State Senate congratulates Catholic Church on centennial

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Senate is honoring the centennial of the Catholic Diocese of Oklahoma.<br/><br/>A resolution approved by the state Senate acknowledges the 100th anniversary of the church

Thursday, September 1st 2005, 5:38 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Senate is honoring the centennial of the Catholic Diocese of Oklahoma.

A resolution approved by the state Senate acknowledges the 100th anniversary of the church in Oklahoma. The resolution was accepted by Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran of Oklahoma City.

The diocese was formed on August 17th, 1905. It was later divided into the Diocese of Tulsa and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

Senator Mike Johnson of Kingfisher says the church has played an important role in the development of the state. The first missionaries actually arrived in Indian Territory more than a quarter century before statehood.

Today, more than 200,000 Catholics in Oklahoma celebrate services in more than 200 churches and schools.