Getting hands dirty with science

SALEM — “It must have been a great day: You’re good and dirty,” said Carl Mucken, Queen of Peace principal, as the fourth-graders returned from a scientific inquiry adventure at Howard Creek.
A teacher and Jesus’ little disciples

VERBOORT — On the heels of its 10th anniversary, the preschool at Visitation School here will be expanding its “Little Knights” offerings.
Independent Learning Projects build lifelong skills

For Holy Family School eighth-graders, Jan. 2 was the beginning of the home stretch to completion of their Independent Learning Projects (ILPs). Initiated more than 20 years ago, the ILP program represents the Southeast Portland school’s commitment to lifelong learning. Beginning in September, eighth-grade students develop their projects for a presentation in the spring.
St. Andrew Nativity alumnus returns as board member

St. Andrew Nativity School in Northeast Portland recently welcomed Anthony Blake as the first graduate to serve on its board of trustees.
Waste not at Jesuit High

At Jesuit High School in Southwest Portland, students are encouraged to bring their waste back to school. For it to be properly recycled, of course.
Heroes in the making at Holy Redeemer

This year, Holy Redeemer School in North Portland is mindful that they are not only educating students, they are training heroes — heroes of faith, love and academics. The “hero” theme is being woven into the daily life of the teachers and students this year.
‘It’s all about the children’

For more than 50 years, Holy Names Sister Mary Ryan has been bringing children to Jesus in a variety of ways while serving at Catholic schools: as a teacher, principal, bus driver, morning care provider, development director and now as the new legacy giving director for Holy Cross School in North Portland.
Franciscan Montessori Earth School receives new accreditation

The Franciscan Montessori Earth School in Southeast Portland was accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association following an accreditation visit in November.
Robotics team ranked first in league

In its second year, the De La Salle North Catholic Knights robotics team ranked first in their league after a meet Dec. 14. The team is hoping to make it to the regional finals and perhaps even to the state competition.
Central Catholic Constitution Team prepares for regional competition

The Central Catholic Constitution Team diligently listens to social studies teacher Geoff Stuckart as he covers topics that likely will come up at their competition this month: political parties and voting rights.
A recipe for learning

Every Thursday morning, Joanne Cavill lays out ingredients, bowls, utensils and a recipe. She lines everything up, counts it out and gets ready for her students. Sounds like most standard cooking classes, except for one little thing: These aren’t culinary school students, this is the pre-K class at Cathedral School in Northwest Portland.
Blanchet School announces new campaign

SALEM — As Blanchet School prepares to celebrate 25 years of operation, the school recently announced the Complete the Dream Campaign. This $4.4 million campaign will have a significant impact on several major aspects of the school. Blanchet already has received more than $3.25 million in pledges during the silent phase of the campaign.
Groups seeking a save on Outdoor School grants

The Archdiocese of Portland is working with local organizations to make sure children in private education can keep taking part in Oregon’s beloved Outdoor School.
A priest and a dad co-teach a St. Agatha religion class

At the front of a St. Agatha School classroom, eighth-grade theology teacher Arnaud Prevot begins the day’s lesson on Advent and the sacraments. He’s just a few sentences into his introduction when another voice chimes in from across the room: “Advent comes from the Latin word ‘adventus,’ meaning ‘coming.’”
Pastor celebrates 15 years

On Dec. 27, three days after the Christmas Eve tragedy at Our Lady of Lavang Parish in Northeast Portland, parishioners joined together to celebrate Pastor Ansgar Pham’s 15 year jubilee. The pastor was ordained Dec. 27, 2003, in Taichung, Taiwan.
Send us your funny photo

The life of faith is not all serious. Especially at Catholic schools, we suspect there are hilarious, diverting and comical scenes.
St. Alice embraces perpetual adoration

SPRINGFIELD — Carmelo Varo sits in the parish office, a large five-mystery rosary hanging around his neck. Varo helped kick off a call for perpetual adoration at St. Alice Parish here, offering to man every night shift from 9 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. for 40 nights.
Former UP chaplain listed in sex abuse report

A former University of Portland chaplain, Holy Cross Father James Trepanier, is listed in a report of 18 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. Father Trepanier was chaplain from 1964 to 1967.
Knights build ramp for brother

SWEET HOME — When a long-time St. Helen Parish member and Knight of Columbus here fell ill and needed a wheelchair ramp at his home, his brother knights came to his aid.
Students facing high odds help one another

At Gonzaga University, a first-year student from a farm-working non-college family spoke at the university’s U.N.-sponsored International Day of Tolerance earlier this year.
Annual Jesuit food drive helps hundreds of local families

On Dec. 20, the Jesuit High School student center became a food sorting and distribution hub, with canned food reaching the ceiling, just more than 15 feet.
Filipinos celebrate rich Advent tradition

Holding “parols,” star-shaped lanterns inscribed with words such as “joy,” the organizers for Simbang Gabi Masses around the Archdiocese of Portland processed down the aisle of St. Mary Cathedral in Portland Dec. 15. The commissioning Mass kicked off Simbang Gabi, celebrated in the Filipino community in the days leading up to Christmas.
A parish honors its ‘cornerstones’

A North Portland pastor convened his flock Dec. 15 to honor four parishioners who have gone beyond the call of duty — for a long time.

