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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 1995)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, OreQon Wednesday, July 5, 1995 - THREE Father Condon celebrates 4 0 years in priesthood Father Gerry Condon By April Sykes The love of working with the homeless started a career in the priesthood that would span 40 years. And the caring this beloved parish priest invested over the years is returned by the parishioners in St. Patrick's and St. William's churches-- indeed the whole community. The church and the communi ty helped Father Gerry Condon celebrate those 40 years with a party held June 17 at St. Patrick's. " I would never have believ ed it 40 years ago,” says Father Condon of his lengthy career. Father Condon, bom and rais ed in Dublin, Ireland, first decided to go into the priest hood after working with the homeless in Dublin. “ I think that through that I thought it would be a good thing to bring the Gospel of the Lord to other people,” he said. Following his work with the homeless, Father Condon at tended Melleray College in County Waterford, majoring in religion. After graduation he went to seminary at St. Patrick's Seminary at Thurles in County Tipperary. At that time, many young men chose to go into the priesthood. Seminary at St. Patrick's was geared to ministering in other countries and two other students there at the time also planned to come to Eastern Oregon. Father Condon says that his mother accepted him traveling so far away because Bible school to begin at IU C C "Friendship” is the theme of this year's vacation church school (VCS) at lone United Church of Christ, held July 10-14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. dai ly. The program is open to all children from ages four through those having just com pleted the sixth grade. There is no charge. Activities will include wor ship, music, stories, crafts, videos, games, snacks, and learning from the Heiffer Pro ject. The video, "T h e Secret Garden", will be shown at the church on Sunday, July 9, at 7 p.m. to kick off VCS. This story about the healing power of friendship will appeal to all ages, said a VCS spokesperson. Popcorn will be provided. The public is invited to attend. P loyhar I nsurance Auto ★ Life ★ Health ★ Home C om e and s e e us 127 N. Main • 676-5818 Heppner, OR so many young people emi grated from Ireland then. Father Condon contacted an organization in Chicago, the Catholic Church Extension Society, wifich helps to finance churches io very small areas and asked' them to give him names of places that needed clergy. received around a half dozen names and the first to answer ^tim was the Bishop of Baker, Frances Leipzig, who said there was an opening in Baker. - X Father Condon was 28 years old when he arrrived. He was never assigned to Baker though. His first assignment was at Lakeview on the Califor nia border. That parish took in the whole county and he and another priest served four chur ches, alternating time between them. After three years in the Lakeview Parish, Father Con don's Bishop had him on the road, pinch hitting at different places, the first of which was Heppner. Father Condon took over here while Father Gaire, Heppner's parish priest, re turned to Ireland because his father was dying. Father Con don served in Heppner that time for 2Vi months. After his stint in Heppner, he went to St. Bridgit's in Nyssa to cover for two priests who had gone to Mexico to study. From there he went to Red mond for three months. The priest there was sent on special assignment by the Bishop. After Redmond, Father Con don went to Condon and stayed there a year. Father Condon was then assigned to St. Mary's in the Wasco Parish. After nine years there, he was assigned to Mer rill, which is on the California border south of Klamath Falls. He stayed there for four years. Then the bishop needed some one in Ontario. After eight years there, he transferred back to Lakeview as pastor and stayed there six years, before he moved to Prineville, where he remained for four years. During Father Condon's ser vice in Prineville, he learned that one of his two sisters was diagnosed with cancer. He ob tained a leave of absence and traveled back to Ireland. His sister died a short time before he was to return to thtf U S- Upon his return, he was assigned to Heppner. During his stay in Heppner father Condon became eligible for a sabbatical, so he was able to return to Ireland for a while. After the sabbatical he decided to return to Heppner, where he has remained. He has beYn in Heppner for five years.'Father Condon says that the sabbatical is a good thing and allows for fcOntemplation about orje's life and future decisions* Some people opt for retirement, but he says he just wasn't ready. Father Condon says that he has gotten "sufficient satisfac tion" out of his career. Perhaps the greatest satisfaction, he says, was his involvement in organizing church renewal weekends. He was trained to coordinate the renewals and conducted a number of retreats at Ontario and several other parishes. This experience was all the more satisfying because he was able to work with the priest who had been involved in putting together the "m ar riage encounter" groups. "It was very rewarding," says Father Condon, "because it was so beneficial." Father Condon jokes that his greatest frustration is in learn ing to use the computer, but adds seriously that he