Page 8A
FAITH
East Oregonian
LIMEY PASTOR
Nightmare
of a dreamer
M
y wife, Jeanne and I have been very
close to a young man, I shall call “H,”
for a number of years. When my wife
was very ill a couple of years ago, he befriended
us and helped my wife around the house and
with her garden and cared very much for her
needs. H was also involved in the long-term care
of his own mother, who had contracted hepatitis
from a bad blood transfusion giving birth to him
many years before and was in
the end stages of her disease.
“H” also had a full-time job,
a technical job working with
editing videos.
“H” had come to Oregon
with his mother as a little
boy. He is one of those young
people characterized as a
DREAMer. Certified to stay
Colin
in his “in-between” status,
Brown
with permission to work, he
Faith
supported himself and his
mother.
About a year ago, his mother died suddenly,
two weeks after she and her son moved into a
new apartment. I helped carry the casket of his
mother into the church. They were Catholic and
the church was packed.
“H” was distraught. He wept at all the
things he had said to his mother, the arguments
that seemed so irrelevant now, all the guilt of
the years flowed into his tears, especially the
recurring thought, so accusative, that it was his
own entry into the world that precipitated the
conditions for his mother’s demise. What son
does not feel guilt when his mother dies?
Several months later, in a depressed state,
“H” turned to the solace of a bottle late at night.
He drank and drank and then opened the front
door and wandered outside, with the noticeable
exception of not wearing his trousers. He
stumbled through the night streets where he was
intercepted by a police car and arrested. The film
of his capture shows a weeping young man in
the back of a police car.
For the last few months, every month, “H”
has shown up at the courthouse, to have his case
delayed and delayed. Now, with the new attitude
of the law, the case is now going forward and I
have no doubt the status of his case will risk his
very life and existence here as a DREAMer — a
person who “H” calls dispossessed. “H” is a
boy of my son’s age, who is in a very real way
imprisoned in his own life and is trapped by the
very sadness of his life circumstance.
I remember my own experience many
years ago where I was coming back from
Mexico when I was detoured by a zealous
guard and thrown in the back with many other
people. There I witnessed American guards
throwing people against the wall and beating
them. Fortunately I had someone waiting
for me outside who called the INS District
Commissioner and pulled my first world strings
to allow my passage. Ever since, I have been
very, very sympathetic to the plight of the
southerners. I only count as true Americans
those who have kindness for the immigrants
— the strangers at our door. For the most truly
American is that same immigrant from hundreds
of years ago.
I am proud to be American in this vast and
welcoming land. I am a new American. I will
speak up for “H” and hope to speak in his favor
for his ultimate court experience — for the
kindness and love with which he has lived his
life is truly most American.
■
Colin Brown is the pastor for Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church in Boardman.
Friday, February 24, 2017
U.S. bishops denounce ‘Santa Muerte’
ALBUQUERQUE,
N.M.
(AP) — Bishops in the United
States are denouncing the
skeleton folk saint known as La
Santa Muerte — a figure Roman
Catholic leaders in Mexico
routinely have attacked for the
deity’s connection to violence
and the illicit drug trade.
Santa Fe Archbishop John
Wester, El Paso Bishop Mark
Seitz, and San Angelo Bishop
Michael Sis in Texas joined
their counterparts in Mexico
last week in urging Catholics
to avoid honoring the folk saint
and called her “antithetical” to
the teachings of Jesus.
“She’s not a saint. There is
nothing good that can come out
of praying to her,” Wester said.
“We have a lot of saints who
represent the teaching of Jesus
Christ. This is an aberration.”
The denouncement comes
after Ciudad Juarez Bishop
Jose Guadalupe Torres Campos
attacked La Santa Muerte,
which means Holy Death, in a
recent newspaper interview and
urged parishioners not to join
this “cult.” A number of Cath-
AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File
In this 2013 file photo, statues of La Santa Muerte are
displayed at the Masks y Mas art store in Albuquerque, N.M.
olic officials in Mexico have
condemned the folk saint, but
bishops in the U.S. have largely
been silent on the skeleton
image.
