News from the Diocese
These are photos of the St Mary's Chapel at the Powell Butte Diocesan Center, outside and inside. In this link we will share with you some occasional news and information we receive from the Diocesan Office about upcoming programs, retreats, youth camps, etc.
Reflection Photos as we await a new Bishop
These are photos taken during the priests' Retreat held in early May at St Mary's Chapel in Powell Butte. These photos were taken before the Holy Hour, as priests prayed to the Holy Spirit for the choice of a new Bishop to our Diocese. These photos are meant to help you meditate and pray, and they're ideal as a desktop photo.
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Bishop Vasa's last Mass with the Priests
On Thursday February 17, Bishop Vasa con-celebrated Mass for the last time with the priests gathered at St Mary's Church in Powell Butte. These are some final photos I took of the Bishop during that Mass.
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On Thursday evening, February 17, the reception for Bishop Vasa was the highlight of the day, and after a delicious dinner, which was very efficiently served, it was time for some of the priests to say a sincere ‘Thank You’ to the Bishop. After three African priests had their say, I felt I had to say something to show my appreciation in the name of all the other priests, and this is the gist of what I said:
"Bishop Vasa, I want to thank you for welcoming me and so many other foreign international priests to your Diocese. The past 8 years have been the happiest of my life as a priest, and I remember when you dropped me off at John Day in March 2003. I remember that you grabbed a Coca Cola from the fridge, and then you simply said to me, "OK Father Julian, you’re on your own." Then I remember on January 14, 2005 when you stopped by for lunch, and as if it were just yesterday, you were scooping some potato salad onto your plate when you said to me "Father Julian, I’m afraid I’m gonna shake up your life this summer." And that’s when you told me that you wanted me to go to the Cathedral. It was an honor for me becoming the Rector as we embarked on the renovation for our centennial, and I thank you for your encouragement and support for that project. I will miss your visits at Christmas and Easter, and even though at first you used to come with bagged lunch with you, you also learned to trust my cooking, and I know how much you looked forward at Christmas and Easter for the pork roast with sauerkraut and caraway seeds, mushrooms and potatoes. Being told that we probably won’t be getting a new bishop soon also means that I will be staying in the Cathedral for a while longer, especially because whenever a new Bishop arrives, he does not shake things up so quickly. But in the name of all the priests here gathered, dear Bishop, I thank you for all you did for our Diocese. With your sharp mind and strong hands, you gave a heart and soul to our Baker Diocese. Thank you." Everyone applauded heartily, and he personally thanked me for the tribute I shared with everybody.
Temporary Apostolic Administrator
A Temporary Apostolic Administrator has been assigned to the Diocese of Baker until a new Bishop is appointed. The Administrator is Bishop William Skylstad, who is the retired Bishop of Spokane, Washington. He served in Spokane from 1990 till 2010, when a new Bishop was assigned there, allowing Skylstad to retire in June 2010.
Bishop Robert Vasa 2000-2011
We congratulate Bishop Vasa on his appointment as Co-Adjutor Bishop of Santa Rosa Diocese in California. Bishop Vasa has served in our Diocese for 11 years, and hereunder I reproduce some photos taken during the various celebrations he led at the Cathedral, especially the Chrism Mass, Holy Week Services and the Easter Vigil, as well as Confirmations and Ordinations.
(The majority of these photos were taken by Chuck Staten, the Cathedral's official photographer)
2011 Chrism Mass group photo with Archbishop Skylstad
Bishop Robert Vasa – Curriculum Vitae
May 1951 Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Joe and Leona Vasa (both deceased)
1972-1976 Studies: Holy Trinity Seminary, Dallas, M. Div.
May 22, 1976 Ordained Priest: at Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Lincoln, Nebraska
July 20, 1981 Appointed Assistant Chancellor in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska
From 1981 Studied Canon law at the Gregorian University, Rome, J.CL
May 20, 1985 Appointed Judicial Vicar of the Marriage Tribunal
November 28, 1995 Named Monsignor by Pope John Paul II
June 17, 1996 Appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Lincoln Nebraska
November 19, 1999 Appointed Bishop of Baker
January 26, 2000 Consecrated Bishop of Baker
January 24, 2011 Appointed Co-Adjutor Bishop of the Santa Rosa Diocese
March 4, 2011 Starts officially at Santa Rosa Diocese
A personal reflection - From Father Julian
He is the Bishop who welcomed me in his Diocese back in March of 2003, assigning me first to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in John Day. At that time I was only the fifth foreign priest, while now the face of the Diocese has changed drastically as two-thirds of the presbyterate are from Africa, while a few others are from India, Sri Lanka, Poland, Argentina and Mexico. In the past 11 years since Bishop Vasa took over our Diocese we had 7 Ordinations, which is a fairly generous percentage, considering that our Catholic population is only 36,000. Some priests have left, while others were transferred or retired, but at least each parish and mission is served by a priest, which is not always possible in many other remote Dioceses.
Bishop Vasa has helped re-organize many of the parishes, especially where liturgy is concerned, and has always shown appreciation for our work here at the Cathedral. He encouraged us and supported us during the centennial renovation in 2007-2008 and has told me many times how happy he is with the Sanctuary area and the placement of the tabernacle in the middle again.
He has been my gracious guest on many occasions, especially at Christmas time and during Holy Week. He did not trust my cooking at first as he used to bring a brown-bag lunch with him, especially when I was in John Day, but over the last 5 years, he always looked forward for delicious meals I prepared for him, especially the traditional roast with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and sauerkraut with caraway seeds. He loved snacks especially those Pringles, and once their seal was broken, they would disappear within minutes!
He will always be remembered for starting and finishing the Powell Butte project where meetings and conventions are now held regularly, especially on weekends. Although the profitable Diaconate program was stopped, he encouraged many young men to become Acolytes and emphasized the importance of the safety and protection of children.
We wish him the very best in his new Diocese which he will probably take full control of by the end of this year as Bishop Daniel Walsh already hinted that he will retire by the end of 2011. And we anxiously await the appointment of our own sixth Bishop here at the Baker Diocese.
Congratulations and Ad Multos Annos Bishop Vasa!
