BK's Ms. Christine Tyler Nominated for Lumen Christi Award

July 8, 2025

"She exhibits a passion for student success, a heart for learning and a mind for strategies, all which work towards extraordinary success for students." 
— Bishop David Konderla

TULSA — A lifelong Tulsa educator has been nominated for the 2025-26 Lumen Christi Award presented each year by the Catholic Extension Society.


Christine Tyler is a model for setting a positive tone and loving your neighbor as yourself. As a history and social studies teacher at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa — coincidentally, named after Catholic Extension Society's founder and the Diocese of Tulsa's second bishop, Francis Clement Kelley — she sees each student through the eyes of God. She is highly regarded by her students for her unwavering mentorship well beyond the classroom.


But her passion doesn't stop there-it shines in her work toward North Tulsa Learning Center's mission to empower students and bridge the achievement gap among K-8 youth from north Tulsa's underrepresented areas. Tutors and volunteers at NTLC are moved by Mark 12:31 in their work for young learners: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."


The center launched collaboratively in 2021 between leaders from two northside parishes — St. Monica and St. Augustine — and Bishop Kelley High School to provide free tutoring in reading and math.


Tyler has been instrumental in creating a more accessible program in the last few years. Since its inception, NTC hosts monthly STEM, athletics and fine arts activities with nearly 100 Bishop Kelley students contributing more than 500 hours of service annually — a testament to Tyler's role in building bridges between the school and Tulsa neighborhood communities.


Her impact is also felt outside academics. She actively supports the faith by incorporating Catholic values into her teaching and playing piano at school Masses.


Bishop of Tulsa David A. Konderla commended Tyler's tireless work. 


Read more about her work with the North Tulsa Learning Center HERE.


About Catholic Extension Society:  

Founded in 1905, Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America.     

 

For more information visit www.catholicextension.org ; follow on Facebook at:

facebook.com/catholicextension   or on X at @CathExtension.


About the Lumen Christi Award:  

Since its inception in 1978, the Lumen Christi Award, Catholic Extension Society’s highest honor, has been given annually to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve.


This year’s 41 nominees are individuals and institutions who lead others closer to God and transform communities. They have been nominated for this award by their bishop because their stories showcase the mission of the Church in action. 


Each nominee will receive $1,500 to benefit their ministry. From this group of finalists, the Lumen Christi Award honoree will be named in the fall, along with a $100,000 prize. ($50,000 to their nominating diocese and $50,000 to advance the honoree’s ministry).

November 17, 2025
This past summer, God blessed me with the incredible opportunity to go on the Campus Ministry mission trip to Nashville, Tennessee. Going into the trip, I had no idea what to expect. When we arrived in Nashville, I was placed in a group of people I had never met before. We were all from different states, with completely different backgrounds. This was definitely a little bit outside of my comfort zone. But, from that very first day, I realized that God had put me in that group for a reason. We quickly grew close through working together and commuting on the hour drive to our work site, praying and sharing stories of faith on the drive. Our service project assignment was repairing a house for a woman named Lavern. There, we repaired and painted her shutters, front door, and porch. We cleaned her gutters, organized and got rid of unnecessary things in her shed, chopped down bushes and trees, trimmed overgrowth, and even did some drywall repair inside of her house. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met - so full of gratitude and joy, even in difficult circumstances. Every morning when we showed up to work, she greeted us with a smile and words of encouragement. Seeing her faith and positivity really opened my eyes to how powerful gratitude can be. Throughout the week, we had Mass every single morning. Starting my morning with Mass made my days full of joy and gratitude. We also had different activities at night, such as Eucharistic Adoration and confession. I had no idea how much these moments of prayer would affect me, but they did significantly. I had never truly experienced God in the way I did the evening of Adoration. Sitting in Adoration with everyone quietly singing and taking time just to be still with God was one of the most peaceful and powerful experiences I have ever had. There was also a woman who gave us a talk every evening. Her talks helped us to reflect on our faith and our purpose. Her words helped me to think more deeply about how God is present not just in the big events, like the Mission Trip, but in every single part of my life, the good and the bad, the joys and sorrows, and the wins and the losses. As the week started to end, I felt closer to God than I ever had before. And even though my air mattress deflated every single night and the showers were absolutely freezing, this trip reminded me that faith is not just something that we practice on Sundays, it is something that we live out through service, community, and love for others every single day. It showed me that when we step outside of our comfort zones and open our hearts, God meets us there and transforms us in ways that we would have never imagined. This Mission Trip did not just change the house that we worked on, it changed me. It deepened my faith, strengthened my trust in God, and helped me see how powerful it can be when we serve others with joy and humility. I would like to leave you all with one thing: At the end of the week, Lavern wrote me a letter. When I opened it, it read, “Write the vision and make it plain.” Now, if I am being honest, when I first read this, I was super confused, so I looked it up. What I found was amazing. This is a Bible Verse, Habakkuk 2:2, that means writing down your vision is a way to show God that you believe He will help you accomplish what He has called you to do. So BK, write the vision, and make it plain .
October 23, 2025
Click here for 2025-2026 Q1 A Honor Roll Click here for 2025-2026 Q1 B Honor Roll Stellar work, Comets!