Father Ray Ackerman

Fr. Ray was born in Oklahoma City to Ray B. and Lucille F. Ackerman, and grew up in Saint Charles Parish. He was a student at St. Charles Grade School and Putnam City (original) High School and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with B.A. Degree in Broadcast Journalism, serving a year as a Regional Director for his national fraternity before beginning a six-year career in radio. Fr. Ray began that brief career on the air as part of the KLTE morning program.

As a young adult he was back at St. Charles where he was active with the Young Adult program and RENEW. It was during this time, in 1985 he felt called to the priesthood and entered Saint Meinrad Seminary. He was ordained for the Archdiocese in June, 1991.

Fr. Ray served as associate pastor at St. Philip Neri for three years while also being chaplain at Mount Saint Mary High School. He then served at the “Mount” full time for five years. He taught Senior religious studies for two of those years before serving as president of the school. He then went on to serve as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Ada, with missions in Coalgate and Sulpher from 1999 to 2005 before being named pastor of St. Thomas More in Norman.

Fr. Ray states that to date, his greatest accomplishment is serving the people of God as a priest. “It is truly a rewarding and humbling experience to both lead and journey with others in a deeper understanding of our relationship with God and his people through the Church.”

When asked about our parish being a stewardship parish, he replied, “I think it is great to have this kind of commitment and support of the various ministries of our parish!”

In response to the question, “What is the first thing you want to tell parishioners at St. Monica?” he said, “I look forward to working with you in building on the good works of the previous pastors and others who have gone before us in faith.”