1970

In June, a man spoke out at a Sunday Mass disagreeing with a letter from the bishop. That prompted the addition to the Sunday Bulletin of a section known as "Parish Forum" where anyone who wanted to could express an opinion, a criticism, or a question.

1971

John R. Quinn was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, replacing Bishop Reed who died suddenly of a heart attack. In one of his first messages Bishop Quinn said, "The 70s will be the harvest years when the ideas expressed at the Second Vatican council will bear solid and worthwhile fruit". The "harvest" that had begun in the latter part of the sixties continued. Many people began to accept the changes in the church and to become aware of the beneficial effects of those changes. Attention shifted from turmoil and unrest to growth and expansion.

1972

When Father Kastner came to Edmond, the old feed store was still on the church property. It had not been used since the annex was built and, since it had deteriorated, it was torn down except for the concrete slab it was built on. The rectory was also deteriorating badly; so, preliminary planning began for the construction of a new rectory.

The "One Gift" program of financial giving was initiated at St. John's. This program asked people to be generous in their regular giving so that special collections could be eliminated. Pledge cards were made available to all parishioners. This new method of giving increased the parish receipts from $34, 046 tp $43,798, an increase of almost $10,000. The 1973 pledge drive secured $65,000 worth of pledges, an increase of over $20,000. The financial security of the parish was becoming a reality.

1973

Bishop Quinn became the youngest archbishop in the U. S. when the Oklahoma City diocese became a metropolitan see which included the Tulsa and Little Rock diocese. This new ecclesiastical province included over 176,000 Catholics with more than 116,600 in Oklahoma.

In September, Father Kastner was sent to Oklahoma City to be pastor of St. Charles. His vacancy was not filled immediately. Father Louis Lamb came on Sundays during October to say Mass. In November, Father Lowell Stieferman was appointed as the new pastor.

Throughout the 70s, a high percentage of the Northerners and Easterners moving to Edmond were Catholic. They were different in some ways from the Catholics already here. Many of them came from Catholic cultures and they brought that culture with them. The Oklahoma Catholics had always been a minority and didn't know what it was like to live in a Catholic culture. At the same time, the Catholic church in Oklahoma was very progressive compared to that of many eastern and northern areas. Consequently, the old and the new parishioners learned from each other.

In 1973, an Archdiocesan Pastoral council was formed at the direction of Archbishop Quinn. This council developed a set of guidelines for Parish Councils and Parish Constitutions. The guidelines became directives when the archbishop approved them in 1974. That year St. John's constitution and operating code were revised to be in compliance with the directives. In 1975, the parish voted approval of the revised documents.

1974

Father Stieferman carried out the plans to build a new rectory on the north side of the church. The old house was used by the Edmond Youth Council as a place for Edmond teenagers to meet.

1975

A Saturday night Mass at 6:00 pm was added to the weekend schedule that included Masses at 8:00, 10:00, and 12:00 noon. The parish directory listed 518 families and the "One Gift" pledge drive netted $76,716.

1976

A youth group was formed for students in grades 9-12. They met every other Wednesday night from 7 to 9 pm to take part in social, educational, and sports activities.

1977

The church was renovated and the new sanctuary was dedicated on August 29th by Archbishop Quinn, Fathers Stieferman, Kastner, Swift, and Bryce. At this time, the parish had 625 families with 1940 people and an income of $110,358, plus $7,500 collected for the church redecoration project.

Charles Salatka was installed as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

1978

The 10 year plan projected a 7% increase in population each year and that by 1988 there would be 1225 families. The planning committee stated that by 1980, a decision would have to be made about whether to split the parish into two parishes or to build a new worship center and turn the old one into an educational facility. They recommended that a building fund be started. The 10 year plan was approved by the Parish Council.

1979

Father Stieferman was moved to St. Francis Xavier parish in Enid and the pastor, Father Marvin F. Leven, and the associate pastor, Father Nguyen Ngoc "Anthony" Bao, of the Enid parish were reassigned to Edmond. Father Leven was a native of Newkirk, Oklahoma, and a graduate of Oklahoma A & M college and the Assumption Seminary in San Antonio. He was ordained in 1959 and had served in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Altus, and Enid before coming to St. John's. Father Bao was a Vietnamese refugee following the fall of Saigon in 1975. He became St. John's first full time, in-residence associate pastor.

Father Leven and Father Bao had helped settle 10 Vietnamese families in Enid who were boat people forced out of their homeland after the Vietnam War. At St. John's, the two priests continued their efforts on behalf of the Vietnamese, relocating 8 families to the Edmond area.

