8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL May 31, 2017
F AITH
CG Catholic church says goodbye to its priest
By Cindy Weeldreyer
His unique sense of humor is what
members of Our Lady of Perpetual Cath-
olic Church will remember most about
their departing priest, Roy Antunez, as he enters a new chapter of
his life. He began his appointment in July 2011 and for the nearly
six years he served this parish he was well-liked and will be missed.
“I’m so sad!” Parishioner Penny Bierly said. “He and I came to
OLPH about the same time and I will really miss his unique ser-
mons. As a Jesuit-trained priest, he educates and doesn’t preach, so
we get great little lessons in the service each week. He also includes
humor in the mass. I’ll always remember how he announced to us
he was going to have surgery. He said, ‘You people make me sick.'
and we all laughed.”
She also praised his culinary skills and recalled the time she was
invited to the monthly dinner he hosts in his home as a way to get to
know his parishioners better.
“I was lucky to have one dinner in his home. The table was beau-
tifully set and the food was heavenly,” Bierly recalled.
Betty Krumlauf worked closely with Antunez as the coordinator
of the church education program and parish hall. She also will re-
member him for his sense of humor and his humbleness.
“He’s a private person who doesn’t like to be the center of atten-
tion, Krumlauf said. “He dresses simply in black clothes but never
wears a priest’s collar. He always introduces himself by simply say-
ing, ‘Hi, I’m Roy.’ We worked closely together and laughed togeth-
er and I will miss him dearly.”
Cottage Grove City Councilor K. Michael Roberts is a lifelong
Catholic and a cancer survivor. For many years he was a “Dead-
head” who followed the Grateful Dead band around the country.
For The Sentinel
Later in life, after being diagnosed with bladder cancer, he made a
holy vow to return to the faith of his youth if God would heal him.
“After God healed me, I went to OLPH once and then stopped,”
Roberts recalled. “When I went back it was on Father Roy’s fi rst
day and we hit it off right away. I spent many years on the road with
the Grateful Dead. I believe, as a Jesuit, Father Roy would make a
good Deadhead because the band strongly believes love conquers
all and the core of his preaching is to love one another.”
As head acolyte (priest assistant), Roberts developed a close
friendship with Antunez. In addition to his duties as a priest, Rob-
erts appreciates Antunez’s skills as a gardener, reader, and gourmet
cook.
“I believe Father Roy’s most signifi cant contribution has been
with the local Hispanic community,” Roberts said. “He has provid-
ed a great deal of support by offering bilingual services and services
conducted in all in Spanish both here and in Creswell.”
Parishioners praised Antunez for the compassion and attention
he provides to others. He quickly learned their names, stays closely
connected to them so he can highlight the milestones in their lives
in his services.
Krumlauf illustrated an example of his commitment to serve oth-
ers in a parish that stretches across two counties, from Creswell to
Yoncalla and Elkton.
“One time he had to drive to Yoncalla twice because he got down
there and the gate was locked,” she recalled. “He didn’t have their
phone number so he had to drive back to Cottage Grove and call
them and then drive back down there again for the visit. That’s al-
most 100 miles of driving and it shows how much he cares about
serving people.”
The 82-year-old priest came to OLPH after serving a decade at
St. Alice Catholic Church in Springfi eld. The Santa Maria, Calif.
native graduated from Santa Maria High School and attended one
year of junior college before serving three-and-a-half years in the
U.S. Air Force. He then entered the Jesuit Order in Sheridan, Ore.
in 1958.
When asked why he chose to become a priest he replied, “I grew
up Catholic. The years I served as an altar boy created in me the
desire to become a priest. I love
helping people and working
with them in ministry.”
In 1971, he graduated from
the Jesuit School of Theology
at Berkley, Calif. and pursued
graduate studies at UCLA,
Couple preaches in Cottage Grove
In the last 15 years
there
hasn’t been very
For The Sentinel
many moments in the
life of Aaron and Heidi Earlywine’s when they
weren’t on the move in the Cottage Grove com-
munity. The Earlywine’s have had involvement
with ‘ACE charter school’, the ‘Grove Christian
Camp’, ‘Safe Families’, and Aaron is the lead
pastor of 6th and Gibbs church. They also have
six children, so it’s safe to say they remain busy.
They say it’s all worth it.
“I want to be as authentically close to the
self-sacrifi cing that needs done in this world as
I can be,” said Heidi. “How many times have I
gotten a coffee or a pair of shoes that I didn’t need
when there are people starving on this planet?”
Before landing a youth ministry position at
6th and Gibbs church n 2002, the Earlywine’s
bounced between ministry jobs and working at
a grocery store in Boise, ID and Ontario, OR.
Not very long after being youth pastor at 6th and
Gibbs, offers began rolling in for Aaron from oth-
er church’s.
“After we had been at this church for a while
we started getting job offers. Once, in fi ve days
we received four job offers, not so much offers,
but where they called us and asked us to apply.
We said, ‘Lord what is it you are saying to us?’
This was unexpected and unsolicited. So we went
golfi ng on May 21st (the couple’s anniversary).
