1990

Father Edward Menasco, ordained on June 2nd and at Our Lady's Cathedral, joined St. John's in July as associate pastor. Father Menasco replaced Father Lien.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton school, with Ellie Seward as principal and 4 classroom teachers, opened in the fall with 85 students in grades Kindergarten through the 3rd. It was planned to add additional grades annually.

In September, Frank Dunlap succeeded Roger Lestina as Parish Business Manager.

1991

In February, Father John T. Zagar joined St. John's as associate pastor and remained until July. His assignment at St. John's was very short, but memorable.

In July, Father Joseph A. Jacobi was assigned as associate pastor of St. John's.

In August, Deacon Dick Coker left St. John's due to a reassignment. 

1992

In May, Bill Coyle was ordained a permanent deacon and assigned to St. John's.

In July, Father Menasco was reassigned and Father Carl W. Janocha came to St. John's as associate pastor. Father Janocha's tenure at St. John's was also short.

In the fall of this year, a Fund Drive began, seeking pledges for the building of a Parish Activity Center. The Activity Center would house a gymnasium, commons (meeting/party center), kitchen, nurseries, Youth Center, and Parish Offices.

 

Archbishop Eusebius Beltran

1993

Upon the retirement of Archbishop Salatka, the Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran, Bishop of the Tulsa Diocese, was installed as Archbishop of Oklahoma City on January 22nd.

In March, Deacon Phil Christian left St. John's for another assignment.

Father Janocha left St. John's in May to become the pastor of St. Rose of Lima church in Watonga, Ok.

In September, Father Thomas O'Toole joined St. John's as associate pastor.

Because of the rapid growth in the Edmond area, a second parish, St. Monica's, was developed with the first Mass being said on September 4th. Approximately 200 families from St. John's made up the original congregation of St. Monica's. The congregation of St. John's continued to escalate after the loss of the 200 families to St. Monica's.

1994

In May, William (Bill) Bawden was ordained permanent deacon and assigned to St. John the Baptist Parish.

In June, Father Kevin J. Ratterman, newly ordained, was assigned as associate pastor of St. John's. Father Ratterman replaced Father Jacobi who was named associate pastor of St. Peter's in Guymon, Ok. Also in June, Father Showry Ponnapati, on temporary assignment from India replaced Father O'Toole as associate pastor of St. John's. Father O'Toole was made pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sterling, Ok.

Dedication of the Commons area and the Gymnasium in the new Parish Activity Center took place on June 26th.

1996

The dedication of the Kyle McMaster Memorial Library, the school library, took place on September 8th. On the same date, the Memorial Wall (large plaque with tree and leaves) in the foyer of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Commons was dedicated.

In December, John Stottman became interim Parish Business Manager, succeeding Frank Dunlap.

1997

In April, Deacon Bill Coyle was appointed Parish Business Manager by Father Petuskey.

In May, Father Ponnapati, or Father Showry as referred to by everyone, returned to India after his three year agreed upon tenure was fulfilled.

1998

In May, a new marble altar with matching lectern was installed. The rededication of the church with the new altar took place on June 3rd with Archbishop Beltran officiating.

Father Louis Vander Ley, OSB, joined St. John's in September as associate pastor. Father Vander Ley had previously been serving in California.

1999

In June, Father Joseph H. Arledge was assigned to St. John's as associate pastor, replacing Father Kevin Ratterman who was named pastor of Sacred Heart church in Mangum, Ok., with a mission in Hobart, Ok.. Father Arledge had previously served as associate pastor at St. Peter's in Woodward, Ok.

In the fall of this year, student enrollment at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton school rose to 480 students. There are now 19 classrooms and music, art, physical education, Spanish, library science, and computers have been added to the curriculum.

In November, Lee Hunt was ordained permanent deacon and assigned to St. John the Baptist Parish.

2000

In June, Father Arledge left St. John's to take over the role of pastor of St. Francis Xavier church in Sulphur, Ok. with missions in Madill and Tishomingo, Ok. In July, Father Stephen V. Hamilton was assigned as associate pastor of St. John's. Fr. Hamilton, a native of Oklahoma City, finished his pre-theology studies at St. Meinrad's Seminary in 1995. He was then sent by Archbishop Beltran to study theology in Rome where he spent the next four years prior to ordination. Fr. Hamilton was ordained in 1999 and then returned to Rome for a final year of study, before coming to St. John's. 

 

Fr. John Metzinger

2002

In June, Father John R. Metzinger was appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish by Archbishop Beltran. Father John, as he likes to be referred to, was previously pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Norman, Ok. He was born on September 16, 1956, in Coffeyville, Kansas, the first child of Robert and Mary Jane Metzinger. He has four brothers and one sister. Father John's early years were spent in Lawrence and El Dorado, Kansas. He attended grade school at St. Patrick's and St. Mary's in Parsons, Kansas and at St. Mary's in Joplin, Missouri. He graduated from McAuley Regional High School in Joplin in 1974. 

Upon graduation from High School, Father John entered the seminary, attending the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio and St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City on May 29, 1982 by Archbishop Charles Salatka. His first assignment was as associate pastor of Christ the King Parish in Oklahoma City. In December, 1983, he was transferred to St. Thomas More University Parish in Norman, and appointed associate director of the Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese. He served in the Youth Office for just a few years, but remained at St. Thomas More until June of 1989 when he was named pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Altus, with the mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Hollis, Ok. After serving at Prince of Peace Parish for two years, Archbishop Salatka requested that he return to Norman and begin a new Parish.

On July 14, 1991, the fledgling parish celebrated its first Mass and was quickly named St. Mark the Evangelist. Father John was privileged to serve there for eleven years, watching the parish grow from 250 to 1050 families. During his years at St. Mark's, he also served as Vocation Director from 1994 to 1998. Father John is now delighted to have been appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish and is looking forward to many years of association with, and guiding counsel for, all members of the parish.

Father John A. Petuskey, replaced by Father John R. Metzinger, had been pastor of St. John's since July, 1989. In June, Fr. Petuskey was named pastor emeritus and continues to reside in the rectory of St. John the Baptist Parish.

Also in June, Father Francis Tuan Nguyen, newly ordained was assigned to St. John's as associate pastor, replacing Father Stephen V. Hamilton who was reassigned to St. Mary's Parish in Ponca City, Ok. The 35 year old Father Francis, as he prefers to be called, was born in Saigon, Vietnam. At the age of 16, he made his way to a refugee camp and, at 17, he was sponsored by Catholic Charities to come to America. A family in Scottsdale, Arizona took him into their home. He earned an associate degree in computer applications, worked in the business world, and then decided to become a priest.

In November, John Morris was ordained permanent deacon and assigned to St. John's replacing Deacon Lee Hunt who was reassigned to St. Monica's Parish in Edmond, Ok.  

2003

On November 8, pastor emeritus Father John Petuskey passed away peacefully in his room in the rectory of St. John the Baptist. 

2004

In June, newly ordained Father Rex Arnold was assigned to St. John the Baptist Parish as an associate pastor replacing Father Francis Tuan Nguyen who was reassigned to Christ the King Parish in Nichols Hills, OK as associate pastor.

2005

Construction began to greatly increase the size of St. John the Baptist church, enlarging the sanctuary seating and gathering areas. Completion is scheduled for Easter, 2006.

 

Fr. Dan Letourneau

2006

Construction began on the expansion of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School to provide additional classroom space and a gym. 

In June, newly ordained Father Daniel Letourneau was assigned to St. John the Baptist Parish as an associate pastor replacing Father Rex Arnold who was reassigned as pastor.