Vytas Babusis reaches up to examine a young hazelnut cluster — the sweet, buttery orbs maturing under pale-green, papery husks.

“We are in a hurry to have the answers all at once,” said Babusis, gently releasing the nut bundle. “But sometimes we need to step back and watch and listen to nature.”

GRANTS PASS — A 95-year-old Marine Corps veteran from St. Anne Parish here is one of the poster boys for a Knights of Columbus series on the World War II generation.

EUGENE — Cathleen and Joe Karcher, members of St. Paul Parish here, have been recognized by Northwest Christian University for ethical leadership and commitment to the community.

The Karchers in May received the 2018 Exemplary Ethical Leadership Award from the school’s Center for Leadership and Ethics

The Archdiocese of Portland’s Catholic Schools Department has released a major plan that aims to sustain schools and extend a Catholic education to more families. Part of the strategy is a reinvigorated fund for tuition aid.

The retooled Catholic Schools Endowment Foundation of Oregon will seek gifts from individuals, estates, organizations and businesses who believe more children should have access to the values and success Catholic schools offer.

Early Saturday mornings when Mark Turner was a young boy, his father and two brothers would pile into a Chevy pickup and head for the Oregon woods. While his dad cut down trees to support the family, the boys ran through pine-needle-padded hills, scrambled up rocks, dipped their toes into cool creeks and constructed forts from nature’s bounty.

Krista Farnham has been named chief executive for Providence Portland Medical Center. Previously, she served as the hospital’s chief operating officer.

The medical center, near All Saints Parish, has 483 beds, more than 3,100 employees and 1,200 medical staff members. In addition to leading Providence Portland, Farnham will oversee Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and Providence Milwaukie Hospital.

An England-born priest who helps the Archdiocese of Portland live up to canon law has completed an iconic American legal process. Father John Boyle, adjutant judicial vicar for the archdiocese, became a United States citizen June 12. “I see my future as being here,” says Father Boyle, whose family has Irish roots. “There is a sense of wanting to be one of the people whom I am called to serve and share their values."

SPRINGFIELD — Joe Mark, a healthcare executive with 35 years of leadership experience, has been hired as interim chief executive for PeaceHealth Oregon Network.

Mark has held a variety of hospital leadership roles, including chief executive officer, chief operating officer and vice president. He most recently served as interim senior vice president and area manager for two Kaiser Foundation hospitals in California. He is a director with WolfCreek Partners Group, a firm specializing in leadership development and organizational change.

A Catholic Charities-sponsored village of tiny houses in North Portland likely will remain for another six months or so.

Kenton Village, a grouping of 14 pods for homeless women, opened a year ago on city-owned property near North Columbia Boulevard. It began as a pilot project slated to expire this month. But plans by Transition Projects to build low-cost housing on the site are delayed, leaving the village more time — if neighbors vote to keep it.

One night in a small town in Mexico, armed men arrived at Maria’s house. Pregnant and with her young daughter asleep in the next room, she wasn’t sure if she should rush to get her 2-year-old or run for her life.

An “armed man started yelling at me,” she says in an asylum application. “Another man of the group yelled to the first man not to kill me because I was pregnant.”

A Friday last month marked the start of a great migration. Centered on the banks of the Willamette River at historic Oaks Park, hundreds could be seen moving in formation to musical rhythm.

Many Portland area residents, like MaryAnn and Bryan Stewart, have been gathering in this same spot for more than a decade to witness the event.

Salmon? Canadian geese?

Nope. Catholic Youth Organization dancers.

A committee from the Archdiocese of Portland Pastoral Center meets regularly to develop strategies that counter pornography use in western Oregon.

The Addressing Pornography Team will continue to focus on training priests, deacons, teachers, campus ministers and lay ministers — workers who in turn will teach and advise youths and families on the dangers of pornography.

The people who ask you to bring life to prayer, and prayer to life, are now praying more at work.

Staff at the Archdiocese of Portland Pastoral Center can gather for daily morning devotions and Mass in their offices on East Burnside Street. 

Archbishop Alexander Sample reminded members of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women that the Eucharist is the center of life for Catholics.

The archbishop gave the homily during Mass at the ACCW’s April 21 convention at the Grotto in Northeast Portland. Backed by arrangements of spring flowers as he stood near the altar of the Chapel of Mary, the archbishop explained the importance of Sunday Mass and adoring Jesus in the tabernacle.

Catholic couple John and Sandy Shepherd will be presenting a marriage talk with Father Eric Andersen Sunday, June 16, 6-9 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace retreat house in Beaverton.

“When a man and woman fall in love, they naturally look forward to spending their lives together in marriage and living happily ever after,” said John

FLORENCE — PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center has been awarded a federal Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant. This grant, almost $600,000 over three years, will expand help for children with behavior problems.

The project aims to establish two centers – one in a Florence school and one in a Mapleton school. Specific locations will be released at a later date.

SPRINGFIELD — Every year, thousands of patients from small towns and farms arrive at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend needing specialized care not available where they live.

Whether it’s a premature infant, a stroke victim or a trauma patient, chances are they'll be staying awhile — as will their loved ones.

Amid the blare of fire engine sirens, the pulse of rock music from car stereos and the curious looks of afternoon alfresco diners, Christ made his way through downtown Portland today.

“There was a brotherly, fatherly joy in Archbishop Sample’s expression,” said Father Wood, pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Scappoose,. “It was clear how blessed and happy he felt that these men had joined the priesthood.”

Archbishop Alexander Sample has announced the following assignments for priests in the Archdiocese of Portland. Assignments are effective July 1 unless noted otherwise. More assignments will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.

EUGENE — PeaceHealth community health worker Ana-Maria Dudley has received an Excellence in Public Health Award in recognition of her work in south Lane County, including her support and advocacy for Cottage Grove’s Guatemalan community.

The award is given annually by the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

Two men with science and technology backgrounds who entered the Catholic Church as young adults will be ordained priests of the Archdiocese of Portland Saturday, June 2, 11 a.m. at St. Mary Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Northwest Portland.

Deacon Brent Crowe grew up in the Applegate Valley in southern Oregon. He attended Applegate School and Hidden Valley High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in general science from Oregon State University in 1991.

SCAPPOOSE — The Catholic War Veterans’ annual Memorial Day service and lunch are set for Monday, May 28, at St. Wenceslaus Church and Cemetery, 51555 Old Portland Rd. here. Activities start at 10 a.m. with massing of colors.

Ceremonies include the laying of the wreath by the Knights of Columbus, a three-volley salute by American Legion Post 42 with the Catholic War Veterans, “Taps” played by Boy Scouts and a flag folding ceremony carried out by the American Legion.