We both fasted and golfed and felt like, ‘two
years, we were going to stay here for two years.’
So we were golfi ng that day and then on May 21st
two years later he (Aaron) was offi cially congrat-
ulated for being senior pastor at 6th and Gibbs.
That was supernatural we felt,” Heidi said.
Now Aaron and Heidi will be taking their six
children to India, starting in September, for four
months. The Earlywine’s have recently been ex-
ploring several different locations for the family
to have a cultural, impactful, and educational ex-
perience.
“The school (from India) came to our church
to share what their school was like. We talked to
them and we were kind of excited about it. That
was a couple of years ago, Aaron said. “We want-
ed it to be a place where we were helpful to the
people, encouraging to those that were there, and
helpful to the students. So we fi gured out that In-
dia would provide that opportunity to us. We also
wanted a place that our education would benefi t
not just the students, but also the teachers.”
Aaron will be teaching at a local bible college
near the school where Heidi will be teaching spe-
cial education classes. The property where they
will be staying includes a church, an orphanage,
and the school that has 2,400 kids and 140 staff
By Kyle McGowen
members, roughly. The family will be staying in
a boy’s dormitory.
“At fi rst we weren’t sure if we would be that
helpful to them, but it’s been great getting their
response,” Aaron added. “It’s a big deal for a
school to have American teachers come, and it’s
an even bigger deal to have Americans stay for
an entire term.” “We wanted to be more than just
a fl ash in the pan so that we could learn about
it and also be a benefi t to the school and to the
students.”
However, it’s not just Aaron and Heidi that will
be involved. “we looked for a place where all of
our kids could be involved. Our own kids will be
teaching ballet, English slang, and even our little
kids will be helping out in classrooms. That’s one
of the things that drove us to India, was that all
of our kids could be involved. It wasn’t the same
with all of the other missions we were looking
into,” Aaron said.
For many, leaving the country for four months
would be challenging enough, convincing six
children for some would be an even bigger of a
challenge. But the family is excited.
“We want them to be minorities. I want them
so badly to try to make people understand them
after the person has already judged them,” Heidi
said. “I had a lot of privilege growing up and I’ve
always been assertive. If I need medical care, I go
get medical care. Nobody treats me badly. But in
Ministry we have been able to go with people to
their medical appointments and be treated terri-
bly. Because for some reason there is a prejudice
against that person, either that be because of their
class, race, or whatever. I’m shocked when that
happens. I defi nitely have a heart for that and I
just want my kids to care for equity.”
Heidi has had a lot of involvement in the past
at “ACE charter school” but stepped down from
an offi cial role last spring to pursue a one-year
licensing program through Northwest Christian
University. The Charter school continues to rent a
building from 6th and Gibbs church. In the mean-
time, Aaron (who previously attended Boise Bi-
ble college) is also back in school, looking to earn
a degree from Liberty University.
“So because of us not knowing exactly what we
are going to be doing next, we asked to take a
leave of absents from the church for four months
and go teach abroad with our entire family. The
kids will be enrolled for an entire term in India.”
6th and Gibbs church currently has roughly 160
weekly attenders and meets Sundays at 9:00 am
and 10:30 am until Father’s Day when they will
begin having one service at 10:00 am through the
summer. While Aaron is gone in India his associ-
ate will take over for him.
Forgiveness: Forgiving Yourself and Others with God’s
Help
Do you fi nd it challenging to forgive yourself
or other people? A class on forgiveness will be
offered from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays,
June 20 through August 8 (no class on July
4). The class is at the Cottage Grove United
Methodist Church at 334 Washington St. For
the fi rst three sessions, we will watch a video
by Pastor Rob Bell, followed by group discus-
sion facilitated by Pastor Lura Kidner-Miesen.
The fi nal four weeks will involve group dis-
cussion of Pastor Adam Hamilton’s book For-
giveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go.
All are welcome. For more information, or to
order the $10 book, call the church offi ce at
541-942-3033.
where he spent his fi nal year studying French Literature in Paris.
He’s also bilingual and speaks three languages: English, French and
Spanish.
After earning his master’s degree he studied three years of Phi-
losophy at Mount St. Michaels in Spokane. He then taught French,
Latin and English at Spokane’s Gonzaga Prep School for another
three years. In the last three decades, he has enjoyed his appoint-
ments to a variety of churches in Oregon, Washington, Montana
and Hawaii.
Antunez was on vacation and unable to be interviewed for this
story. In a Sentinel story in 2011, he said, “After serving ten years
at St. Alice, I requested a smaller church for my next assignment.”
Rev. Antunez said. “I’m happy to be assigned to OLPH and to St.
Philip Benizi in Creswell. It’s a good fi t for me at this time in my
life.”
Rev. Lawrence Crumb of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church enjoyed
a friendship with Antunez and the pair occasionally met for lunch.
“He is a pleasant person to spend time with,” Crumb said. “We
had a lot in common being close in age. We were in seminary at the
same time and we talk about how it was then and how it is now.”
For years the two churches have worked well together to raise
funds for Community Sharing by organizing the Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Supper on the night before Lent begins. Crumb said he
appreciates Antunez continued support of using the parish hall for a
wide variety of community events.
