Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF OKC ARCHDIOCESE

NEWS RELEASE Feb. 8-07

Contact: Connie Blaney, APR, Public Information Office, 405-523-3000

Catholic Charities Invites You To Its Annual Recognition Celebration

Keynote Speaker- Rt. Lawrence Stasyszen

Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City Archdiocese will host its Annual Recognition Celebration on Monday, February 19 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon. Everyone is invited to attend, states Tim O'Connor, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City.

Right Reverend Lawrence Stasyszen, Chancellor and President of St. Gregory's University and Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee, will be the keynote speaker for the special event. Catholic Charities' Annual Recognition Celebration will begin with mass at 4 p.m. celebrated by Archbishop Eusebius Beltran. A reception and program will follow at 5:00 p.m. in the parish hall. The program features Abbot Lawrence's presentation, recognition and awards, and a brief annual meeting. St. John Nepomuk Parish, host of this year's event, is located at 600 S. Garth Brooks Blvd in Yukon.

"We look forward to Rt. Reverend Lawrence Stasyszen joining us for our Recognition Celebration and Annual Meeting. It is an opportune time to share with others the works of Catholic Charities this past year, and to express our appreciation to all those who support our mission. We hope anyone interested in learning more about Catholic Charities will join us for mass, Abbot Lawrence's presentation, and the awards ceremony," Tim O'Connor stated.

Abbot Lawrence stated, "I am grateful to be participating in the Catholic Charities Annual Recognition Celebration. The ministry of Catholic Charities is one of the outstanding works of the Church. Catholic Charities assists all of us in carrying out the great commandments of love of God and love of neighbor. It is a critical component of Catholic ecumenism."

Abbot Lawrence was elected as the 10th abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey on June 6, 2006. He had served in a variety of ways at St. Gregory's prior to his election. In the abbey, he had served in the position of Vocation Director for ten years and was a member of the monastery's Senior Council during that time. In the university, he had served as Vice President for Church Relations and Campus Ministries and was an instructor of theology prior to his appointment as president of St. Gregory's University in June of 2000. As Abbot he now assumes the role of Chancellor for the university.

In addition to his activities as in the monastery and university, Abbot Lawrence serves on the Board of Directors for the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, on the Commission for Justice and Human Development for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, and on the Board of Directors for Unity Health Center, a hospital in Shawnee, OK. He is a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and a member of the Shawnee Rotary Club.

Although reservations are not required for the recognition celebration, those interested in attending are invited to RSVP to Nancy Largent, Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City, 405-523-3000 or call the toll free number 1-800-375-8514.

Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City Archdiocese reaches out to 77 Catholic Churches and 45 missions in central and western Oklahoma. Catholic Charities offers direct services to people in need of all faiths, races, and socio-economic backgrounds in all communities across the Archdiocese. In addition to Oklahoma City's office, Catholic Charities has outreach offices in Enid, Clinton, and Lawton. In addition to direct services, Catholic Charities focuses on advocacy, support of parish ministries in the Archdiocese, and collaboration with faith-based and community organizations.