1980

The most recent parish census showed almost 900 families in the parish. Receipts for the fiscal year ended May 31st were in excess of $184,000. Because of increased receipts, it was possible to pay off the balance of the parish debt. A letter was sent to Archbishop Salatka requesting permission to expand the parish facilities. He approved the building of a larger worship center and directed the parish to remodel the rectory to accommodate seven offices and new living quarters for the priests. A Building Committee surveyed the needs, desires, and hopes of the parishioners. The Finance Committee had a building fund drive and obtained $700,000 in donations or pledges.

The rectory underwent extensive renovation. Much of the construction and finishing materials were donated by parishioners. They helped with planning, building, painting, finishing, papering, wiring, and glazing.

The Altar Society was reactivated with 70 dues-paying members and many others who participated with their work. Their first annual bazaar raised $3,000.

Father Bao was transferred to Oklahoma City and Father Rick Parker became the associate pastor at St. John's.

1981

After a 16 month stay, Father Parker was replaced as associate pastor by Father Larry Kowalski.

The large number of students in the R.E. program made it necessary to have classes 5 days a week.

On January 11th, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the new worship center. Construction began on April 2nd with a budget of $1,351,628.26.

In August, a 66 passenger bus was purchased for youth trips and for use by other parish groups.

1982

Weekly income averaged $5,000 in regular collections and $1,500 for the building fund. The Samaritan Fund was established to help people with needs and the St. Vincent de Paul Society was organized to bring social justice and the friendship of true charity to all those in need. Hunger meals, soup suppers, and bean suppers were held during Lent at the Parish Hall.

Father Kowalski left in June. He was replaced by Father Alex John.

On August 29th, Archbishop Salatka dedicated the 825 seat worship center "to the glory of God and to the service of His people." There was a great deal of symbolism in the design of the new church. Represented are Indians, sod busters, cities that developed, and prairie grass the original church was built on. The cross tower was named after and dedicated to Father Stanley Rother, a martyr killed at the Oklahoma mission house in Solola, Guatemala.

Sister Rose Huelsman, IHM, and Sister Betty Leon, IHM, joined the staff as pastoral assistants. Sister Judy Morawa, IHM, became a part-time staff member working in the area of Young Adults and Campus Ministry. Sister Gail Addis resigned, but Sister Ann Bracken continued as Director of Religious Education.

1983

In June, Father Joe Ross was assigned as a part-time associate at St. John's. Father Ross was the Vicar of Ministries for the Archdiocese. Although he lived in the rectory in Edmond and assisted with the liturgies, his primary job responsibility was at the Archdiocesan office. He continued at St. John's until 1986.

In the fall, the parish began using the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) as the principal way of welcoming new Catholics into the community.

1984

Roger Lestina was hired as Parish Business Manager. One of his first tasks was to set up a 12 month planning calendar including future events, immediate events, and evaluation dates for activities, programs, and staff. A computer and new telephone system were installed. A playground for children was built between the annex and the old church.

In August, St. John's began a Total Youth Ministry (TYM) program under the direction of Youth Director Sharon Shofner.

The Parish Council, now expanded to eleven members, decided to build a new Parish Center which would include thirteen classrooms for R.E., a youth room, a nursery, several meeting rooms, a library, a conference room, and nine staff offices.

1985

Father Mike Wheelahan was appointed associate pastor of St. John's parish. He remained at St. John's for three years..

1988

In June, Father Price Grimes succeeded Father Wheelahan as associate pastor of St. John's.

1989

In July, Father John A. Petuskey replaced Father Leven as pastor of St. John's. At the same time, Father Grimes was succeeded by Father Joseph Lien as associate pastor. Fr. Petuskey came to St. John's from St. Charles where he had been pastor.

Father Petuskey was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on December 9, 1938. He was raised in Linden, Elizabeth, and Roselle, New Jersey and graduated from Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, New Jersey in 1956. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Indiana. He also attended St. Charles Seminary, Carthagena, Ohio; Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri; and the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio where he earned a M.A. in Theology. He has also pursued post graduate studies in Education at Oklahoma City University. He was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on March 26, 1966 in Our Lady's Cathedral, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by Bishop Victor J. Reed.

Deacons Phil Christian and Conrad Reisinger were assigned to St. John's, bringing the number of Deacons to three. Archbishop Salatka approved the construction of the Mary Snider Jubilee Pavilion.