Toasting togetherness in their new ‘Fellowship Hall’

Scott Tracy, a member of the men’s group at Southeast Portland’s Sacred Heart Parish, manned the door at the inaugural spaghetti dinner at the parish’s new Fellowship Hall last month.
Holy Rosary brings Lourdes to Northeast Portland

Nearly 200 Holy Rosary parishioners crowded around their restored grotto for the long-anticipated unveiling of the figures of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette on Sunday, June 30.
Glory through gardening

As the Rose Festival came to an end in Portland, two Catholic parishes were honored with awards in the Royal Rosarian Foundation Rose Garden contest. Holy Cross Parish in North Portland was awarded in the Churches, Hospitals and Schools category, while The Madeleine Parish in Northeast Portland earned top prize in the Commercial Public Agency category.
“Making the faith accessible”: St. Stephen’s Philosophy Nights

Every third Thursday, the rectory basement at St. Stephen Church in Portland fills up with people of all ages. They mingle and gather snacks before taking their seats as Father Eric Andersen introduces the night’s topic of discussion.
Group works to unite young professionals in Portland

Samantha Matthews walks — drink in hand — mingling and greeting people at Kell’s Pub in Southwest Portland for her Young Catholic Professionals event recently. She smiles, kindly catching up with old friends and welcoming new ones. It is the kind of thing that Young Catholic Professionals in Portland provides — fellowship.
Parish seeks parking restrictions

Amid a flurry of new apartment developments along North Lombard Street, Holy Cross Parish is seeking parking restrictions on the perimeter of church property.
Lively fundraiser on the links

GEARHART — The 17th annual Holy Cross Golf Tournament was June 15 at the 127-year-old Gearhart Golf Links. The school fundraising event was held in memory of Dorothy Murphy; the Murphy family is a longtime supporter of Holy Cross School in North Portland.
Scouting program offers fellowship for boys

AMITY — Sounds of laughter echoed around the pond at the Brigittine Abbey here as adolescent boys rowed across the water in homemade boats made of cardboard and duct tape.
First Bounty

Regis St. Mary School in Stayton operates a school community garden. St. Isidore Garden provides fresh fruits and vegetables to the Stayton Community Food Bank. A Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl Small Grant of $800 helped with expenses.
Msgr. Murphy accepts Catholic education award

Msgr. Tim Murphy, a 1958 graduate of Central Catholic High School and a longtime teacher, administrator and spiritual leader at the school, received a Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award this spring from the National Catholic Educational Association.
‘Rooted in Christ’

EUGENE — “I would have been lost if I hadn’t found Newman,” said Alison Hicks. “I discovered that my identity was rooted in Christ.”
Blanchet breaks ground on new athletic facility

SALEM — Last month as the Blanchet School community looked on, an assembled group of board members, coaches and students broke ground on the school’s $2.1 million multipurpose turf field and track facility, complete with lights, a grandstand and fencing.
Christmas in July

Holy Family Parish in Southeast Portland is preparing for the 13th annual Christmas in July celebration. The celebration is less about presents and decorations and more reflecting the true spirit of Christmas — charity.
Bringing Jesus to All

A number of men, all associated with St. Stephen Parish in Southeast Portland, are part of the local Urban Missionaries group. Urban Missionaries walk the streets of downtown Portland, Southeast Portland or Northeast Portland several days a week, hoping to evangelize and bring God to people.
Novena for cancer sufferers

EUGENE — One Eugene man has taken up the cause to pray for men, women and children suffering from cancer.
Music: A powerhouse of evangelization

A warm evening got spiritually fiery for families from Ascension Parish in Southeast Portland June 14. Children danced in the aisles and adults clapped, cheered and wept as Koren and Jessica Ruiz offered a rally of praise music in Spanish in the parish hall.
CYO/Camp Howard appreciates volunteers

To serve about 11,000 young people each year, Catholic Youth Organization requires more than 1,500 volunteers. Each May since 1998 CYO/Camp Howard has held an appreciation banquet.
Make way for Valley Catholic High’s ducklings

BEAVERTON — The nesting duck outside the front door of Valley Catholic High School isn’t obvious, although the crime tape, orange cones and warning sign are.
WATCH: Parish practices emergency evacuation

