Blog updates

Since Father Julian will be leaving this parish, the person in charge of the Parish Blog is the Bulletin Editor Tina Hill, who will give periodical updates from time to time. Anyone who has photos or information relating to the life of the parish, please send them to bulletin@stfrancisbend.org

Father Julian would like to thank all those who have supported or checked on this blog from time to time. He will continue with his personal blog, unless he is prohibited from doing so in a different country. There are security questions that are asked whenever a blogger tries to put new posts from a different country. And thinking that the person might be a hacker, the Blogspot people will probably block any more entries. In which case he will start a new one and inform the parishioners about the new address.

Thank you

Holy Week and Easter photos

Here are a few photos from the Holy Week celebrations at St Francis, starting withe the beautiful sanctuary of the new church, with the empty tomb, crafted by Rick and Lupita Wesseler. More photos are of the Stations around Town, and from the Palm Sunday procession with the 3 semi-resident donkeys, Poncho, Daisy and Pimmy.

A side view of the New Church on Easter Sunday

The Historic Church in downtown Bend on Easter

Stations around Town on Tuesday of Holy Week

Praying the 7th Station - in front of the Blood Bank/Red Cross

Praying the 13th Stations - in front of the Rectory

Blessing of Palms with Poncho and Daisy, the donkeys in attendance

With Pimmy, the Sunday donkey before the Spanish Mass.

Who's the cutest..the donkeys or the Bomkes ?

Bishop's note

A letter from Bishop Cary
16 March 2016

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis,

As I write, I am about to leave for the Chrism Mass and Holy Week in Baker City. There I will spend many hours in St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, and there I will think, as I always do, of Father Julian. As pastor there a decade ago, he inspired and oversaw the renovation which made the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Baker the jewel it is today. Beautiful images long-covered-over have been brought back to light. Deep, rich colors draw the eye to the beautiful sanctuary, dramatically re-centered on the baldacchino over the tabernacle, with altar and chairs and pulpit before it in spatially-pleasing proportion. It is a delight to pray in this lovingly restored House of Prayer. All who do so reap the fruits of Father Julian’s painstakingly careful renovation.

But the physical re-doing of our cathedral was not the only renovation Father Julian accomplished in his thirteen years in the Diocese of Baker. Ask the parishioners of St. Elizabeth’s in John Day, where he served as pastor his first two years here. A decade later they will tell you fondly of the creative ways in which he gently and loving renewed the life of their parish. Their memories are still fresh and green—and gratefully felt. 

As of course they are with you, the parishioners of his beloved St. Francis of Assisi. Father Julian came to you over turbulent waters at an hour of much distress. Not for a second did he hesitate to accept the challenging assignment his bishop asked him to undertake. With remarkable calmness, gentleness, patience, and kindness—always kindness—he proceeded to shepherd you as the priest you hoped he would be for you. And he gained from you an affection and gratitude that will endure long beyond his impending departure. Perhaps you feel as I do:  I have thanked Father Julian again and again for the wonderful renovation he has brought about here, but I know I can never thank him enough.

Thirteen years ago, just before leaving the East Coast, Father Julian wrote of his hopes for the new ministry he was about to take up in Oregon. “My main priority,” he assured Bishop Vasa, “is to find a home in the Baker Diocese and help you in any way I can.” We can all now see that Father Julian did indeed find a home here, and we count ourselves among those he found a way to help as a priest. I add my voice to yours in thanking God for sending him to us, and in asking God to bless him to the end of his days.

In Christ Jesus,

Bishop Liam Cary

                                                                                                                       

Living Stations

The annual presentation of the Living Stations will be presented this Friday March 4 at 7 PM in the new church. This is a dramatized presentation of the Way of the Cross presented by our middle-school children from our school. There will be a commentary in English and in Spanish. It will be repeated on Tuesday March 8 at 8:15 AM. Please come and bring a friend.

