As I say good-by to 2013, not a bad year at all, as a matter of fact,
quite a good year for a year with a “13” in it!
Looking ahead, I wonder, “What will this year bring?”
Who will drift in and out of our lives?
What exciting things lay ahead?
Let us embrace this new year
Make an oath to better ourselves
Become that person we strive to be!
When the new year comes to and end
we can look back and say,
“It was a good year!”
May God Bless our Efforts!
Page 58 of 78
Keeping up with Camp Howard
Karen (Camp Howard Facility Manager) and I took a tour of Camp Howard this past week and I have to tell you…doesn’t matter when you go up there, the scenes are always different! The Bull Run River lies between Camp Howard and the magnificent view of the Bull Run Reservoir. Mt. Hood is perched above and behind the hills where a partial view is still stunning. On this day, a thick bed of opaque clouds filled the valley between the camp and the other side of the gorge holding the Bull Run River. It was spectacular!
We toured around the camp where she and her trusty helper, Larry Wood have been cleaning up from the fuel reduction project at Camp by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry this past summer which completes 3 summers of work on fuel reduction. What is fuel reduction? It is the removal of the flammable brush under the forest that is the real culprit in the case of a fire. This flammable material helps fuel the fire and destroy the trees.
The result of this process has been a cleaner camp, made it possible to continue the process of cleaning up the forest floor, and increased the ability of the camp to fight a forest fire.
The winter improvement project this year is the renovation of the interior of the Greenwood cabins. We did the interiors of Fircrest cabins last winter so it is time for Greenwood! Little girls up to age 10 stay in Fircrest and little boys of the same age stay in the Greenwood cabins. The little boys will be happy to come to camp next summer and see the improvements made. What are we doing?
All of the walls in the cabin are being repainted and then the bunks are getting a nice enamel coat. The light fixture covers are being replaced which will give the rooms a brighter cleaner look. Mirrors will be installed on the walls. Karen is taking all of the windows out of all the cabins, removing the paint, removing the window pane, putting new windows in if necessary, glazing the windows, priming the wood then putting a coat of enamel on the windows and finally painting the interior of the door.
The Fircrest and Greenwood cabins are the original 12 cabins at Camp Howard. I expect we will get many more years out of the cabins due to the good work done by the staff on the buildings. Last year, Bill Fogarty who runs the camps summer activity programs, stayed on for a few weeks and led a paint crew in staining and trimming the exteriors of the cabins.
Wishes for a Blessed New Year!
The Christmas season has been a blessed time at the Convent of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon this year as this is one of the times when the Sisters can come together and work on a project together. Decorating for Christmas is a favorite for many of the Sisters and the Chapel is one of the main focal points. The Sisters do not decorate until Advent is over. Christmas Eve day is a busy time getting everything ready for the vigil Mass in the evening and Christmas Mass the following day. Decorations will stay up until after the Epiphany.
I hope your new year is filled with many blessings. Let us invite Christ deeper into our hearts this year. God Bless you!
If you LOVE Football or HATE Football this is a do not miss…
Congratulations Central Catholic and Jesuit High School
Jen Weld Field, Portland, OR
Saturday December 7th was historic in the State of Oregon High School Football due to the fact that the two largest Catholic Schools in the State met for the first time in a State Playoff Game!
If you were at the game you know how bitterly cold it was especially after the sun set behind the tall MAC building! But the faithful from Central and Jesuit were enthusiastic through out the contest!
As for those of us in the neutral section of the facility, we had a wonderful view from an interesting perspective. We were able to watch the interaction between the two teams and the spectators. An emotionally charged game it was but the camaraderie between the two groups was one of respect and I think thoughtful appreciation for this great event.
I appreciated the fact that SEVERAL of the players from each team had been members of local CYO Football teams.
It was anyone’s game practically to the last three minutes when Central Catholic kicked a field goal to go ahead by 10 points. This was a very close game and a fun one to watch. In the end, Central Catholic and Coach Steve Pyne won and for the second time in 60 years they are the best in High School Football!
Jesuit, and coach Ken Potter have certainly had their share of State Championships over the past few years as well.
I am glad I had the opportunity to attend the game and watch one of Oregon’s special sport moments!
CYO Championship Volleyball – A Program to be Proud of!
The 2013 CYO Championship Volleyball playoffs provided plenty of action and excitement for all in attendance. The eighth grade playoff game between St. Matthew of Hillsboro and Christ the King of Milwaukie, was one of the most exceptional CYO volleyball contests I have seen in a long time. The teams each split a game, going into over time and in the final game of the match the teams were nip and tuck to the very end when St. Matthew prevailed. People got more than their moneys worth!
Some 1300 young women participated in this years volleyball program with all but a few teams participating in the end of season tournament.
The teams, coaches, and parents are to be commended for the participation and support they show to one another and to their teams.
Third Grade CYO Volleyball Champions – St. Francis, Roy and Visitation Verboor “The Fighting Dutch”
Third Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Clare
Fourth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions Cathedral School
Third Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Anthony
Fifth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions The Cathedral School
Fifth Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. John Fisher
Sixth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions St. Agatha
Sixth Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Pius X
Seventh Grade CYO Volleyball Champions All Saints
Seventh Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place St. Cecilia
Eighth Grade CYO Volleyball Champions St. Matthews School
Eighth Grade CYO Volleyball Second Place Christ the King
CYO Football Season Concludes with Three new Championship Teams
The 2013 CYO Football season concluded November 10 at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver, WA with three championship games, one each for third and fourth, fifth and sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
CYO Region 8 Stayton, OR Rams third and fourth grade St. Mary’s School
Third and Fourth grade Championship Region 4 Falcons from Clackamas County – Christ the King, St. John the Baptist & St. John the Apostle Schools.
