Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine’s executive director assumes post
A new leader has been chosen for a Roman Catholic shrine in Oklahoma City.
The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, selected Miguel Mireles as the new executive director of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, 701 SE 89. Mireles new position became effective on June 12.
Mireles said he and his wife Cyndi have been in Oklahoma for five years Mireles
and he is excited to be part of the “special ministry” of the shrine.
“I am honored and blessed to be in a position to help lead the Rother Shrine as we build the staff and welcome thousands of pilgrims from around the world,” he said in a news release. “Blessed Stanley’s story resonates with so many people who look to this humble man as an example of devotion and love, giving his life as a martyr for the faith.”
Mireles, who is from Amarillo, Texas, is bilingual in English and Spanish. He has worked in youth ministry, scouting and development for several Catholic dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. He helped oversee the “One Church Many Disciples” capital campaign for the archdiocese that funded dozens of parish projects and the building of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine. Most recently, he served as assistant executive director of the archdiocese’s stewardship and development office, and briefly as the director of philanthropy for the Diocese of
Tulsa.
Mireles replaces the shrine’s first executive director Leif Arvidson. Coakley said Arvidson’s experience has been invaluable during the planning, construction and dedication of the shrine. Arvidson was named executive director of the Rother Shrine in July 2020 after serving as director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for 10 years. As executive director of the Rother shrine, he assisted in the planning and development of the shrine church and museum and worked to build the first shrine staff.
“It has been a tremendous blessing to be a part of the establishment of this magnificent shrine and to witness the inspiration that pilgrims find in the beauty of the church and in the witness of Blessed Stanley Rother,” Arvidson said.
Coakley dedicated the Rother shrine in February on a 56-acre site near Interstate 35 and SE 89 in Oklahoma City. The shrine is named in honor of Blessed Stanley Rother, a priest from Okarche who was killed in 1981 while serving in a Catholic mission in Guatemala. He is the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified and is the first martyr from the United States to be recognized by the Catholic Church.
The Rother Shrine is governed by a board of directors that oversees operation of the shrine. Manny Sanchez serves as board president.
Gospel music events are planned
The Oklahoma United Gospel Music Association will host several gospel sing events in the coming days. Singing Bones and the Made By Mercy Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Sara Road Baptist Church, 2015 N Sara Road in Yukon. A gospel sing event at Tulakes Baptist Church will feature the Made By Mercy Quartet and the Sound Decision Quartet at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at 6715 NW 50 in Bethany.
Tulakes Baptist will also feature For His Purpose and Sacred Call Quartet at 4 p.m. June 24.
For more information about the Oklahoma United Gospel Music Association, go to www.ougma.org/.