From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Aug. 22, 2002 edition of the Inland Register)

The Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries is working with denominational entities throughout the Spokane area to organize and implement an 11-day observance of peace issues, beginning Sept. 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

The observance will begin Sept. 11 with a “ceremony of song and symbol” at 6:45 a.m. at Spokane’s Riverfront Park, featuring area children and youth choirs.

Each day, from Sept. 12-20, there will be a peace reflection held at noon at the Clock Tower in Riverfront Park. Each day’s reflection will be lead by a different faith group.

The observance will conclude on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., in Riverfront Park, with an evening of inspiration featuring area choirs and musicians. Participants are asked to bring candles.

During the days of observance, people are urged to visit different places of worship. Churches are asked to open their doors each evening from 6-8 p.m. to encourage prayer and visitation between denominations.

Tentatively scheduled are a Sept. 17 academic forum to examine the causes of the Sept. 11 events and a Sept. 18 community forum for healing. Venues for those events will be announced later.

For information call the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries: 329-1410.

Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Sprague, celebrated its centennial last month with Mass and other activities July 14. Bishop Skylstad presided at the Mass. Among the honored guests were several Sisters from Spokane and Walla Walla who had been associated at one time or another with St. Joseph Academy, a Sprague school which closed in 1965. Pictured in the front row: Deacon Wynn Webster of Brewster; Alyssa Mann; Daniel Mann; Peter Rustemeyer; and Bishop William Skylstad. In the back row are Eric Laney, Brian Whipple, Stacie Shields, and Maria Rustemeyer. (IR photo from Joanne Ringwood)

The sixth annual ‘Caring for Kids’ luncheon will be held Thursday, Sept. 19, at the WestCoast Grand Hotel in Spokane. The annual event will benefit Morning Star Boys’ Ranch and St. Anne Children and Family Center.

This year’s speaker is novelist Katie Schneider, author of “All We Know of Love.”

Tickets are $100 per person, with a reservation deadline by Sept. 12. for information, contact Catholic Charities: 358-4250.

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gathered recently to bid farewell to long-time member Dorothy Erickson, who has moved to a new home in Salt Lake City. In addition to her lengthy membership in the DCCW, Ms. Erickson also has been a long-time resident of Spokane. According to DCCW members, “her 89 years of life” have been “filled with doing and giving.” (IR photo from the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women)

Zoe Verchota, former Director for College Advancement at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, has been named the Director of Development for Gonzaga Prep, Spokane.

In addition to her experience in Alaska, Verchota also served as Regional Director for Workforce Development for the State of Iowa. (IR photo from Gonzaga Prep)

Max Mendez has been named music director of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Mendez grew up in Southern California, where he began to minister as a cantor at the age of 14, in San Leandro. He was director of music of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Hermosa Beach, Calif., and participated in liturgical and performance music throughout Southern California before moving to Spokane.

He is a graduate student in vocal pedagogy and choral conducting at Eastern Washington University and teaches voice at Gonzaga University. He and his wife, Michelle, have five-year-old twins and a two-year-old daughter.

Mendez has been serving as a cantor at the Cathedral for several years. He will continue in that capacity, in addition to directing the choir, developing the handbell choir, and coordinating a new season of concerts for the Music at Lourdes program. (IR photo from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes)

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, Sacred Heart Parish, 219 E. Rockwood Blvd. in Spokane, will host a candlelight vigil of prayer and song in commemoration of the victims and heroes of the terrorist attacks of a year ago.

The service will begin at 7:30 p.m. Father Michael Krieg, pastor of Sacred Heart, will begin the service. The reflection will be offered by Jesuit Father Steve Lantry.

Sacred Heart Parish, Pullman, will begin a novena for healing and peace on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. The novena will conclude Sept. 11 with Mass, also at 7 p.m.

The novena was written to commemorate in prayer the men and women who died in the terrorist attacks.

More information is available on the parish web site — http://users.pullman.com/sacredhrt/ — or by calling the parish: 332-5312.

Delegates of the Spokane Serra Club ventured to Toronto, Ontario, for Serra’s International Convention earlier this summer. The event included inspirational speakers, instructional seminars and a tour of Niagara Falls. The Serra organization is dedicated to promoting the spiritual life of members and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and Religious life. Attending from Spokane, from left, were Martin Weber, Diane and Don Kelly, Winnie Doohan, Dave McGann, Jim Bertis, Dick Weber, Mike Doohan, and Al Giordano. The 2003 convention is set for July in Chicago; 2005 will be hosted by Spokane. (IR photo from Don Kelly)

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