Popular in Mexico, and
sometimes linked to some
drug cartels, La Santa Muerte
in recent years has found a
robust and diverse following
north of the border: immigrant
small business owners, artists,
gay activists and the poor,
among others — many of them
non-Latinos and not all involved
with organized religion.
Clad in a black nun’s robe
and holding a scythe in one
hand, Santa Muerte appeals to
people seeking all manner of
otherworldly help: from fending
off wrongdoing and carrying out
vengeance to stopping lovers
from cheating and landing better
jobs. Others seek her protection
for their drug shipments and to
ward off law enforcement.
Devotees often use Catholic
prayers and set up shrines in her
honor. The saint is especially
popular among Mexican-Amer-
ican Catholics, rivaling that of St.
Jude and La Virgen de Guada-
lupe as a favorite for miracle
requests, even as the Catholic
Church in Mexico denounces
Santa Muerte as satanic.
Her image has been used on
prayer cards citing vengeance
and protection, which are
sometimes found at scenes of
massacred bodies and on drug
shipments.
But Sis called La Santa
Muerte “spiritually dangerous,”
adding that there is no link
to Catholicism. “It should be
completely avoided. It is a
perversion of devotion to the
saints,” Sis said.
BRIEFLY
Right to Life Latino director Several churches announce
to visit Hermiston
Shrove Tuesday meals
HERMISTON — The Latino outreach
director with Oregon Right to Life will
present information about the pro-life
culture with Latino families.
Margot Loza, a recent graduate of
the University of
Idaho, was invited by
Hermiston Right to
Life to make several
area presentations. The
public is invited to
sessions:
•Monday, March
6 from 7-9 p.m. at
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church parish Loza
hall, 565 W. Hermiston
Ave., Hermiston (English presentation
geared towards youths).
•Tuesday, March 7 at 2 p.m. at La
Palma, 231 E. Hurlburt Ave., Hermiston
(Spanish presentation geared for adults).
•Thursday, March 9 from 6:30-8:30
p.m. at Our Lady of Angels Catholic
Church parish hall (Spanish presentation
geared for adults).
At the University of Idaho, Loza
studied nutrition and public relations and
she was the director of the Students for
Life club. After graduation, she served
as a digital media intern for Students for
Life of America. She is now committed to
reaching out to the Latino community to
promote the value of life.
“I’m pro-life because I believe in love,”
she said. “Abortion has destroyed too
many people in our time and it’s time we
put an end to the destruction.”
Marge Rolen of the Hermiston Right
to Life group encourages area pastors
to come and meet Loza, who is open to
invitations to return to the area for future
discussions and presentations.
For more information, contact Rolen at
goodsheep4@gmail.com.
The public is invited to Shrove Tuesday
pancake supper meals planned in Athena,
Pendleton and Hermiston.
A tradition held on the day before Ash
Wednesday, the idea was to use up high
calorie, high fat foods, eggs, and milk, to
prepare for the season of Lent. The meals
are:
•Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5-7 p.m. at
Athena Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
Fifth and College streets, Athena. The meal
is free, but donations will be accepted for
Pregnancy Care Services in Pendleton.
•Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5-6:30 p.m. at
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 241
S.E. Second St., Pendleton. The cost is $7
per person and kids eat for free.
•Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5:15-6:45 p.m.
at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 953 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. The cost is $5 per
person or $15 for a family.
In addition, an Ash Wednesday Service
of Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes is
Wednesday March 1 at 7 p.m., at St. John’s
in Hermiston. The service begins the
observation of Lent, the liturgical period
before Palm Sunday and Easter.
For more information, contact
541-567-6672 for the Hermiston church,
redeemerchurch1897@gmail.com for the
Pendleton church and 541-566-3656 for
the Athena church.
Ecumenical group
announces Lent schedule
PENDLETON — Special worship
services during the season of Lent are
planned in Pendleton.
