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