Tulsa Church Will Mark 100 Years of Service

St. Monica Catholic Church will host a centennial banquet and celebratory Mass in Tulsa this October.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Catholicism

Tulsa Church Will Mark 100 Years of Service

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St. Monica Catholic Church in north Tulsa is set to commemorate its 100th anniversary with a weekend of events starting October 17, 2026. The parish will celebrate the milestone with a banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel followed by a High Mass.

Why it matters

The parish was originally founded to support Black Americans migrating from Louisiana to work in the regional oil and mining industries. Surviving the Great Depression and era-specific segregation, the institution remains a significant part of the north Tulsa community history.

The church marks 100 years of service since Father Rooney gathered 25 founding members in 1926. Organizers expect over 200 guests to attend the upcoming centennial festivities.

The players

Father Rooney

He served as the first pastor and organized the mission society that eventually became St. Monica Catholic Church.

Bishop Kelley

He led a delegation that helped the early parish establish both a church and a school for the local congregation.

Centennial Planning Committee

This group is responsible for organizing the anniversary events and compiling historical memorabilia for a souvenir journal.

The details

Early parish life centered on the Greenwood area where masses were held in various local buildings before the church established its permanent site. A delegation from Bishop Kelley assisted the initial mission society in formalizing the church and school structures during the 1920s.

February 28, 1926: Father Rooney met with 25 Catholics to form the mission society.
1920s: St. Monica Catholic Church was established in north Tulsa.
October 17, 2026: A centennial banquet will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
October 18, 2026: A centennial Mass will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Culture Shift

The founding of St. Monica reflects the broader societal impact of the Great Migration as families relocated to Oklahoma for oil field labor. This anniversary highlights the endurance of community institutions built during that era of intense demographic and economic change.

Residents and parishioners should be aware of expected event traffic near the Hyatt Regency Hotel on October 17. The upcoming mass at 8:30 a.m. on October 18 serves as the public conclusion of the centennial weekend programming.

The takeaway

The church centennial serves as a reminder of the historical resilience of congregations formed during the early 20th century. Residents interested in regional history may find the souvenir journal a useful resource for documenting north Tulsa heritage.