Region 13 Spartans from Holy Cross, Madeleine and Holy Redeemer Schools in North Portland.
Fifth and Sixth Grade Champions from Region 6 Beaverton Knights from Valley Catholic, St. Cecilia, St. Pius X, Holy Trinity
Seventh and Eighth Grade Region 3 Kings from South East Portland St. Agatha, St. Ignatius, Holy Family, St. Stephens
Seventh and Eight Grade Champions from Region 6 Beaverton Knights from Valley Catholic, St. Cecilia, St. Pius X, Holy Trinity
Thanksgiving at the Convent 2013
Here is hoping that you and your family had a blessed Thanksgiving. As for me, well we do pretty well at the convent with the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. The Sisters begin the day with Mass then it is off to the kitchen where we begin to prepare our dishes for the community. I signed up for the TURKEY this year and I would like to thank BOB and ROGER our wonderful cooks for the help they provided me in making sure it turned out just right.
Most of the Sisters started from scratch on their meal contributions but the TURKEY is the star of the show on Thanksgiving! Bob and Roger made sure it was perfect and ready to go which means they cooked it, carved it and put it in a “hotel pan” ready to heat up and serve to the Sisters on Thanksgiving! Thanks guys! I got it heated up just fine…poured the heated broth over it then put it in the oven for 40 minutes…simple!
Thought you would enjoy some pictures from the convent from this past weekends Thanksgiving feast with the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon!
It all begins with Holy Mass!
Sister Anna Hertel and Sister Catherine Hertel team up for the fruit salad!
A Thanksgiving decoration
What, Julienned carrots?
Potatoes all cut up and ready to cook
Sr. Theresa Lan
Team work!
Sister Theresa Lan’s famous cabbage salad…a holiday would not be a holiday without it!
Another look at those mashed potatoes
Me and my flowers from my cousin Dan and his wife, Rhonda (Indiana)
Sister Charlene Herinckx and her famous 7 layer salad!
Sr. Francesca Cuna made the mashed potatoes!
Sister Theresa Lan and her famous dishes from Vietnam!
Whats for lunch?
flowers sent to Sr. Krista from her cousin in Indiana! How about that?
Is it our turn yet?
Me and my Turkey! (With a lot of help from Bob and Roger)
Sister Adele Marie’s stuffing (An old family recipe)
Sister Adele Marie shows off her stuff(ing)
Wow…who made those mashed potatoes?
Whats for lunch?
Home made cranberry sauce
Sister Josephine Pelster and Sr. Adele Marie Altenhofen
How about that turkey treat?
Valley Catholic Kindergarden class provide decorations for the Sisters on holidays!!!
Yams with marshmallows!
Sisters preparing for Thanksgiving Feast
ADVENT…calling us back to reflection
This past Sunday when Father Peter lit the ADVENT candle I had to sit back in amazement at the fact that we are already to December of 2013!!! Advent is a good time to sit back and really reflect on the past and look ahead with hope to the future. I have to sit and quiet myself, break away from the hundreds of tugs and pulls and just get quiet! That feels really good! Try it!
I am enjoying the moment, letting everything go, looking to let my mind settle on what really matters. A story comes to mind! I got an e-mail from Pete Harnish from St. Rose in Longview, WA…
Sister Krista and Jolie,
Just wanted to share some exciting news from St. Rose Longview. We had a new boy, Kellen, join our CYO 4th grade BB team this year and he is thoroughly enjoying playing basketball and being part of CYO sports. Kellen is new to Longview, attends public school and is non-Catholic. After a couple weeks of practice Kellen started asking his mom if non-Catholics could attend St. Rose School. She replied yes. Kellen continued to pursue transferring to St. Rose and yesterday his mom registered him as a new student in the 3rd grade. His sister older also was excited about St. Rose School and she registered in the 5th grade class. This has excited the boys on the team, lifted the spirits of the 3rd and 5th grade classes, and created some buzz amongst the teachers. CYO Sports was the only connection Kellen had with the school.
God works in amazing ways! Thanks for letting St. Rose Longview be part of CYO Sports. It is making a difference in the lives of many people in ways I didn’t envision.
Just felt like sharing the love.
Pete
Pete made my day! I am so grateful he shared this news because our relationship with God, our spiritual journey is what really matters. The ADVENT season calls us to reflect on our journey and make appropriate corrections that keep us on the path.
Fr. Peter lights the ADVENT candle at the Convent Chapel of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.
Sandy Macnab (From Sherman County) in the Oregon Stater
Sandy Macnab is featured in the Oregon Stater this month and I would like to draw your attention to the article. As a matter of fact, I scanned it and posted it here so that even the Duck Fans can read it.
Sandy went to the only high school in Sherman County – Sherman County Union High School and I seem to remember that he was Valedictorian of his class! Correct me if I am wrong!
Nice job, Sandy!
CYO/Camp Howard 