Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1987)
I ht lli-ppm i (.u z ilt i I im o . Ilr p p n r r , OrrtiiiM M arch I I , IW * sfAfN St. Patrick's Catholic Church has changed during it's 100 years First Church built in 1887 father Cunrardy huilt the first Catholic Church erected in this vicinity at Vinson. 30 miles from Heppnei. where he conducted ser v ices and ministered to the spiritual needs ol the scattered Catholics ol the area I his first Church, more correctly termed a chapel, was a small simple, and humble slabwood building, constructed entirely by the Irish families who lived nearby About the time that the railroad lust came to Hcppncr. then a very small town, a meeting was held in the chapel at Vinson to discuss the building ol a church m the Ifeppner settlement A dispute arose about where the Church should be located VS hile some considered the lower ground in the canyon a more lavorable site, others, remembering an earlier flood, desired higher ground be chosen lo decide the matter a committee composed ol Jeirv Hrosnan W illiam Hughes. James Hagar. Patrick Quaid. helix Johnson. James Neville. William Mac Alec and John Quinlan was ap pointed High ground was chosen, and the wisdoiil ol the selection was dramatically revealed later when people fled to the protection of Ihe Church during the disastrous Hepp net flood in 1903 lont Qua id donated the land and subscriptions were taken up to cover the cost Non Catholics also contributed generouslv and helped willingly un til the building was completed in I «87 Because ol the nationality of most ot the parishioners, the Church was naturally dedicated to St Patrick Ihe first Pastor of St Patrick s Church was father Mcrcier Ihe lust recorded baptism was ol Kose r Electrolysis & Thermolysis Permanent Hair Removal Anna Schwa run Certified Electntlogist • 676-9248 J } Open Tuesdays Only l) ’ or liy Appointment s a r Ann Kenny i M is John Healy l I he first recorded marriage was of John Kilkenny and Kose Ann Curran barley withKev Briody officiating father larmay . the second pastor, was followed by father Hola. who went to Pi inland after leaving Hepp ner father Servant, a young french Canadian priest was pastor lor on ly a short time f ather Heutigen said Mass at Vinson and at the home of Patrick Doherty on his |ourneysto Hcppncr father Hruxly. who was the chaplain at St Joseph s Academy at Pendleton in 18 9 ', rode over to Hcppncr on Sundays from St An drew s Mission near Pendleton father Briody was an elderly man and later had to give up the long trips and hard riding fhesc early mis sionaries shortened the distance somewhat bv following Indian trials across country I Ties usually stayed overnight on the way with Patrick Doherty father M J Kelly became pastor of St Patrick's Parish about the tall of I HUH He had the practice of "m aking the stations' in Ihe Sand, which means visiting the various families He visited each home o i k c in the tall, and again in the spring to enable Ihe settlers to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to give the Irish sheepherders an opjxir (unity to fulfill their faster duty His parish included not only Morrow County , but extended to M aw die. Spray, fo ssil and Condon, until Condon was made a separate parish in I sit 17 He traveled throughout this area by team and buggy always car rving two suitcases One suitcase was filled with red bags of black and cream candy, and a bag was given to the children of every farm Iv on each of his visits father Kcl Iv cniovcd taking long walks, usually followed by all ot the children while he read his Daily O ffice He occa sionallv found it necessary, when visiting distant parishioners, to nuke his own Hosts tor use in the Mass rh is s u u ll. grav haired, very gmxl natured priest with a hearty laugh, was perhaps one of the most helov cd priests of this sparsely populated parish Bishop O 'Reilly visited Heppner for the first time in I 1* ! ! . whic h was two vears before the creation of the Dnxese of Baker City During these earlier tunes Mass was said in Heppner only once a month It was on one of these "Church Sundavs in 1 9 0 'that the at Bucknums Saturday, Mar. I4th. II :30 a.m. Gary Largent, Auctioneer Bet on the team of your choice! Proceeds gt> to St. Patrick 's D ay Celebration & Muscular Distrophy $50.00 to the winning hedrace team' B u ck n u m ’s Tavern h l i * y t t h t t i i i zmmmblmx M m M C hurch built in Hcppncr flood incurred father John Walsh was in Hepp ner while father Kelly was on leave in 19 0 ' until Father Kelly returned on November I Ihe Chapel C ar. St Anthonv" came to the Heppner