 

Fr Michael Walsh RIP

Fr Mike Walsh died this past week in Los Angeles California after a brief illness. His funeral will be held between February 16 and 17 in Los Angeles. A memorial Mass will be held in the historic church in downtown Bend at 12:15 PM on Tuesday February 16. Fr Mike served for several years in St Francis parish in Bend.

Fr. Mike Walsh was born in Los Angeles in 1932. After attending parochial school, he entered St. Francis High School and was in the school’s first graduating class in1950. At the school, Fr. Mike grew to admire the Capuchins and decided to join the order. Ordained in 1958, he attended Fordham University, NY and then came back to St. Francis as a teacher. Later, he worked in Capuchin formation as well as teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1985 his life took a completely different turn as he became pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Watts, a ministry he loved. In 1991, after undergoing heart bypass surgery, his journey continued in Bend, Oregon at St. Francis Parish. He continued in parochial ministry, helping at St. Patrick’s, a predominately Hispanic parish in North Hollywood. He also worked with Marriage Encounter both in English and in Spanish.

Catholic Schools Week - Family Fun Night

The Catholic Schools Week was celebrated between January 30 and February 7. Among the events that took place were the School Mass led by Bishop Cary and Fr Julian, a Science Fair, Pastry morning for parents, Religion Bee, Staff-Middle School basketball game and the Family Fun Night held on Friday evening, February 5. These are some photos from this annual successful event.

Kaleidoscope

Feast your eyes on this Kaleidoscope, as Fr Julian's Blog celebrates its 4th anniversary...started January 5, 2012 -  Colorful Kaleidoscope

Christmas Photos

St Francis of Assisi historic church

Here are a few photos from around the parish, emphasizing the Christmas spirit.

 

The outdoor Nativity

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe fiesta

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 was celebrated among the Mexicans and English-speaking people alike with a special bi-lingual Mass and a Mexican fiesta following afterwards. Some ethnic dancing was held, with ethnic costumes both for men and women. The statue of Our Lady was inundated with roses, as you can see from the second of these photos.

Cardinal Otunga Guest House

The new Cardinal Otunga Guest House run by the Sisters of Kakamega was officially blessed on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, by Father Julian, and attended by 4 of the sisters and some parishioners. The license to operate was officially given that same day, and now the sisters await their first residents. The House is located at Stonebrooke Loop in NE Bend.

L to R: Sister Ann, Sister Silvia, Sister Sabina and Sister Inviolata.

 

Annual Christmas Parade in Dowtown Bend

More photos from the annual Christmas Parade held on Saturday December 5th in downtown Bend, with the participation of a float representing our St Francis of Assisi Parish School.

First Prize winning ribbon for the school float

Craig May, creator and driver of the float

Fontanini Nativity

The new Fontanini Nativity is being setup slowly slowly during the weeks of Advent in our new church. The above photos shows what it will look like when the majority of the characters are displayed. I thank the sponsors who donated money for each character, and their names will appear in the Bulletin in a few weeks. I also thank Rick and Lupita Wesseler who created the beautiful stable, complete with palm trees, a well, a starry night backdrop and other rustic touches. These other photos show also the entire Wesseler family setting the Nativity last week.

 

Christmas Faire

Click to enlarge

The annual Christmas Faire will be held on Saturday November 14 between 2 PM and 7:30 PM. Lots of gifts to buy, to browse through,, besides auction items, a spaghetti dinner from 5 PM onward, a Dollar Store for children, a Fun room, besides the presence of Santa Claus and Mrs Claus. The Faire will be held at the Community Center. Doors will not open before 2 PM. Come over and see for yourself.

Honoring Veterans

Some photos from the Bend Veteran's Day Parade in downtown held in the morning of November 11. The other photo show two of our veterans, who are faithful Acolytes in our church, just before the Mass at 12:15 PM, in memory of Veterans deceased, and in honor of those living. Sitting is John Henchman, a Silver Star recipient and standing is Joe LaCasse, a Purple Heart recipient.

With John Henchman and Joe LaCasse