Glory Be: Interesting People & How They Pray

Viviana Suarez and Deb Malcom are the Adult Faith Formation Director and Youth Minister, respectively, for the Church of Saint Benedict in  Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Born in Mexico and having served another local parish for years, Viviana brings a passion for spreading the faith to her role as the adult faith  formation director at the Church of Saint Benedict. Deb's love of youth ministry comes from her own experience as a very young parishioner  growing up at the church which now employs her.   

SHOW NOTES:

wordonfire.org/reflections

Ray Vandiver is the Executive Director at Discovery Lab, Tulsa’s  Children's museum.

Ray discovered his passion and talent for informal education while earning his Ph.D. in physics from Missouri University of Science and  Technology. While a graduate student, he joined a group of hands-on learning enthusiasts and helped create the Meramec Science and  Technology Learning Center. 

Ray has been a leader in informal education and exhibit design for over 25 years. He started his career in 1993 as the founding director of the Bootheel  Youth Museum (BYM) in Malden, Missouri—a National Medal winner awarded  by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Prior to moving to Tulsa, Ray served as a member of the senior leadership team at the  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).  

Ray is also an artist and a musician. He and Donna have been married for  33 years and have a son, Aaron, who lives in Michigan.

Ronald J. Tremblay has served as Vice President and Chief Mission Integration Officer for Ascension St. John for three years. Ron joined  healthcare nine years ago as a Chaplain after serving as a Pastoral Minister (JR & Sr Youth Ministry, DRE & Sacramental Prep,  chaplain for Marquette School and ECDC, marriage prep, Music Ministry for 5pm Sunday C.R.E.W.) at Christ the King for over 18 years. He holds a  Masters in Counseling from Oklahoma State University, and Masters in Divinity from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Chicago, Illinois.     Currently Ron oversees Mission Integration for the Oklahoma Ministry Market of Ascension  including Ethics, Associate Formation and Spiritual  Care. He also has responsibility for Ascension St. John’s Human Trafficking Response efforts, their DEI work known as ABIDE and the  Auxillury/Volunteer program. Originally from Minnesota, Ron is an Eagle Scout, and served as a reservist in the Minnesota Army National Guard  for ten years. He has been married to his wife, Susan, for 28 years.  They have two children.  Among other things he likes to read, bike, and  hike.    

SHOW NOTES:  

A Prayer of Unknowing By Thomas Merton  

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road  ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I  really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will  does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire  to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in  all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from  that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the  right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust  You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I  will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to  face my perils alone. Amen.  – Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, page 79.     

In the account of Matthew, Jesus’ mission fulfilled the prophecy of  Isaiah: “He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases” (Mt 8:17;  cf. Is 53:4). Jesus’ healing mission went further than caring only for  physical affliction. He touched people at the deepest level of their  existence; he sought their physical, mental, and spiritual healing (Jn 6:35, 11:25-27). He “came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10).  The mystery of Christ casts light on every facet of Catholic health  care:..." - Ethical and Religious Directives For Catholic Healthcare  Services 6th Edition USCCB

Deacon Kevin Sartorius is the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.

He holds a degree in Political Science from Oklahoma State University with a certificate in International Relations and has a Certificate in Catholic Social Teaching from Catholic University of America.

Deacon Kevin was ordained to the permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Tulsa in 2011.

Dcn. Kevin and his wife, Jennifer have seven children, the youngest being 7 years old. Their oldest daughter has recently made her first profession of vows in the Carmelite Order and aspires to spend her life in prayer for the world.

Dcn. Kevin’s family lives and home schools on 20 acres surrounded by other Catholic families who share the same goal for a simpler way of life.

Mr. Garrett Schilling is a Middle School Science teacher, a Cavalry Scout for the Oklahoma National Guard, and the newly hired Youth Minister at the Church of Saint Mary.

Garrett grew up in an Army family and at age 16 moved to Tulsa. He was baptized Catholic, raised Protestant, and rejoined the Catholic Church in February.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management, a Masters of Effective Teaching, and is working on his Masters in School Administration.

This summer Garrett will attend training with the Oklahoma National Guard, get married, and co-direct the Diocesan youth Summer camp. He will officially begin as the youth minister here at the Church of Saint Mary August 1.

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/

Fr. Stuart Crevcoure is the incoming pastor of the Church of Saint Mary  in Tulsa.

Father Stuart grew up in Green Bay Wisconsin with two siblings. He holds  a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Tulsa and a Master  of Arts in Theology, with highest honor, from Saint Vincent Seminary in  2000. In 2001 he received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Saint  Vincent Seminary, in affiliation with the Dominican House of Studies in  Washington, D.C., with highest honor, becoming the first student to  receive the degree since the program was instituted in 2000.

Ordained to the priesthood in 2001, he has served several parishes in  the diocese and is coming from St. Brigid Parish in Tahlequah to serve  as the new pastor at the Church of Saint Mary.  

SHOW NOTES: 

Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila  

"Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, 

All things are passing away: 

God never changes. 

Patience obtains all things 

Whoever has God lacks nothing; 

God alone suffices. 

Amen."

Father Josh Litwack is a priest in 2000 for the Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma.

In his twenty-two years as a priest he has served a  number of parishes and schools as an associate pastor, a chaplain, and a pastor.

This summer, Father Josh will become the pastor of St. Pius X Church and  School.

Father Josh shares how tee ball and a kind priest led him to consider the priesthood. He shares his conviction of God's call to the priesthood and to serve the people of St. Pius X.

Fr. Duy Nguyen is the full time chaplain at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

He grew up with his 6 siblings in Vietnam and immigrated to Tulsa when he was 16. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Catholic studies from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and Masters of Divinity and Masters of Theology from the Athenaeum of Ohio.

Fr. Duy was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tulsa in 2017. Fr. Duy served as the associate pastor at the Church of Saint Mary in Tulsa and works in the diocesan tribunal office.

He enjoys traveling, being with family and friends, and cooking.

Mrs. Susan Lang is the soon-to-be-retired 7th grade teacher at the School of Saint Mary.

She grew up in Tulsa and graduated from the University of Tulsa with a B.A in History and secondary education and an MA in humanities. Susan  attended the First Christian Church in Tulsa and became Catholic 12 years ago.

She has taught at Marquette, Monte Cassino, and Holy Family Catholic  schools before becoming a real estate agent for McGraw Realtor in 1992. After 15 years as a realtor, Susan returned to teaching at the School of Saint Mary and has been the 7th grade teacher for the past 13 years.

She and her husband Brint have two children and 4 grandchildren.

SHOW NOTES:

Susan's favorite type of prayer is imaginative prayer: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/ignatian-contemplation-imaginative-prayer/

Mr. David Dean is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma.

He grew up in Carthage, Missouri and at age ten moved moved to  Hutchinson, Kansas. David was raised Presbyterian and converted to the  Catholic Church when he was a senior in college.

He holds a BA in English and Education and a minor in Classics from the  University of Kansas and an MA in Classics, also from KU. David has been  a middle school, high school teacher, a professor at KU, and a principal/headmaster of different schools for the past 39 years.

He and his wife, Lorie, have four children and seven grandchildren.

SHOW NOTES:

The Soul of the Apostolate: https://tanbooks.com/products/books/spiritual-warfare/virtue-vice/the-soul-of-the-apostolate