The Ash Wednesday service, which
is March 1, begins at 7 p.m. at Episcopal
Church of the Redeemer, 241 S.E. Second
St. Rev. Travis Larsen is presiding.
The rest of the weekly ecumenical
worship services begins each Wednesday
at 6 p.m. with a soup supper, followed
by communion and worship at 7 p.m.
The messages relate to The Beatitudes
from Matthew 5:1-11. The locations and
minister scheduled includes:
•March 8 at Peace Lutheran Church,
210 N.W. Ninth St. (Rev. Charlotte Wells).
•March 15 at First United Methodist
Church, 352 S.E. Second St. (Rod Harwood).
•March 22 at First Presbyterian Church,
201 S.W. Dorion Ave. (Ann Marie Hardin).
•March 29 at Episcopal Church of the
Redeemer, 241 S.E. Second St. (Marc
Mullins).
•April 5 at Peace Lutheran Church, 210
N.W. Ninth St. (Jim Pierce).
Everyone is invited, regardless of faith,
to attend the soup supper and services.
For more information, contact
redeemerchurch1897@gmail.com.
Diaper Dash set for March 4
HERMISTON — A fun walk/run
featuring 5K and 10K distances helps
provide diapers for people in need.
The Diaper Dash is Saturday, March
4 at 9 a.m. at the Hermiston Church of
the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave. The
entrance fee is a package of diapers.
In its third year, the church partners with
local social service agencies to distribute
diapers. Last year more than 15,000
diapers were collected through the effort of
80 participants.
For more information, contact 541-567-
3677, hermistonnaz@gmail.com or visit
www.hermistonnazarene.org or www.
facebook.com/events/339082683143495.
———
Friday’s faith page features local,
national and international faith-related
news. Send information about local
faith-related news and events, including
concerts, special speakers and activities to
community@eastoregonian.com or drop off
to the attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333
E. Main St., Hermiston.
Worship Community
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
Come meet Jesus at
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
3202 SW Nye Ave Pendleton, OR
541-276-7590
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM
Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM
Mon. Community Women’s Study
9:30 AM & 6 PM
Awana Kids Club (K-6th grade)
Wed Men’s Study 6 PM
MOPS meeting the 1st Thur of the Month 6 PM
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Bible Study.........9:00 AM
Sunday Worship......10:30 AM
Red Lion Hotel
( Oregon Trail Room )
www.faithpendleton.org
First United
Methodist Church
Pendleton/Hermiston
Sunday Worship
10:00am
Wednesday Bible Study
6:00pm
Youth Classes:
Nursery - 6th grade Sun & Wed
Jr & Sr High Discipleship Program Wed
Overcomer’s Outreach
Tuesday at 6:00pm - Annex
A Christ-centered, 12-Step
Recovery Support Group
Pastor Sharon Miller
401 Northgate, Pendleton
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton
Sunday Worship 9am
541-276-2616
Worship Broadcast on
KUMA 1290 @ 11am
191 E. Gladys Ave,Hermiston
Sunday Worship 11am
541-567-3002
Worship Livestream at
herfumc.com
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School -
10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Open Hearted...
Open Minded
Grace Baptist Church
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all
services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 pm
Wed Prayer & Worship -
7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
LCMC
Sunday worship at
11:00 AM
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Church
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton
ELCA
Join us Sundays
9:30
Sunday
Worship
9:30
am am
Sunday
Worship
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am Sunday School
& Adult Class
541-481-6132
~Come and be at Peace ~
Colin Brown, Pastor
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
Faith Center Church
Worshiping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Sunday Worship
10:30 am
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org
Community
Presbyterian Church
541-289-4535
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
BAHA’I FAITH
“The Unity of All Mankind”
Pendleton Baha’i Center at
1015 SE Court Place
Devotions Sundays @
11:00am; Everyone invited!
(541) 276-9360 visit us at
www.pendletonbahais.org
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Holy Communion Noon
Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group
All Are Welcome
To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678