Parish in Oi tober I9 | | This car was brought in by the train and left on the sidings while missions were given in lone, Irxington and Hcppncr father I J Bradv and his helper Mr (¡eorge Hcnnessy, lived on the .a r At this time, father Patrick Driscoll was in charge of the parish, father Kcllv being on leave father Patrick J O 'Rourke was appointed as father K c llv 's sue cessor on January I3 . |9 |2 father O'Rourke started on monthly visits to the Sand Country He look a train to Irvington or "Church Sunday, was met by someone, and was taken from there on a hack to the Juniper School Ihis school had an altar which could be pushed out of the way during the sc hool hours father O Kourkc started catechism insiruc tion classes tor the children, orgaru/ ed the Sand Altar Society . and even began to plan tor a Church in Jumper Canyon After the school burned down. Mass was said in the different homes Ihe practice of saving Mass in the Irn a Hall at Ir n a . about I ' miles from Hcppncr. was also begun by father O'Rourke A rectory was purchased and the Church was un proved during his pastorate Prior to this time a priest in Heppner cither had to board or stay at the Palace Hotel During the year Id 12. Sister Col letta. O S B . of Illinois, opened a hospital and school in Heppner the attempt tailed because ot the small number of Catholics there and the lack ol sufficient support When the State Convention of the Ancient Order of Hibernians w a s held in Heppner in November |9 |4 Bishop O Reilly was present fa th e r O 'R o u rk e was ad riunistrator of the Dnxese from December V I9 I8 until April I I9 |9 After being transferred to Ihe 197 1 Datles he was sucvceded as pastor bv f ather fhomas Canlwell I ather Canlw ell. a tali blonde ciirlv haired priest. disliked thè idea ot a c hurch in thè Sancì preterì mg a conunumlv hall which could also he used as a chuich I bus thè Jumper Hall wheri Mass was sani once a molliti was bulli bv lix .il labor ahi Hit l*<24 al a site 2I miles from Heppner W hen I ather ( untwell vistici! Irrtand ili l ‘*22. I ather fe lix I < ieis w a s m s barge o t t h è par isti m i d i b is return ori lune 2'* I ‘*2 ' Bishop fra n o s I eip/ig as a voung priest viviteli Hcppncr Ini thè tiist tmie with Bishop M .(¡ratti when thè Kmghts ot ( olumbus were imtially orguiuzed mi March If> |924 Ihe mother ol falhcr Canlwell had been m fading heallh and I ather Canlwell Ielt Ini I r e Lirici in lune |9 2’ Stie passed awav uiltortunale Iv before he reached home \s fie prepared to return lo Heppner father ( untwell dio! mi Ik.e m b e r 'ti 1 9 7 7 ami was buried in ( ounty Kilkenny fa th e r Iho m as I B ra d v . re ri io nhered iti Morrow ( minly ho ause ol his earlier v isit ss ufi thè Chapel ( ai houine pastor un January I l*>28 He fi.nl ali intense dcvotion and love for thè Cure of Ars aixl thimigh la ttxr Bradv set forts. a shrine in honor ol thè sani! Iv Patron ol Baristi Priesls was eretteli to thè memorv ut I ather Canlwell \t Ihis tuiu' thè Heppner pastor cared fot Mission Ntations al Birce pl.ues Jumper Ione and I a - iiu father Br.nlv undertook tlie con strile don ot a plani wtHxIen c hurch at Board man wtih Mass hemg sani there monthlv Because of thè gre.it distarne by wav ol thè Heppner Junclion. Boardm.ui was piai ed in thè care of thè Hermislon patisti father B J Nt.n k who hcc.iine pastor ot St Badie k s Baristi in 1929 continuili traveling to thè Sani! to sav Mass ur.J i are (or thè spiritual needs ol thè [xsiple there Il was dunng ho pastorale Ihat a long j I TOWN HALL MEETING Heppner Senior citizens have begun selling tickets tor a drawing on a boat, motor, and trailer Prixccds will go toward the senior iiliz c n center building lurid Ihe fsi.it and trailer, licensed through 1987, was donated bv Juilv SS it tekind. B ill and Daisy Collins' daughter Ihe motor was donated bv Dr SS allace SSoltl I nkets will be on sale during Ihe St Patrick's Dav celebration in Hepp net lor SI each or seven lor A A } * l# * * » » * » * * H * * * * * t * * * * * t ii I I Í * * * * * * * ELKS DANCE Night Train w ill be playing at the : Heppner E lk s Club Sat. March 24th from 8-2. Join us for some fun! 'i* * * * * * * * * * * * ' i Î * County Levies * Health Budget * School Levies * Bark District * Candidates tor Mar. 31st. I lection Coffee and punch will he served Sponsored by 1CABO Ì Senior citizens sponsor boat drawing Wednesday March IStli. i ?7:00p.m.