Here is a list of prayer vigils that will be held throughout the state on execution days (including Tulsa).

The following vigils are scheduled for the executions upcoming in our state. There has been a 30 day stay of execution for the one scheduled tonight.

Also, please keep the babies (and their families) who are scheduled for execution at the five abortion centers in our state in your prayers as well. While these thousands of executions are not making any headlines, and no political activists are showing up to speak on their behalf, they are innocent human lives who are being executed.

God's peace,
Susan

January 2, 2000

Peace & Greetings in Christ! Here is the information concerning the prayer vigils across the state to mark the executions scheduled in January and February. Unless otherwise stated, these vigils will beheld to mark EACH of the nine executions scheduled from Thursday, January 4, to Thursday, February 1. The executions will be held on the Tuesdays and Thursdays of the month at 9:00PM at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Altus: Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1500 Falcon Road. The bells of the church will ring from 6:00-6:15PM. A prayer service will be held in the church from 6:15- 6:45PM.

Edmond: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 900 South Littler. A prayer service will be held in the chapel from 7:00-9:30PM.

McAlester: Before the front gates of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. The vigil will begin at 7:30PM and will conclude when execution has taken place shortly after 9:00PM.

Muskogee: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 321 North Virginia. A prayer service will begin at 6:00PM. The church bells will be rung that evening to mark the executions.

Norman: St. Thomas More University Parish & Catholic Student Center, 100 East Stinson. A prayer vigil will begin at 7:30PM. Afterwards, a group will travel to take part in the vigil before the Governor's Mansion in Oklahoma City. (NOTE: On Tuesday, January 23, the vigil begin at 3:00PM. Afterwards, a group will leave to take part in the vigil in McAlester).

Oklahoma City: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, 3214 North Lake Avenue. On Tuesdays, the Holy Hour from 11:00AM-Noon held in All Saints Chapel in the Connor Center will be for the executions, with a focus on justice. On Thursdays, a prayer service will be held in the chapel beginning at 6:00PM.

Oklahoma City: St. Patrick Catholic Church, 2121 North Portland. A prayer service will begin at 12:15PM in the chapel. The services will be brief so that people can get back to work. Those who wish can join us for a simple lunch afterwards. The van will leave for McAlester at 5pm. Please call Anne Kirby at the Parish Office, 405-946-4441, to reserve a seat to McAlester.

Oklahoma City: A prayer vigil will begin at 8:30PM across from the Governor's Mansion.

Ponca City: A prayer vigil will sponsored by St. Mary Catholic Church will be held in downtown Ponca City (the corner of 5th and Grand) from 6:00-6:30PM. Tulsa: St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2434 East Admiral Blvd. A prayer vigil with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held from 7:00-9:00PM.

Tulsa: St. Francis Xavier Parish (1st and Atlanta) each Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 PM with Adoration and prayers for the inmate to be executed and their family and the victims and families. 

Other parishes which have hosted vigils in the past include: St. Francis Xavier in Enid and St. John University Parish & Catholic Student Center in Stillwater. Unfortunately, I was unable to confirm the time of their vigils.

Please note that prior to Pope John II's strong call for the end to capital punishment beginning at Christmas, 1998, there was only one vigil to mark the executions in Oklahoma. It was the one before the gate of the penitentiary in McAlester. Since then, the numbers of vigils has grown across the state.

Peace,

Fr. Bryan Brooks
Coordinator of Prison Ministry
Diocese of Tulsa
frbryan@juno.com

Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: "Cease your cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is hope for your future." Jeremiah 31: 15-17

This is a petition that one can sign so that death row inmates can receive their last rights. This is currently illegal.
http://www.petitiononline.com/deathrow/petition.html