“He is a humble and kindly man,” Crumb said. “I was glad I had
the opportunity to attend one of his last services. I wish him well as
he relocates to Los Angeles to work with the poor there.”
Krumluf said she understands why he is moving on. “He took
this parish because it was smaller but he didn’t realize how much
work there is to do here. People expect him to be on-call around
the clock.”
“I don’t think I’d be the person I am today,” Roberts admitted,
“without the positive infl uence Father Roy has had on my life. We
all wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his life.”
Antunez will preach one more service at OLPH on Sunday, June
25 at 10:30 a.m.
Worship
Directory
DRAIN:
HOPE U.M.C.
131 W “A” St. Drain, OR
541-315-1617
Pastor: Lura Kidner-Miesen
Fellowship & Song: 11:30am
Potluck Lunch: 12:00pm
Worship: 12:30pm
Cottage Grove Faith Center
33761 Row River Rd. • 541-942-
4851
Lead Pastor: Kevin Pruett
www.cg4.tv
Full Childrenʼs Ministry available
Two Services 9am & 11am
COTTAGE GROVE:
6th & Gibbs Church of
Christ
195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822
Pastor: Aaron Earlywine
Youth & Families Pastor: Seth
Bailey
Services: 9am and 10:30am
Christian Education
Nursery for pre-k - 3rd Grade
www.6thandgibbs.com
Calvary Baptist Church
77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290
Pastor: Riley Hendricks
Sunday School: 9:45am
Worship: 11:00am
The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm
Praying Thru Life: Wednesday
6:00pm
Delight Valley
Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Rd. East
541-942-7711
Pastor: Bob Friend
Two Services:
9am - Classic in the Chapel
10:30am - Contemporary in the
Auditorium
First Presbyterian Church
3rd and Adams St • 541-942-
4479
Pastor: Karen Hill
Worship: 10:00am
Sunday School: 10:00am
www.cgpresbynews.com
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and St. Philip Benizi
Catholic Churches
1025 N. 19th St.
541-942-3420 / 541-942-4712
Pastor: Roy L. Antunez, S.J.
Euch. Liturgies; Sat. 5:30pm
Sun. 10:30am
St. Philip Benizi, Creswell:
552 Holbrock Lane • 541-895-
8686
Sunday: 8:30am
St. Andrews Episcopal
Church
1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050
Rev. Lawrence Crumb
“Church with the fl ags.”
Worship: Sunday 10:30am
All Welcome
Seventh-day Adventist
Church
820 South 10th Street
541-942-5213
Pastor: Kevin Miller
Hope Fellowship
Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am
United Pentecostal Church
Worship Service: Saturday,
100 S. Gateway Blvd. • 541-942- 10:40 am
2061
Mid-week Service: Wednesday,
Calvary Chapel Cottage
Pastor: Dave Bragg
1:00 pm
Grove
Worship: 11:00am Sunday
1447 Hwy 99 (Village Plaza)
Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Trinity Lutheran Church
541-942-6842
www.hopefellowshipupc.com
6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373
Pastor: Jeff Smith
“FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE” Pastor: James L. Markus
Two Services on Sun: 9am &
Sunday School & Adult Education
10:45am
Living Faith Assembly
9:15am
Youth Group Bible Study
Sunday Worship 10:30 am
Child Care 10:45am Service Only 467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612
Pastor Rulon Combs
Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue &
www.cgcalvary.org
Worship & Childrenʼs
Thur 5:00pm TLC Groups
Church 10:00 am
tlccg.com
Center for Spiritual Living
Youth 180 Mondays 5:30-8pm
Cottage Grove
United Methodist Church
700 Gibbs Ave. (Community
Non-Denominational
334 Washington • 541-942-3033
Center)
Church of Christ
Pastor:Lura Kidner-Miesen
Rev. Bobby Lee
1041 Pennoyer Ave * 541-942-
Worship: 10:30am
Meets Sunday 3:00 p.m.
8928
Comm. Dinner (Adults $5, Kids
cslcottagegrove@gmail.com
Preacher: Tony Martin
Free)
Sunday Bible Study:10:00am
2nd & 3rd Monday 5-6:00pm
Church of Christ
cottagegroveumc.org
420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565 Sunday Worship:10:50am &
5:30pm
Sunday Service: 10:30am
www.pennoyeravecoc.com
“VICTORY” Country Church
Cottage Grove Bible Church Old Time Gospel Fellowship 913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913
Pastor: Barbara Dockery
103 S. 5th St. • 541-942-4999
1200 East Quincy Avenue
Worship Service: 10:00am
Pastor: Jim Edwards
541-942-4771
Message:
11:00am
Sunday Service: 10:00am
Pastor:Bob Singer
Join us in Traditional
“WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES”
Worship 11am
Christian Worship
Sunday School:9:45am
AWANA age 3-8th Grade,
Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm
www.cgbible.org
Worship With Us!
Our Worship Directory is a weekly feature
in the newspaper. If your congregation
would like to be a part of this directory,
please contact the
Cottage Grove Sentinel
@ 541-942-3325