Catholic Diocese Of Tulsa & Eastern OK To Hold Prayer Vigil At Execution Site

The Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma will be outside of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary holding a prayer vigil at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Father Bryan Brooks, the pastor of Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow, says they will be there a peaceful opposition to the execution and praying for the families of both Julius Jones and Paul Howell.

Father Bryan Brooks was outside the gates of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary three weeks ago for the execution of John Grant, and he plans to be there on Thursday for the scheduled execution of Julius Jones.

"We would be there regardless of the question of guilt or innocence in a case, again we've done that going back since 1990," he said.

Father Bryan says the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma prays outside of every execution in the state. He says the state can protect its citizens, without taking the life of someone.

"We do it as part of our pro-life witness, that the dignity of life is from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death," he said.

He says he will be praying for everyone involved in the execution- for the correction officers, for Julius Jones and his family, and the family of Paul Howell.

"An act of violence was committed against Paul Howell and against his family and they are still living with that trauma," he said.

Father Bryan says he expects a large crowd outside of the prison tomorrow- and anyone is invited to attend the vigil.

Vigils will also be held at Holy Innocents' Chapel in Oklahoma City and at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater. All of the vigils will start at 3 p.m.