found some of the changes brought on by the Second Vatican Council difficult to adjust to. Changing the Mass from Latin to English was difficult, he says, as was the change in the structure of the church-he was accustomed to having his back to the people, in the capacity of a leader, but that was changed so that priests were to face their congregations to deliver the Mass. Father Condon sees the clergy's greatest challenge in stabilizing the family. " I see our families disintegrating," says Father Condon. " I think we have to have a strong fami ly structure." He says that two of the biggest threats to the family are the economy, where both parents need to work and children are not cared for by family members, and divorce. "The children suffer the most," he says. Another aspect of con cern is the school system. "The school system has become such that there is no moral instruc tion given in school." Father Condon says he believes there will come a time in the Catholic church when priests will be allowed to marry. However, he says he doesn't think it will entirely cure some of the problems in the church. But, he adds, the church is working to solve those problems. In addition to pastoring St. Patrick's Church in Heppner and St. William's in lone, Father Condon offers counsel ing and is a licensed hypnotist. He uses hypnotism to help people relax, stop smoking and drinking and overcome their fears. He doesn't claim 100 per cent success, but says that it can be helpful. Of particular in terest to him is the use of hyp notism for pain co n tro l- helping people with chronic pain. MCGG rep attends Case IH sessions Bob Laughlin from Morrow County Grain Growers of Lex ington and Wasco recently join ed nearly 800 other Case IH dealership representatives for a first-hand look at the new Case IH 9300 Series STEIGER four- wheel-drive tractors and the Case Corporation manufactur ing facility in Fargo, ND. Laughlin attended the two day product launch including a tour of the 543,000 square- foot plant and special sessions devoted to new 9300 Series features. Laughlin also had the opportunity to get hands-on ex perience operating the six new STEIGER models: the 9330 at 235 hp, 9350 at 310 hp, 9370 at 360 hp, 9380 at 400 hp, plus the 9330 and 9350 Row-crop Special units with steerable front axles. "W e asked dealers who at tended the introduction what their customers would notice first about the 9300 Series," said Kelly Kravig, Case product manager-4WD tractors. "The STEIGER name on the grille and decal was the number one answer. Like Case IH, it's a name their customers equate with reliable, durable four- wheel-drive tractors." He add ed that Case IH and Steiger have been associated since 1986 when Case purchased the Fargo-based company. The STEIGER nameplate is not the only change to the 9300 COMPARE I YOUTI. GELIMI PK1URLÜU Equipment Cost Other Mini-Dish PRIMESTAR Systems $700-$1,500 $0 Extended W arranty 899 80 Free Equipment Upgrades rn m m a m 'm “W orry-free” service, with programming, maintenance and equipment from one reliable source WÊKÊÊÊÊÊÊÊmi O ver three years of experience ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ All the best network and cable programming No Yes Yes Yes Mini-dish system s are revolutionizing satelliteTV. But they’re also creating confusion for people who just want great satellite TV pro gramming at a sensible price. t o cut through the noise, all you have to do is compare PRIMESTAR with the compe tition. PRIMESTAR was the first mini-dish system ever. With all-digital technology and a price that starts at just about $1 a day, it’s still clearly the best. Take a look at this comparison chart. You’ll get the picture - crystal clear. P R I M E S S E R ' wi «RIMO tariiun tiuvision down to tartn itici Call TCI 1-800-422-4109 152 S.W. Nye Pendleton, OR 97801 Series. Other changes include increased horsepowers, strong er axles, an expanded choice of transmissions and increased hydraulic system pressure. "These features work together to enable the new Case IH STEIGER tractors to handle a wider range of implements," Kravig said. "With the 9300 Series, farmers can complete multiple functions in a single pass as well as handle row-crop applications. The net result is increased productivity." According to Kravig, all of the changes to the 9300 Series are customer-driven improve ments. These include modify ing the seat and controls so they are similar to those on the Case IH MAGNUM tractors, relocating the exhaust for bet ter visibility, and offering an optional storage box for tools and equipment. "Our dealers tell us that these are the four-wheel-drive tractors their customers have asked for," Kravig said. Headquartered in Racine, WI., Case Corporation is the se cond largest maker of agri cultural equipment in North America and the largest manufacturer and distributor of light and medium-sized con struction equipment in the world. Case products are sold in approximately 150 countries through a network of about 4,100 independent dealers and distributors. Lindy G ravelle to appear on TV Former Heppner resident Lindy Gravelle has been selected to perform in the finals of the Charlie Daniels Talent G e n u i n e Roundup on July 8. Performances are scheduled for 4 and 11 p.m. C h e v r o l e t ” Remember when your word was your Bond. - You sealed a deal with a handshake - That's still the way we do business today. 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