Meet Our Team
Reverend Lawrence Nwachukwu
frnwachukwu@sfxstillwater.org
Father Lawrence’s journey to the catholic priesthood began at an early age in 1983 when he entered the Minor Seminary. At the completion of the Minor Seminary training, he proceeded to the Major Seminary for his Philosophical and Theological studies. At the end of all the required studies and training, he was ordained a Priest for the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Imo State in Nigeria on July 24, 1999. He marks his 25th priestly anniversary (Silver Jubilee) on July 24, 2024.
After his priestly ordination in 1999, he served briefly as an Associate Pastor and was appointed Assistant Secretary/Archivist to the Archbishop of Owerri. He did this assignment for about two years and proceeded to teach Liturgy and Religious Studies in the Minor Seminary for another two years. Afterward, he moved to Rome, Italy, for advanced studies. He studied at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, and specialized in Patristic Theology.
After his advanced studies in Rome, he returned to his home diocese in Nigeria and was appointed by the Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province to teach in one of the largest Seminaries in West Africa, the Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri. While teaching in the Seminary, he also served as the Seminary Clinic Director and Moderator of the official Seminary Magazine. He was further appointed as a member of the Priests On-going Formation Commission, the Theology Commission, the Evangelization and Inculturation Commission, and the Board of Examiners of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri. He taught in the Seminary for 10 years and finished his tenure as the First Vice Rector of the Seminary before coming to the Diocese of Tulsa for pastoral ministry. Prior to his arrival in the Diocese of Tulsa, he had done pastoral work in Nigeria, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
He began his pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Tulsa as Associate Pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Stillwater, from 2017 to 2018. Since July 2018, he has been the Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sallisaw, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Cookson, St. Kateri Catholic Church in Roland, and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Webbers Falls.
In his free time, he enjoys reading, listening to music, and quiet time on biblical reflections. His special scripture text comes from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians: “Nothing can outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For His sake, I have accepted the loss of all things if only I can gain Christ and be found in Him…” (Philippians 3: 8-9).
He is excited about returning to Stillwater to begin his new assignment as the Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He looks forward to sharing the “Joy of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium – Pope Francis) with the Stillwater Catholic Community and Payne County. It is a homecoming for him.
Reverend Robert Healey
frhealey@sfxstillwater.org
Fr. Robert Healey was ordained a priest on June 26, 2020, the feast day of St. Jose-Maria Escriva, and served for two years as the associate pastor at St. Anne Catholic Church in Broken Arrow, OK, before entering into his second assignment here at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater, OK.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Fr. Healey is the third of six children and oldest son of Bob and Adele Healey. He was homeschooled from K-12, attended Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, where he graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History. He was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Tulsa, and studied Philosophy at St. Meinrad Seminary in southern Indiana, going on to Major Seminary at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati, OH. He hopes to complete and defend his Master’s Thesis for an additional degree in Dogmatic and Fundamental Theology in the coming academic year.
His discernment of the call to the priesthood began when he was a boy, playing Mass with his siblings and friends, even before he was old enough to serve daily Mass at his home parish of Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa. He was an active member of the Knights of St. John Berchmans, an altar boy society led by Fr. Bruno Stemler, FSSP, who remains to this day Fr. Healey’s “ideal of the priesthood.” Always open to the call, it was not until he was a student at Benedictine College, kneeling in the silence of the perpetual adoration chapel, that he began to feel the vocation to the priesthood as a practical invitation, and not just a future possibility. In the presence of the Eucharistic Lord, the words of St. Catherine of Siena really spoke to him: “If you could be who you were made to be, you would set the world on fire.”
Fr. Healey’s interests include enjoying the outdoors, shooting sports, Ultimate frisbee, soccer, woodworking, writing stories and plays, theater, and classical music. He is happy to be in Stillwater, since his parents met as undergrads at OSU, and he looks forward to serving the people of Payne County!
His favorite saints are St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Jean Vianney, St. Louis IX, St. John Henry Newman and St. Maria Goretti, as well as a great many more.
“Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.” ~ St. Philip Neri
Email - frhealey@sfxstillwater.org
Clergy
Evangelization and Mission Team
Korey Hicks - Director of Evangelization & Formation
korey@sfxstillwater.org
Angela Vivar - Directora de Minister Hispano
Director of Hispanic Ministry
angela@sfxstillwater.org
Kira Ziola - Director of Youth Ministry (6-12th)
kira@sfxstillwater.org
Early Childhood Development Center
Mission Support Team
Rev. Mr. Randy Hearn - Director of Administration
dcnhearn@sfxstillwater.org
Rob Ponce - Communications Director
communications@sfxstillwater.org
Brandi Bishop - Parish Nurse
brandi@sfxstillwater.org
Leah Benjamin - Finance Manager
leah@sfxstillwater.org
Karen Bisges - Parish Office Assistant
karen@sfxstillwater.org
Erin Johnson - Database Manager
erin@sfxstillwater.org
Amanda Petrin - Hospitality Coordinator
amanda@sfxstillwater.org
Worship and Sacraments Team
Matt Cabeen - Music Ministry
matthew.cabeen@gmail.com
Kevin Larios - Spanish Music Ministry
klarios357@earthlink.net
Lori Wieder - Wedding Coordinator
lori@sfxstillwater.org
