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Welcome to the Catholic Community of LeFlore and Haskell Counties, Oklahoma |
The Catholic Community of LeFlore and
Haskell Counties is a large area in the eastern Oklahoma and keeps the priest
quite busy attending to the needs of the people. Our parish community consists
of three parishes and a Mission, that include Immaculate Conception in Poteau,
St. Joseph in Stigler, St. Elizabeth Seton in Spiro, and a Mission Chapel
in Heavener, The influence of the Catholic faith goes back over 100 hundred
years in this area of Oklahoma. Forty-Three priests have served our community
during these years.
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The first Catholic Church was established in Poteau around 1898 and was
a Chapel called St. Claire. The first permanent church was built in 1904
and the Chapel became the Rectory for the priests. This church was destroyed
by fire in December of 1945. It was rebuilt from a Chapel that was moved
from Camp Gruber to Immaculate Conception's present site and was dedicated
by Bishop McGuiness on November 11, 1948.
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Saint Elizabeth Seton, in Spiro, has a shorter history, but is just as
colorful. The original construction of the first church began in February 1976,
however, it was quickly leveled a month later by a tornado. It was quickly
rebuilt and dedicated in October of the same year. This building would serve the
Spiro community and surrounding areas until a new Church was built. This new Church
was dedicated January 14, 2001 by Bishop Slattery with Fathers Khiet Nguyen,
James White, Patrick Gaalaas, and Deacon Bill Anderson in attendance.
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St. Joseph in Stigler was established in 1959 in a rented room on the
second floor of a building and in the northeast corner of Broadway and
Main. Later that same year Gladys Behan donated a store, and the Church
was moved to its present location. Renovation was done again in 1974 and
the Church was blessed by Bishop Bernard Ganter on November 8, 1974. A
fire in an adjacent building caused considerable damage to the Church
in 1998, but it has since been repaired and restored and Mass still takes
place there.
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We also have a mission Chapel in Heavener that was established for the
Hispanics in that area. Bishop Slattery dedicated this Chapel on January
14, 2001. They celebrate Mass in Spanish once or twice a month.
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Copyright 2004 Immaculate Conception Parish, All Rights Reserved
Website design by cwg
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