After Masses May 25 – 26, a Northeast Portland congregation practiced evacuations for scary scenarios — earthquakes, bomb threats, fires, active shooters. The goal at The Madeleine Parish was to help worshippers find the best way to get out of the church and to a safe meeting site.
PrinciPALS

They were part solemn educational collaborators, part comedy team. As the school year ended, the principals of two Portland area Catholic high schools dropped the mic on a decade of mutual innovation, common causes and horsing around at meetings.
Baseball rivalry, track and field mastery

Spring prep sports wound up this month, with Catholic high schools in the hunt for titles, often succeeding.
O’Hara sends off 46 graduates, each ready for the future

EUGENE — This year O’Hara School here will say goodbye to 46 students. Graduation takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at St. Mary Church.
Eighth graders give physics a whirl

MILWAUKIE — St. John the Baptist School's eighth graders attended physics day at Oaks Park in Southeast Portland May 10. Students have been studying physical science all year, and the annual event at the amusement park is an opportunity to feel the forces and collect data on various rides. All kinds of analysis can be done, including calculations of speeds, accelerations, forces and energies.
St. Pius X sends forth 58

St. Pius X School in Northwest Portland will honor 57 graduates at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, at St. Pius Church. Salutatorian is Owen Davies and valedictorian is Kelsey Jones.
St. Paul Parochial graduates six

ST. PAUL — St. Paul Parochial School here celebrates its graduates Frances Lear and Logan Connor and Michael Hiller, Sofia Vachter, Mary Lou Lozano and Gabe Schibel.
St. Therese says goodbye to 19

St. Therese School in Northeast Portland will honor 19 departing eighth graders with Mass at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, and a graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Both will be at St. Therese Church.
Celebrating 25 years of community service

St. Rose School in Northeast Portland is celebrating 31 graduates at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at St. Rose of Lima Church.
Nativity’s after-school work enriches education

St. Andrew Nativity School in Northeast Portland will hold its graduation at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13, in the St. Andrew community center.
A journey to STEM leadership

BEAVERTON — The Valley Catholic Middle School graduation for 83 eighth graders is at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, in the Valiants Gym. The middle school is positioned to chart a course as a leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, according to school staff.
St. Francis Academy students immersed in peace studies

This year 23 St. Francis Academy students graduated Thursday, June 6, at 2 p.m. at the Franciscan Montessori Earth School in the gymnasium.
A thank-you note from grads to departing principal

BEAVERTON — St. Cecilia School here is sending forth 20 students this year. The eighth graders will graduate Tuesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at St. Cecilia Church.
134 at Marist

EUGENE — Marist High School here will graduate 134 seniors at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, in the school gymnasium. The baccalaureate Mass is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, at the school
St. Mary honors 84 graduates

MEDFORD — St. Mary School here graduated 84 students May 23 at the Craterian Theater in Medford. Valedictorian was Ying (Marina) Qian and salutatorian was Luka Cvijanovic.
St. Matthew sends off graduates while also helping local youths

HILLSBORO — St. Matthew School here will distribute diplomas to its graduates June 11. The day will begin with a prayer service at 10:30 a.m., and a student and staff luncheon will follow at 11:30 a.m. That evening, a graduation ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall.
‘Charismatic, energetic, adventurous’

FOREST GROVE — Visitation School is set to graduate 15 eighth graders at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 9, at Visitation Church.
St. Paul alumna returns to serve her school

EUGENE —St. Paul Parish School here will honor the class of 2019 during a commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, in St. Paul Church. This year the school honors 27 graduates.
St. Mary’s Academy grads honored

St. Mary’s Academy in Southwest Portland celebrated 166 women during a June 1 graduation at the University of Portland Chiles Center. This year’s valedictorian was Lauren Phillips and the salutatorian was Claire LeBlanc.
Sending forth men and women of service

Jesuit High School in Southwest Portland held its graduation for 309 seniors Sunday, June 2, at the University of Portland Chiles Center. Valedictorian was Anisha Kumar and salutatorians were Nolan Aylward and Gregory Cowles.
Art connects past, present, future at Valley Catholic