Society of Christ Father Piotr Dzikowski had the parish hall set with tablecloths and a classic Polish buffet as a tribute to two couples — Velma and Pat Conte and Margot and Miroslaw Zychla.
UP mock trial team triumphs

The University of Portland mock trial team competed in the University of Oregon’s annual tournament Nov. 17-18, and for the first time in program history, U.P.’s A team won the tournament, with the B team taking third.
Students facing high odds help one another

At Gonzaga University, a first-year student from a farm-working non-college family spoke at the university’s U.N.-sponsored International Day of Tolerance earlier this year.
Apparition Re-enacted

Luis Heredia, dressed as St. Juan Diego, and Erika Tafoya, dressed as Our Lady of Guadalupe, pose for a shot after an apparition performance in honor of the Guadalupe feast day celebration at St. Matthew Parish in Hillsboro.
Oregon parish and African school ‘walk’ with each other

LAKE OSWEGO — Members of Our Lady of the Lake Parish are walking side by side with Tanzanian nuns, teachers and students who want to empower girls to help their east African nation.
Dancing for Our Lady

Men participate in a traditional danza de los viejitos, Spanish for dance of the old men, as part of the Guadalupe feast day festivities at St. Alexander Parish in Cornelius. The danze de los viejitos is a traditional folk dance in Michoacán, Mexico.
Faithful consecrate their lives to Mary

BEAVERTON — Dressed in white and holding their scapulars and miraculous medals, men, women and children of all ages sat in St. Cecilia Church here during the Spanish Mass celebrated for the Immaculate Conception of Mary Dec. 8.
Major decision: When and how to pick your field of study

When Danielle Teague enrolled in college, she had a plan. She was going to be a doctor.

A few premed classes in, however, and physical therapy seemed like a better fit. So, she changed her major to kinesiology. Not long into an internship, she had another revelation.
Western Catholic colleges

Interested in attending a Catholic college in the west? We've got the facts for you.
Volleyball season comes to close

Catholic Youth Organization wrapped up the 2018 volleyball season Nov. 17. The final day included amazing games that showcased hard work from coaches and players. The Spike Championship games were held at Valley Catholic School in Beaverton.
Money magazine says UP tops for value in Oregon

The University of Portland was named the best college in Oregon for value in an annual ranking by Money magazine.

U.P. ranked 115th nationally for value, up from 173th two years ago. Other Oregon schools featured in the rankings include Oregon State University, ranked at 312th; Lewis and Clark College, 441th; Reed College, 565th; and George Fox, 570th.
Table of remembrance

When Father Rodel de Mesa came to Holy Family Parish in Southeast Portland five years ago, he brought a longstanding Filipino tradition with him — a table of remembrance.
Singing Marian prayers

Men and women sat and kneeled in the pews surrounding the altar at St. Juan Diego Parish in Northwest Portland as Aaron Thompson brushed the keys of the piano, creating the notes for his song. Thompson, a parishioner at the parish, sang an arrangement of the rosary, which he’d composed himself for the bimonthly sung rosary here.
Hot Shots hoops: Learning and fun

Catholic Youth Organization completed another fall Hot Shots season on Nov. 10. Hot Shots is the CYO basketball program for first- and second-graders.

Eight of the nine teams chose to play in the end-of-season tournament. There were two tournament pools, one at Holy Family Parish in Southeast Portland and the other at Holy Redeemer Parish in North Portland.
Making a difference one sandwich at a time

The Holy Family cafeteria was abuzz with activity Nov. 20 as third- and seventh-grade students packed 120 sack lunches for Willamette Women’s Shelter. Each month, two grades at the Southeast Portland school work together to make the sandwiches, which they then place in brown bags along with fresh fruit, granola bars and bottled water.
Catholic schools out in football

Top-ranked Lake Oswego High knocked both Central Catholic and Jesuit out of the Oregon 6A prep football bracket. Central Catholic went down to the Lakers 35-24 on Nov. 16 and Jesuit lost 24-14 in the Nov. 23 semifinal.
Regis St. Mary community prepares meals for the hungry

STAYTON — On Oct. 26, the Regis St. Mary community gathered to help feed hungry children. Teachers, administrators, parents, grandparents and students ranging from kindergarten to high school took part in two-hour packing sessions to prepare meals for children around the world.
The power of mercy

