Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington


From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

Deacon Eric Meisfjord, Editor
P.O. Box 48, Spokane WA 99210
(509) 358-7340; FAX: (509) 358-7302

Regional Report

the Inland Register

(From the Jan. 15, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)

WASHINGTON
Archdiocese of Seattle
FEDERAL WAY — Deacon Juan Lezcano-Sotolongo of St. Vincent dePaul Parish was elected to a second term as international councilor for the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States. He will represent the order’s 17,000 U.S. members. Deacon Lezcano-Sotolongo joined the Secular Franciscans in 1986.
OLYMPIA — St. Michael Parish received a first place award for its stewardship efforts from the International Catholic Stewardship Council. What the council liked were the quality of the annual reports and the parish materials on sacrificial giving. The council also liked the parish’s “Take A Step” appeal to parishioners to gradually work toward of goal of tithing 10 percent to the church.
— The Catholic Northwest Progress, Seattle

MONTANA
 Diocese of Great Falls-Billings

FAIRVIEW — An early morning fire destroyed most of St. Catherine Church a little over a year ago. After much discussion, parishioners decided to build a new church rather than remodel the old one. The new church will include some elements that the fire did not completely destroy, such as the tabernacle and two stained glass windows. The fire was said to be caused by a faulty heater wire. No one was in the church when the blaze broke out. Currently parishioners are meeting in a former store. The parish has about 90 families and Father Greg Staudinger is pastor.
— The Harvest, Great Falls

IDAHO
 Diocese of Boise

BOISE — A 25th anniversary celebration was held at Nazareth Retreat Center in Boise Nov. 18. Its founder, Father John Donogue, was on hand for the Mass. Also present were the diocese’s present and immediate past bishops: Bishops Michael Driscoll and Tod Brown, respectively. The late Bishop Sylvester Treinen made the decision to build the center in 1977. Bishop Brown guided an expansion of the facility in 1998, just before he became bishop of the Diocese of Orange County, Calif. Holy Names Sister Grayce Ross is the current director, a post she has held for 10 years. Estimates are that the center has served from 50,000-60,000 people. A local note is that the late Spokane Deacon Gerald McKenzie and his wife, Jean, served as directors from 1986-87.
— The Idaho Register, Boise

OREGON
Diocese of Baker

JOHN DAY — Children in the religious education program at St. Elizabeth Parish set up a memorial tree in the church. Parishioners then hung paper leaves with the names of deceased relatives to be prayed for during November.
Archdiocese of Portland
COTTAGE GROVE — Young people at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish were busy in the holiday season. They helped assemble and distribute holiday food boxes for the needy. On Christmas day they prepared and served a free meal to anyone who wanted to attend.
The teens have held the meal the past three or four years. The teens are planning to travel to Rome on spring break and are collecting soft drink cans and bottles to help raise funds. They also plan to sell T-shirts and hold movie nights.
PORTLAND — St. Francis wasn’t the only saint who had a special love for animals. St. Martin de Porres, a Dominican, also loved animals, even vermin. During a rat infestation in a 17th century Peruvian priory, St. Martin made an agreement with the rats that if they would stay out in the fields, he would bring them food every day. That’s why Holy Rosary Parish, home to a Dominican friary, held a blessing of animals near St. Martin’s November feast day. Father LaSalle Hallissey reminded the humans who attended that animals played a part in salvation history: the giant fish who saved Jonah and ravens bringing bread to Elijah.
EUGENE — Parishioners at St. Jude Parish have remodeled their 25-year-old former rectory into a fellowship-education center. Building pledges ranged from $50 to $50,000. The redone facility is called The Hilltop Center and will be used as a place for welcoming visitors, offering education in the faith, and planning ministry. The building was blessed Dec. 14.
— Catholic Sentinel, Portland

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