BEAVERTON — Valley Catholic will hold its graduation for 96 seniors at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 8, in the Valiants Gym.
St. James graduates ready for the future

McMinnville — St. James School here will honor its nine fifth graders Friday, June 14, with Mass in St. James Church at 10 a.m. Graduation will follow.
St. Luke in Woodburn graduates 15

WOODBURN — St. Luke School here will hold its graduation Mass for 15 eighth graders Friday, June 7, at St. Luke Church.
St. John the Apostle graduates 18

OREGON CITY — St. John the Apostle School will hold a baccalaureate Mass and graduation for 18 eighth graders at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at St. John the Apostle Church.
‘Part of my life for many years’

St. Ignatius School in Southeast Portland celebrates the graduation of its 26 eighth graders with a Mass Thursday, June 13, at 8:30 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church and with a prayer service that evening at 7 p.m. in the church.
Students who ‘go on to be leaders’

STAYTON — Regis St. Mary School here will graduate 15 seniors Sunday, June 9, at 1:30 p.m. in the Regis gymnasium. Valedictorian is Andrew Tabor and salutatorian is Holly Blish.
St. John Fisher graduation June 11

St. John Fisher School in Southwest Portland will graduate 19 eighth grade students Tuesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. in St. John Fisher Church.
St. Anthony to honor 43 grads

TIGARD — This year St. Anthony School here will celebrate 43 eighth graders as they graduate Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony Church.
Students rise before dawn to help less fortunate

SHERWOOD — Graduation for St. Francis School’s 10 eighth graders is set for Tuesday, June 11, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Church here.
Holy Trinity honors 25 graduates

BEAVERTON — Holy Trinity School’s 25 eighth graders will celebrate their graduation Mass Monday, June 10, at 6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church here. A reception will follow in the school cafeteria. Valedictorian is Christopher Mannino and salutatorian is Emma Blevens.
Family groups build unity, leadership skills

Holy Family School will hold its graduation for 20 eighth graders at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Holy Family Church in Southeast Portland.
Music teacher inspired grads, school community

MILWAUKIE — Christ the King School here honors 29 graduates this year. The baccalaureate Mass was slated for 9 a.m. Thursday, June 6, with graduation at 7 p.m. in Christ the King Parish Center.
De La Salle North students ‘Enter to learn, leave to serve’

De La Salle North Catholic congratulates 54 graduates this year. The baccalaureate Mass was May 31 at St. Andrew Church in Northeast Portland. Graduation was the following day, Saturday, June 1, at 5 p.m. at the University of Portland Chiles Center.
Central Catholic says goodbye to beloved teacher along with grads

After 43 years of teaching and coaching at Central Catholic, beloved social studies teacher Steve Halligan retires at the end of the school year.
‘How much I’ve grown’

MILWAUKIE — La Salle Prep will graduate 167 seniors this year at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin. Brigid Hanley is valedictorian, while salutatorians are Ting-Chien Huang, Lenora Mathis and Reed Metzler-Gilbertz.
Madeleine graduates 30 and student wins $10,000 scholarship

The Madeleine School in Northeast Portland will honor 30 graduates at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at The Madeleine Church.
Holy Cross increases learning, fun

Holy Cross School in North Portland will have 18 graduates this year. The baccalaureate Mass is in the church Wednesday, June 12, at 8:30 a.m. and graduation will be in the school hall that evening at 7 p.m.
Eighth graders reflect at St. Clare

The 26 eighth grade students at St. Clare School in Southwest Portland were set to join the ranks of alumni at their graduation ceremony set for 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, at St. Clare Church.
‘Proud of what you have become’

MEDFORD — Sacred Heart School celebrated the graduation of its eighth grade students May 31, beginning with Mass at Sacred Heart Church. A celebration of their accomplishments was held after the liturgy in the parish hall. Four of the nine graduates began their education at Sacred Heart.
Leaving St. Francis as leaders

ROY — St. Francis of Assisi School here celebrates its four graduates Sunday, June 9, at 11 a.m. with Mass in the church, followed by a reception in the school basement.
St. Agatha students go 360 degrees globally

St. Agatha School in Southeast Portland will honor its 13 graduates at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at St. Agatha Church.
Blanchet graduation set for June 8

SALEM — Blanc