Update to SJA Parish Missions
The compassion of the SJA community is surpassed only by its generosity to serve both home and abroad. Our Parish is currently seeking individuals who will work as a Committee to research several options in establishing a Sister Parish Mission. The purpose of this type of sisterly relationship is to: raise consciousness of the global church and its place in the world; to increase sensitivity to the needs of the poor and less fortunate while sharing our unique cultural differences; and to provide opportunities for hands-on lay involvement.
A task force of SJA Parishioners has already been at work researching several options. Possible mission locations are in Central America, Haiti, Mexico, The Phillipines, South America, Bangkok and rural United States of America. If you have an interest in serving the poorest of the poor, be a voice in continuing the search and help make decisions in selecting a Sister Parish Mission site.
A task force of SJA Parishioners has already been at work researching several options. Possible mission locations are in Central America, Haiti, Mexico, The Phillipines, South America, Bangkok and rural United States of America. If you have an interest in serving the poorest of the poor, be a voice in continuing the search and help make decisions in selecting a Sister Parish Mission site.
Past Parish Mission: San Esteban and St. John the Apostle
In February 2008 a presentation was made to SJA’s Pastoral Council, Financial Council and School Committee proposing the support of a sister-parish relationship with San Esteban in Honduras. The acceptance of this proposal began a journey of spiritual and financial support to this poor, remote, mountainous parish.
Through the years, SJA has helped support student scholarships, sidewalk construction for the parish Formation Center, fuel and bus fare for the parish priests and nuns and a stipend for emergency parish needs. In 2010 through several large donations and the encouragement of Bishop Vlazny, SJA purchased a new truck for the sisters of San Esteban who had been walking or riding donkeys to visit remote locations. Our energetic students at SJA and our Youth Group stepped forward to provide additional funds for children’s shoes and mattresses for the Formation Center.
Visitations to and from Honduras have further cemented our bond. A small contingent of SJA parishioners journeyed to Central America in 2009 to spend a week visiting San Esteban and traveled the countryside to experience the life of the people in the far reaches of the parish. Bishop Muldoon, Father Alberto, Sister Josefina and Brother Martin were warmly welcomed when they visited SJA in 2011. They spoke of their community at Mass, visited our school and celebrated with our parishioners at a fiesta. They were also able to enjoy short jaunts to see our beautiful state of Oregon.
With the unfortunate impact of organized crime and gangs in Honduras, it is impossible for SJA parishioners to safely visit our sister-parish at this time. The sisters and clergy of San Esteban have recently been denied visas to visit our country. Although the parishioners of SJA have been generous in their financial support, the lack of personal contact has taken a toll on the current rate of donations to the San Esteban fund. The consequence was the difficult decision to suspend funding the secular scholarship program while continuing to support religious education and parish formation.
A primary goal of this sister-parish relationship is to foster a spiritual connection between our communities. Prayer strengthens our resolve to share our faith through acts of love and understanding. We are “sisters” - a family in Christ.
The SE committee meets quarterly. The date, time and location will be published in the bulletin. We welcome and encourage your participation. For more information please call Ray or Doris Gauthier at 503-699-4921.
He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord,
and He will repay him for his good deed.
Proverbs 19:17
Through the years, SJA has helped support student scholarships, sidewalk construction for the parish Formation Center, fuel and bus fare for the parish priests and nuns and a stipend for emergency parish needs. In 2010 through several large donations and the encouragement of Bishop Vlazny, SJA purchased a new truck for the sisters of San Esteban who had been walking or riding donkeys to visit remote locations. Our energetic students at SJA and our Youth Group stepped forward to provide additional funds for children’s shoes and mattresses for the Formation Center.
Visitations to and from Honduras have further cemented our bond. A small contingent of SJA parishioners journeyed to Central America in 2009 to spend a week visiting San Esteban and traveled the countryside to experience the life of the people in the far reaches of the parish. Bishop Muldoon, Father Alberto, Sister Josefina and Brother Martin were warmly welcomed when they visited SJA in 2011. They spoke of their community at Mass, visited our school and celebrated with our parishioners at a fiesta. They were also able to enjoy short jaunts to see our beautiful state of Oregon.
With the unfortunate impact of organized crime and gangs in Honduras, it is impossible for SJA parishioners to safely visit our sister-parish at this time. The sisters and clergy of San Esteban have recently been denied visas to visit our country. Although the parishioners of SJA have been generous in their financial support, the lack of personal contact has taken a toll on the current rate of donations to the San Esteban fund. The consequence was the difficult decision to suspend funding the secular scholarship program while continuing to support religious education and parish formation.
A primary goal of this sister-parish relationship is to foster a spiritual connection between our communities. Prayer strengthens our resolve to share our faith through acts of love and understanding. We are “sisters” - a family in Christ.
The SE committee meets quarterly. The date, time and location will be published in the bulletin. We welcome and encourage your participation. For more information please call Ray or Doris Gauthier at 503-699-4921.
He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord,
and He will repay him for his good deed.
Proverbs 19:17
Click on a picture to enlarge it.
The parish of San Esteban is located in a rural, mountainous area about four hours from Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. This parish serves about 75 small villages. It can take a full day to travel form one side of the parish to the other.
In February 2009, six delegates from St. John the Apostle visited San Esteban. During the week, delegates participated in confirmations, baptisms Ash Wednesday Mass in La Balsa and in the dedication of the Formation Center. Delegates included Ray and Doris Gauthier Maria Graf, Kathy Roshak and Carol Middendorf.
Travel over bumpy, washed out roads makes visitations by priests and sisters to far reaching villages along, treacherous and often muddy endeavor. In 2010 from the generosity of our parishioners through a special collection and several substantial donations from individuals, a new truck was purchased for the sisters so they could continue their ministry in those remote areas.
Over the years, SJA hosted clergy from San Esteban in an effort to continue to strengthen our sister parish relationship. Bishop Muldoon, Father Alberto, Fray Manuel, Sister Josefina, Brother Martin and Sister Josefina were introduced to our parish family, visited the students at SJA school and experienced the beauty of Oregon.
Student scholarship programs have been a large part of our relationship with San Esteban since its inception in 2008 through 2014. Unfortunately, diminished funds have caused this program to be suspended.
In February 2011, Doris Gauthier, Enrique Gyanti and Dave and Diane Glivinski visited San Esteban. They were treated to a traditional Honduran dance!
The San Esteban committee presented four Fiesta dinner/dances as fund raisers. We continue our commitment to San Esteban and the building of our sister-parish relationship.