-Ione High School Cateteri^ I Come hear discussions on; Ç 1 \ / -L 1 1 —---- rrrrrrrn ■ '“ X - n r 4 ‘ 4 m i>K\< l CALCUTTA! I Prp^pnt on the hall was burned on August I A. ' .gin and ihe depression struck I**n', in the presence ot Bishop B . people of Morrow Countv fore I cipzig and about I All parishioners mg munv to abandon their honx-s Die 2,'th Anniversary of father n:d move elxcwhete At the present tmx" the Sand has tew residents Beard's ordination to the priesthood compared to the vears when it was celebrated on Mav It* |9hb p o s s e s s e d s o mans Irish Catholic follow ing the Mass, a banquet was tannin-' W ithout doubt father held in the parish hall lor Bishop si.nk had a verv hard tune cluing this Leipzig. *b priests and the laitv |X"iuxl when many were unable lo Ifus event was one ol the largest gatherings i4(llil in the historv ot the contribute vers much to the upkeep ol the parish parish t ather JuttK's t> Reillv who sin Ihe latest chapter in the storv ol cceded father Stack in |9 'h was in St I'atrick s began in April I9 7 l Hcppncr only a shorl I iiik - and was Restricted by lack ol space and in turn followed bv father James threatened bv rising maintenance costs, the parish embarked on con SSalsh I attici AS alsh was m Heppner less struction ot a new church building in Heppner Renxiv.il ol the l**4l than a year I tie rectory was some distaine troni the ( 'hurch and to save structure began on April 19, |9 7 | time he would lake a short cut bv Die new church is a triumph of wav ol a narrow hmi bridge over e xce lle n t design and superb ss Blow ( reek In the darkness one workiiunship Ihe crossed arches night utter services at the Church. soar above a pleasing harmony of woixl. brick and glass expressing a I ather Walsh tell from this bridge into the water Sn elderly man. he brilliant blending of attractiveness died sisni alter in st Anthony and practicality Hospital m Rendición ol the iniuries Bishop Thomas J Connolly and a wInch resulted from his accident former Bishop fra n c o B Leipzig I atliei Richard Healy. (vistor from were invited to dedicate thenew |*D7 until 1940. was succeeded bv church on November It). 1971, and father I rain is McCormack who to share the |ov of the parish at a became pastor on April 7, 1940 banquet after the concelebrated Mass I ithei M cCorm ack w orked with the former pastors and present unceasingly lor a new church in pastor fu rly 111 Id 'U . father Beard was Heppner. and ground tor the project transferred from St Bal tic k s church was broken on September 17. |94l I he new church with an exterior of to Milton I reewater I ather John A red brick vencct was completed O 'Brien was appointed lo take over November 27 1**41 Bishop Joseph at St Balnck's on January |A. 1974 t SU (¡rath dedicated the new St and remained pastor until his death B.urick s Church with '0 priesls in December I9H2 Death came present tor the ceremony while father O ’ Brien w o on leave I tie old ( hurch building w.r. sold visiting 111 Ireland father David and reniixleled for use as an Hazen was appointed administrator American I egion Hall to St Patrick's from December of father lla n o s M cCorm ack's 1982 unlit January ot 19 8 ' father I s year term as pastor ended when Beard returned lot a brief stay lo t ather Batrick 1 (¡aire was assign cover the Parish until a permanent ed to Heppner on September I . Pastor was appointed l ather Brian I ** a A I .iilier ( ¡aire served lour years J Mcdovern filled that appointment is pastor until he was chosen to he 111 March of 198' and remained I lux esali Historian on September I through January l**8b Since that |9S9 tune father fd w ard Kececoni. Ihe new pastor, l ather Raymond ( ) S B has administered to the ix-isls H Beard arrived in Heppner for his of the Parish lust Masson September 4. 19S9 It father Mercier. the first pastor ot w.ic fortunate that he was a capable St Patrick’ s in 1887. would surely bulkier as his first iiiaior task was to gasp at the profound changes which continue construction ot the new have ixcurred 111 the past 1(10 years parish fiali tor which ground had The magntficant new church struc been broken on August I 7. 19A9 lure stands m tribute to the sac ritices I he new lull was officially dedicateli made bv munv good priests and the bv Bishop 1 r.ms is B Icip /ig on efforts of dedicated lav people t ebniurv 21 1900 father Beard at through several generations lacked the debt retirement with his c'ustonurv vigor, and the mortgage TOWN HALL MEETING Tuesday, March 17 7 p m at Heppner Grade School Multipurpose Room Representatives from the following groups will he present: Heppner Hotel Project Port of Morrow Candidates Morrow County Operating Budget Morrow County Health Care Budget Willow Creek Park District Sponsored by Morrow Co. Chamber of Commerce
