries who came to eastern Oklahoma after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The parish was one of several Black Catholic missions established by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost to serve African American Catholics who had been excluded from mainline white parishes. The parish marked its centennial in June 2025 with community celebrations including a 'Soul'icious Ham and Bean Dinner' fundraiser at the parish Activity Center.
- Founded mid-1920s by Spiritans Frs. Robert Wall, Tim Murphy, and Jim Maguire, CSSp
- Established in the wake of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre to serve Okmulgee's African American Catholics
- 100th anniversary celebrated June 2025
- Centennial book: 'Uganda Martyrs Parish: One Hundred Years in Oklahoma' by Henry L. Harder
- Sisters of the Holy Ghost (San Antonio) taught in the early parish school
Patron: The Uganda Martyrs
The parish takes its name from the 22 Catholic Martyrs of Uganda — converts killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887 for their Christian faith. They were beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI on 18 October 1964. Their feast day, June 3, commemorates Charles Lwanga and twelve companions who died on 3 June 1886.
- 22 Catholic martyrs of the kingdom of Buganda
- Led by Charles Lwanga, with notable companions Kizito, Andrew Kaggwa, and Mathias Mulumba
- Beatified 1920 (Pope Benedict XV); canonized 1964 (Pope Paul VI)
- Feast day: June 3 (Charles Lwanga and 12 companions)
Our Leadership
Uganda Martyrs is pastored jointly with St. Anthony of Padua by Rev. Kenneth J. Harder, JCL, who has served since July 2022. Fr. Harder is also the Adjutant Judicial Vicar in the Diocesan Tribunal. The Diocese of Tulsa is led by Bishop David A. Konderla, the fourth Bishop of Tulsa, ordained and installed June 29, 2016.
- Pastor: Rev. Kenneth J. Harder, JCL (since July 2022)
- Fr. Harder ordained May 24, 1996 by Bishop Edward Slattery
- Office Manager: Theresa Thomason
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Sarah Alexander
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. David A. Konderla (4th Bishop of Tulsa)
Black Catholic Movement
Uganda Martyrs hosts a robust Black Catholic Movement ministry on its website, connecting parishioners to national and local Black Catholic organizations and resources. The program aims to foster engagement with Black Catholic heritage, history, saints, and outreach.
- Directory and information about other Black Churches
- Black Catholic Ministry organization
- Black Catholic Congress
- History Telling
- Black Saints Movement
- Black Catholic Outreach
- Religious Leaders Listing
- Cultural Recipes
Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program, headed by Coordinator of Religious Education Sarah Alexander. The program is shared across the Catholic Community of Okmulgee.
- Coordinator: Sarah Alexander
- Phone: (918) 756-4385
- Parish bulletins and weekly schedules posted at umccokm.org
Sacraments
Uganda Martyrs offers the regular celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All other sacraments — including Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Confirmation, and First Communion — are arranged by appointment through the parish office.
- Eucharist: Sunday 8:30 am, Thursday 7:30 am, 1st Saturday 9:00 am, Holy Days 7:30 am
- Reconciliation: Sunday 8:00 am - 8:20 am or by appointment
- All other sacraments by appointment (call 918-756-4385)
The Catholic Community of Okmulgee
Uganda Martyrs is part of a two-parish Catholic community in Okmulgee that also includes St. Anthony of Padua Church (515 South Morton Ave.). The two parishes share clergy, office staff, and a joint website, presenting one Catholic face to Okmulgee while preserving each parish's distinct identity and traditions.
- Uganda Martyrs Church: 808 E. 3rd St., Okmulgee, OK 74447
- St. Anthony of Padua Church: 515 South Morton Ave., Okmulgee, OK 74447
- Mailing: PO Box 698, Okmulgee, OK 74447
- Shared phone: 918-756-4385
- Joint web presence: saum.weconnect.com and umccokm.org
Visit, Contact, and Office Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 918-756-4385. The shared parish office is located at 515 South Morton Ave., Okmulgee (the St. Anthony campus), with office hours Tuesday through Friday and a daily lunch closure from noon to 1:00 pm.
- Phone: (918) 756-4385
- Mailing: PO Box 698, Okmulgee, OK 74447-0698
- Uganda Martyrs Church address: 808 E. 3rd St., Okmulgee, OK 74447
- Office hours: Closed Monday; Tue 10am-4pm; Wed-Fri 9am-4pm; lunch closure noon-1pm daily
Diocese of Tulsa
Uganda Martyrs Parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa in eastern Oklahoma. The diocese is led by Most Rev. David A. Konderla, the fourth Bishop of Tulsa, who was ordained and installed on June 29, 2016.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
- Bishop: Most Rev. David A. Konderla (appointed May 13, 2016; installed June 29, 2016)
- Parish listed in official Diocese of Tulsa parish finder
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Frs. Robert Wall, Tim Murphy, and Jim Maguire, CSSp1920s
Founding Spiritan (Holy Ghost) missionaries who established the parish after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.