Charlotte Dorsey, a longtime volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society through Our Lady of the Mountain Parish in Ashland, works to see Christ in the people she helps. “And as we go out, we’re being Christ to others, at least the best we know how. I like thinking about that going on around the world.”
Smiling saints

After the All Saints’ Day Mass, Fr. Maxy D’Costa, pastor of St. John the Apostle Parish in Oregon City, poses with the parish school’s kindergarten students, who dressed as an array of saints.
O’Hara music teacher honored

EUGENE — Kathryn Leonard, a full-time music specialist at O’Hara School here, was named September’s recipient of the Excellence in Education Award presented by radio station New Country 93.3 and Northwest Community Credit Union.
Marylhurst auctioned off items

An Oregon Catholic college that closed its doors this summer auctioned off assets starting this month

Marylhurst University, eight miles south of Portland, sold furniture, equipment and other property during an online auction.
Inspired at 105

BEAVERTON — At 105, Rose Hutchinson talks sweetly about her faith as she sits just outside the nave at Holy Trinity Parish here. With so many years behind her, and so much wisdom, she still goes to Mass.
Byzantine bishop visits Portland

St. Irene Virgin and Great Martyr Byzantine Parish in North Portland welcomed the mission’s bishop, Bishop John Pazak, last month.
‘I never knew that’

ASHLAND — After adult faith formation sessions at Our Lady of the Mountain Parish here, Dr. Paul Arnold often hears parishioners say something like: “I have been a Catholic my whole life and I never knew that.”
‘I can sense the Lord walking around’

St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteers from Sacred Heart Parish in Southeast Portland lug heavy bundles of food down steep stairs to the church pantry. To organize the supplies, they scuttle like a submarine crew in the narrow basement passages of the century-old rectory. They pack boxes and then head out into the neighborhood every weekday, two by two.
Remembering the dead
Giving thanks for the graces

ALOHA — Mike Tran remembers the beginning, sitting beside his parents as they silently prayed the rosary, not understanding the English Mass.

There was a pastoral need for a Vietnamese Mass on the west side of Portland, says Deacon Michael Chau Pham. Tran points to the deacon as one of the founding members of the mission church of St. Andrew Dung-Lac, which celebrated its 25th anniversary Oct. 27.
Leonetti to speak in Stayton

STAYTON — Immaculate Conception Parish here will be hosting “Surge of the Heart Parish Mission” Nov. 25-27 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.

The event, which will feature Catholic speaker and author Jon Leonetti, has been called “one of the most inspiring parish missions available in America today” by Matthew Kelly, founder of Dynamic Catholic.
Parish to hold Thanksgiving dinner

LINCOLN CITY — St. Augustine Parish will host a free Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. in the church community room.

Event coordinator Pat Bauer said that more than 500 meals were served last year, including takeout and dinners delivered to homebound people. The dinner is open to the entire north Lincoln County community, said Bauer.
Oregon’s long history of ethnic-rooted parishes

For more than 100 years, immigrant communities in Oregon have raised up parish communities to minister to their needs. In Southeast Portland, St. Philip Neri Parish was built to serve Italian immigrants. In Roy, St. Francis was built by early Dutch settlers. Along Highway 30, St. Wenceslaus in Scappose was born out of the needs of a Czech community. In North Portland, St. Stanislaus Parish remains today the destination for Polish Mass and community.
Bridging the future and the past

For young seminarians, it was chance to meet retired priests who themselves once were young students. For older priests, it was a night to witness the future leaders of the church. For supporters of the church at St. Pius X Parish in Northwest Portland, the Shephard’s Legacy Seminarian and Retired Priest dinner Sept. 29 was a night to witness both.
Hundreds gather for Rosary Bowl

SALEM — “Hail Mary, full of Grace. The Lord is with thee.” The phrase is one often heard as part of the Hail Mary prayer and the rosary, but hundreds of people saying it in unison is rare. The beauty of the sound can be found at the Rosary Bowl held each fall in Salem.
Discerning spirits

The priest walks into the room. Outside the door, he breaths in and out — his breath clearly visible in the perceived chill surrounding him. He walks into the room where his brother priest is kneeling dead against the bed.
Valley Catholic wins fifth Oregonian Cup

BEAVERTON — Early last month, Valley Catholic kicked off the school year with an all-school Mass followed by a special presentation by Kyle Stanfield of the Oregon School Activities Association in honor of Valley Catholic’s fifth Oregonian Cup.
Threats made at St. Mary Parish

EUGENE — When a man who’d been attending 9 a.m. Mass at St. Mary here came forward for Communion, few might have suspected the man would later be in jail after making numerous threats to the parish.