Saint Francis Xavier Sallisaw

06/04/2026

With faith and love, we announce that Julio Yracheta’s Memorial Mass will be celebrated this Friday, June 5th, at 1:00 pm at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sallisaw.
May Christ welcome him into eternal peace, and may Our Lord comfort all who mourn his passing.

05/31/2026

Our beloved parishioner, Julio Yracheta, entered into eternal rest today while at the lake, surrounded by the warm company of several of our parish family. Many of us had the blessing of visiting with him just hours earlier at Mass. Please keep Julio, his family, and all who loved him in your prayers.

Julio loved lake life, and just recently shared this photo of him from a happier day.

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

Celebrating Father Jeff Polasek’s 35th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination!
This Sunday, May 31st, we joyfully celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Father Jeffrey Spur Polasek’s Ordination to the Priesthood! For thirty-five years, Father Jeff has given his life in service to Christ and His Church, preaching the Gospel, offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, hearing confessions, anointing the sick, baptizing new Christians, blessing marriages, burying the dead, teaching the faith, and walking with God’s people through the joys and sorrows of life!
The priesthood is one of the great treasures of the Catholic Church. From the Apostles to today, Christ has continued to call men to leave behind ordinary ambitions and give themselves completely to the service of God and His people. A priest’s life is not simply a job, a career, or a public role. It is a vocation: a sacred calling to stand at the altar, to act in the person of Christ, and to help lead souls toward heaven.
A priest’s life is demanding. It requires sacrifice, patience, prayer, obedience, humility, courage, and love. Priests are called into hospital rooms, confessionals, classrooms, parish halls, family crises, quiet conversations, and sacred celebrations. They are asked to be present when life begins, when faith is tested, when sins are forgiven, when vows are made, and when earthly life comes to an end.
When we see a faithful priest, we should be grateful. We should also be inspired. Father Jeff’s vocation reminds all of us that God still calls, still sends, still works through human hands, and still gives His people shepherds after His own heart.
May the Lord bless him & grant him many more fruitful years in the vineyard of the Lord!

05/30/2026

Our Greeting Card Ministry for ALL 4 CHURCHES has taken off like a rocket, and we love it — but we need reinforcements! If you have extra greeting cards to donate OR if you’d enjoy writing a few cards from home, we’d be grateful! (We can text you the names & addresses.) A small note makes a big difference! Contact Robert Mercer at (405) 219-0177 and we’ll connect you!

05/30/2026

Double the Joy, Double the Blessing!
This Saturday we welcome two brand‑new little Catholics into the family of Faith, the adorable sons of Anna Ramos and Hunter Fletcher:
Garver Bud Fletcher and Graves Stone Fletcher!
If you spot Anna with her two tiny sidekicks (who look suspiciously like future altar‑server material), be sure to congratulate the whole crew! Many of you will remember that Anna herself served faithfully at the altar here at St. Francis Xavier for years, and we are over‑the‑moon grateful that she and her growing family are still part of our parish life!
And let’s be honest… our parish kid‑name game is getting gloriously eclectic. We now officially have a Bud, a Gus, a Stone, a Sage, a Sonora, a Mica, an America and more Joaquins than anyone can keep straight! At this rate, our youth group is going to sound like the cast list of a frontier adventure novel — and we absolutely love it!
Please keep Garver and Graves in your prayers as they begin their journey of faith, and join us in celebrating the joy of young families who bring so much life, laughter, & hope to our parish!

05/23/2026

If the Church had a “launch day,” Pentecost would be it—and not the quiet, ribbon-cutting kind. Think less polite ceremony, more like a divine software update nobody saw coming.
Picture the scene: a group of disciples huddled together, doors shut, still trying to process everything that had just happened—Resurrection, appearances, promises. Then suddenly: wind without weather, fire without smoke, and a burst of courage that no human pep talk could manufacture. The Holy Spirit does not knock. He arrives.
We often imagine Pentecost as a past event, safely contained in Acts 2, like a historical snapshot framed on the wall. But Pentecost is less like a photograph and more like a live wire. It was never meant to stay in that upper room.
Here is the surprising part: the miracle was not just that the apostles spoke in different languages—it is that people actually understood them. Anyone who has ever tried to explain their faith to a friend, their child, or even a fellow parishioner knows that this is no small feat. Pentecost is not just about speaking; it is about being heard.
And what changed? The disciples did not suddenly become more educated, more polished, or more strategic. They became more surrendered. The Spirit did not make them impressive; He made them bold… as he can do with us.
Pentecost challenges a comfortable Christianity that prefers quiet faith and manageable commitments. The Holy Spirit has a habit of pushing us out of locked rooms—out of routine, out of hesitation, out of the idea that faith is a private matter, existing only on Sundays.
So perhaps the real question this Pentecost is not whether the Spirit came—but whether we are still trying to keep the doors shut, our lives tidy, and our service limited.
This Pentecost, don’t settle for a polite religious memory. Ask for the same Spirit who turned frightened disciples into bold workers. He’s still in the business of holy surprises!

05/23/2026

Greeting Card Ministry – Another Opportunity for the Catholic Devotion of Service!
One of our newest parishioners previously helped in a vibrant Hospitality Ministry at her former church, and she’s eager to bring a bit of that same spirit to our churches! Right now, she’s asking for donations of any unused greeting cards you may have at home—Sympathy, Get Well, Thinking of You, etc.! These cards will be sent to fellow parishioners who could use a kind word, a prayer, or simply something like, “long-time-no-see; we miss you!” She will also need volunteers who enjoy writing cards! If you’d like to help spread a little encouragement, contact Robert Mercer in the Office, and he’ll connect you!

05/23/2026

Calling All Veterans and Military Families!
Between now and Veterans’ Day, St. Francis Xavier would like to discover and honor the veterans in our parish family!
Some of our veteran parishioners are also hoping to connect with other veterans in the parish, possibly with an event or cookout later this summer. This is a wonderful opportunity to build fellowship, share stories, and talk with those who have served our country!
Please email, text, or call the parish office ([email protected] (405) 219-0177, or Facebook Messenger) with names, photos, service information, branch of service, years served, or any other details you would like to share.

05/23/2026

Reminder—OCIA for 2026-2027 has restarted!
Father Jeff has begun the next cycle of OCIA again, meeting on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm!

Reminder—After OCIA is also alive and well!
Leslie Lord continues with her After OCIA Continuing Catechism for those of us who have finished OCIA but realizes there’s so much more! Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm!
This Tuesday’s the 26th topic—Everyone’s favorite Sacrament, “Confession & Penance”!