2013 Commencement Speech

The Most Reverend Edward Slattery, Bishop of Tulsa
Recipient of the Wyoming Catholic College Sedes Sapientiae Award

The Sedes Sapientiae Award, named in honor of the College’s Patroness—the Blessed Virgin Mary under her ancient title “Seat of Wisdom”—is awarded annually to a Catholic who has made an outstanding contribution to articulating and defending the Faith in today’s Church and State. 

The Most Reverend Edward J. Slattery earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, and a further Masters degree at Loyola University in Chicago. In addition to pastoral assignments after his ordination to the priesthood in 1966, he also served the Catholic Church Extension Society as Vice President from 1971-1976 and as President from 1976 to 1994. On January 6, 1994, he was ordained bishop by Blessed John Paul II, who appointed him the third bishop of the diocese of Tulsa.

In addition to his many years of laboring on behalf of poor mission dioceses across the United States, Bishop Slattery is widely known and admired as an eloquent and energetic promoter of the restoration of the Sacred Liturgy according to the authentic teaching of the Second Vatican Council and the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI. He invited the Benedictine monks of Fontgombault in France to establish a daughter house in his diocese, where Clear Creek Abbey now flourishes. He has promoted the revival of sacramental Confession and Eucharistic adoration, sponsored workshops and conferences, and spearheaded liturgical renewal throughout his diocese and the entire United States. He was the first American bishop to adopt, as a regular public practice, the traditional ad orientem or eastward stance in celebrating the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. On the political front, his bold defense of the humane treatment of illegal immigrants and his unequivocal response to the HHS Mandate of the Obama administration have helped Catholics both within and beyond his diocese to form their consciences correctly in the light of faith.

In this vigorous combined witness ad intra to the Catholic faithful, whom he strengthens by clear teaching and dedication to the sacred mysteries, and ad extra to the world of politics and unbelief, Bishop Slattery exemplifies the faithfulness to Christ, loyalty to His Church, and courageous witness that Wyoming Catholic College hopes to see in its graduates as they go forth into the world.