Administrative Division: Inland Register

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 Feb. 5, 2004 edition of the Inland Register)

MONTANA
Diocese of Helena HAMILTON — Katherine Quinn went to Guatemala to work in an orphanage for a year and ended up losing her heart. At the orphanage she met Jennifer, a six-month-old infant with severe heart trouble. Jennifer’s birth mother had no way to support her baby and released Jennifer for adoption. Quinn obtained legal guardianship and brought the baby to the United States. The child faces several surgeries and needs other medical care. The people of Hamilton held a fund-raiser for the baby, raising over $12,000. — The Montana Catholic, Helena

IDAHO
Diocese of Boise

EMMETT — Sacred Heart Church celebrated its first Las Posadas during the Advent season with about 200 people taking part. A parish couple portrayed Mary and Joseph looking for shelter in Bethlehem. When they finally found a place to stay, the parish held a party that included Spanish bingo and Mexican desserts.
KELLOGG — Father Tom Loucks was assigned to serve the Silver Valley in July but didn’t get his welcome party until now. Father Loucks was on medical leave for back surgery and the Catholic Daughters of St. Therese of the Mountain decided to wait until he could “enjoy the party.” People attended from St. Alphonsus at Wallace, St. Michael at Mullan and St. Rita at Kellogg.
— The Idaho Register, Boise

OREGON
Archdiocese of Portland

PORTLAND — Deacon John Riherd, formerly of the Spokane Diocese, has been assigned to the year-old parish of St. Juan Diego. Deacon Riherd and his wife, Mary, moved to Lake Oswego last year. He is the chief legal officer for the Regence Group in downtown Portland. He assists at Mass on some Sundays and preaches occasionally as well. He also helps with adult religious education and volunteers at Hopewell House Hospice Center.
PORTLAND — A $46,000 grant from the Helene Fulf Health Trust has allowed two nursing professors to operate two medical clinics downtown. Not only do they treat the homeless and others “who fall through the cracks” for medical care, the clinics are used to instruct University of Portland nursing students. About 16 students participate in the clinic each semester. The grant has run out but the two professors hope to find other sources of support for their services.

Diocese of Baker BURNS — Religious education students at Holy Family Parish collected over 2,000 pounds of food for the Harney Country Food Bank, earning a recognition plaque. Over 100 young people took part in the food drive, taking nine months to reach their goal.
KLAMATH FALLS — The Mount Calvary Cemetery Association replaced the dilapidated home of their caretaker and replaced with a new modular home. The Association depleted its savings but officials are hoping they will receive donations to replace the used funds. Even so, they are happy with their decision since the house the caretaker, Eddie Viellgas and his wife, Irene, lived in was about ready to fall down. The couple attends Mass at Sacred Heart.
— Catholic Sentinel, Portland

WASHINGTON
Archdiocese of Seattle

MERCER ISLAND — St. Monica School became a Sparrow Club to learn how to raise funds to help a 13-year-old girl from Auburn battle sarcoma, a kind of cancer, in her left leg. The school has already raised more than $2,000 for the girl.
COVINGTON — Parishioners, parish young people and the Knights of Columbus of St. John the Baptist Parish joined together for an AIDS quilt project. They made 14 quilts with 12 squares per quilt, with each square telling a message of love and hope. The Knights organized the project, the youth in grades 5-12, including the Life Teen program, thought up the artwork for the squares and the Creative Kindness Sewing Group put the quilts together. On Valentine’s Day, a group of Knights and young people will take the quilts to a local facility for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
— The Catholic Northwest Progress, Seattle

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