Bishop Anthony B. Taylor returned to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City May 15 to celebrate the 50th priestly anniversary of Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran.
Nearly 1,000 people gathered under a tent at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Camp for Mass.
Bishop Taylor, who served in Oklahoma City until 2008, gave a reflection during the Mass. “If I were to cite all of Archbishop Beltran’s efforts and accomplishments these last 50 years of priestly ministry, the list would be long indeed — but what is important is not the length of the list, but rather the faithfulness with which he has undertaken each of the tasks which God has entrusted to his care,” Bishop Taylor said.
With family and friends taking part, Archbishop Beltran celebrated Mass as fellow bishops, along with several seminary classmates, concelebrated. Dozens of priests from throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa took part in the Eucharistic celebration that opened with the reading of a letter of congratulations from Pope Benedict XVI.
Archbishop Beltran was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Atlanta on May 14, 1960, and named bishop of Tulsa in 1978. He was installed on Jan. 22, 1993, as archbishop of Oklahoma City.
Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, was the homilist at the evening prayer service May 17 at St. Joseph’s Old Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City before a priest dinner.
Archbishop’s anniversary
